How does this verse connect to Old Testament teachings on faith and healing? Matthew 9:20 in Focus “Just then a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak.” (Matthew 9:20) Old Testament Soil Where This Miracle Sprouted • From the opening pages of Scripture God reveals Himself as both the object of faith and the source of healing. • Every law, promise, and prophetic picture lays a foundation that blossoms in this brief New Testament moment. Leviticus: The Barrier That Bolstered Her Faith • Leviticus 15:25-27 describes a woman with continual bleeding as “unclean,” barred from public worship and human contact. • Instead of disqualifying her, the Law pushed her to seek the only One greater than the Lawgiver’s commands. • By reaching for Jesus, she trusted that holiness flows from Him outward, overruling ritual impurity. Numbers 15 and Malachi 4: The Fringe and the Wings • Numbers 15:37-41 commands Israel to sew tassels (tzitzit) on the corners (kanaf, “wings”) of their garments “so that you will remember all the commandments of the LORD and do them.” • Malachi 4:2 promises, “The sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings (kanaf).” • Touching the “fringe” (kanaf) of Jesus’ cloak linked her to: – The reminder of covenant obedience (Numbers 15) – The Messianic hope of healing in the wings (Malachi 4) • Her act announced, “You are that righteous Sun; Your wings carry the healing foretold.” Echoes of Faith-Fueled Healings in Israel’s History • Exodus 15:26 – God’s first title as Healer: “I am the LORD who heals you.” • Numbers 21:8-9 – Looking in faith at the bronze serpent brought physical life. • 2 Kings 5 – Naaman’s leprosy cleansed when he trusted the prophetic word. • 2 Kings 20:5 – Hezekiah’s prayer answered: “I will heal you.” • Psalm 103:2-3 – “Who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases.” • Each account marries faith to tangible healing, foreshadowing Christ’s touch. The Prophets: Messiah as Healer • Isaiah 53:4-5 – “Surely He has borne our sicknesses… by His stripes we are healed.” • Jeremiah 30:17 – “For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds.” • These promises find their first literal fulfillment as Jesus’ garment transmits life to the desperate woman. What This Means for Us Today • Scripture’s seamless story shows that trusting God’s character and Word has always unlocked His healing power. • The woman’s faith stands on the shoulders of Levitical law, prophetic promise, and historical precedent—then points forward to the cross where ultimate healing is secured. • We read Matthew 9:20 with the certainty that the same God still honors humble, Scripture-shaped faith that reaches for Jesus. |
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