The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 379

as ever, there is the Saviour's ready sympathy. If he does not work outward miracles as of old, he works spiritual wonders still. He gives patieuce, peace, holy hopo. He turns suffering into blessing. 2. Her timidity. She had heard or JesUB, Ile had done many mi;;hty works. Now he was on his way to a yet more wonderful exercise of power. He had heard that the damsel was dead, yet he arose and went. What would he do? A. great multitude followed him in intense, awful expectation. The poor woman mingled with the crowd. She knew that she was accounted unclean; she was full of shame aud timidity; she feared to meet the look of Jesus; she came behind him in the press, and touched the hem of his garment. He might do somethina for her; he might heal her on bis way to the house of Jairus. Something of the wondrous power that was to be exerted there might flow in upon her and stay her .sickness. People hear of Christ now; they know what be has done, what he is doin"' for others• one miracle leads to another, one conversion to another. Circumstances differ.. Som~ come straight to Christ, like Ja.irus; they open their grief to him, they bring him at once to their house, to their hea.rt. Others are more fearful; they feel the defilement of their sin ; they tremble. But they must come; none other can save them. They come drawn perhaps by others, in the throng tha.t follows Christ. They know not what t~ say; they cannot shape the longings of their hearts into words. They come behind him; they touch the hem of his garment; the Spirit maketh intercession for them with groanings that cannot be uttered. 3. Her faith. She said within herself," If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole." Her faith 'l>as not like that'of the centurion- there was, perhaps, something of superstition in it; she seems to have thought that the healing power diffused itself from the Person of our Lord, a.pa.rt from the action of his Divine will. Her error so:uewbat resembled that of those who think that God cari act only through the unconscious laws of nature, not by the conscious intervention of his almighty will She was 'l>rong. But he felt her presence, he knew her trouble and her faith; it was by the act of his will that virtue went out of him, and healed her sickness. So it is in the realm of nature. Not a sparrow falls to the ground without our Father. But if her faith was uninstructed, it was strong and living. His touch, she felt in her heart, would h(;al her sickness. Multitudes touched our Lord as they thronged round a.bout him in the press; but one touched him with the hand of faith. That one he knew at once. He saw her not with the outward eye-she was behind him; but he knew her heart. "The Lord knoweth them that are his; " but many that say to him, "Lord, Lord," he bath never known. Various motives brought that crowd together-curiosity, excitement, and such-like. They thronged round our Lord, eager to see what he would do. "Master, the multitude throng thee, and press thee," said St. Peter. They followed him closely, watching him intently. We are not told that they received any ben~fit from their uea.rness to the Lord. Bodily presence was not enough ; there was need of something deeper. '!'here were many eager eyes; there was one faithful hea.rt. People fill the churches now, they join in the services, they come to the Holy Communion. It is well, it is necessa.ry; but something more is needful for salvation. They must put forth the hand of faith, they must touch the Saviour; then power will go forth from him, and heal the sickness of their souls. The poor wuman came in deep humility, in weakness and trembling; so must the penitent come to Christ. She came behind him; she sought only to touch his garment; she was content with the lowest place. Only to touch his garment, only to feel his life-giving po'l>er-that was enough; it would take away her uncleanness, it would heal her 1,i<.:kness. 4. The Lord's thoughtfulness. lie was bent on au errand oflove. The poor father was in intense anxiety; the crowd was full of eager anticipation; but here was one who needed his help. lie must stop, even on bis way to raise the dead. Mark his calm, majestic collectedness. In his holy unselfishness he had time and thought fur every supplie.nt. He was not vexed with interruptions, as we are apt to be; he waited on his way. The Lord has work for us every da.y; it is not always the work which we had marked out for ourselves. If it is his work, it is blessed. We must put aside our own plans, and do what he bids us. 5. His ir,quiriu. He _e.sked who had touched him. It was not for his own information; he knew the thoughts of all men. but he felt the touch of faith-the one touch in all that throng that arrested his steps and claimed his grace. It wa.s well for her to know that it was his sovereign will, not any vi.rtu<: inhtrent in the hem of his _garment, that had wrought the miracle. It was on. 1x. 1-38.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. llrATTIIEW. 37.5