GOSPEL OF MATTHEW - FAITH THAT REACHES AND RAISES

Matthew 9:14-26

Last week we started chapter 9 of Matthew with a faith that forgives and calls.  We saw the paralytic get healed but first Jesus said your sins are forgiven, then He healed him.  He was commanded to take his mat and go – remember what you were but celebrate what you are now. And we saw Jesus call Matthew to be a disciple – He equips those He calls – we don’t need to be perfect or get stuff right with Him first, just follow.  He extends His mercy to all those who follow Him.

Today we look at Matthew 9:14-26 on fasting, healing and raising.  Let us pray!

Sermon Title: “Faith That Touches the Hem and Raises the Dead”

Matthew 9:14–26 – Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.” While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. And the report of this went through all that district.

Big Idea:

Faith in Jesus brings restoration—whether it’s a broken life, a desperate heart, or even death itself.

Point 1: Faith Transforms Empty Religion

📖 Matthew 9:14–17

Illustration: Imagine trying to pour fresh coffee into a cracked mug—it leaks everywhere. In the same way, you can’t put new life in old patterns; Jesus came to make us new, not patch up the old.

Key Idea: Jesus doesn’t come to patch up the old—He makes us brand new.

Just like the paralytic last week – take your mat and go

After healing John’s disciples come and question Him –

Why do you not have rituals and rules for your disciples to follow?  Do you even follow the law of Moses?

Isaiah 58:6 – Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?

Jesus quotes Isaiah 29:13 in Matthew 15:8-9 – “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

Jesus answers their criticism – you fast to draw near to God – to hear from God – God was right there with them – no need to mourn or to seek – He was right there but soon He would not

Old wineskin – old garment – old ways of doing things – Jesus came as THE WAY – the only way

Jesus replaces Moses as the lawgiver – fasting will still take place but it will be different as He taught in Matthew 6:16-18 – “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Jesus brought something new that traditions and rituals could not contain – break the bonds of legalism and embrace the new identity Christ is giving

Supporting Scriptures:

2 Corinthians 5:17 – “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.”

Ezekiel 36:26 – “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.”

Open-ended Questions:

1. In what ways do we sometimes cling to old traditions instead of embracing Jesus’ new way?

2. How can we tell if our faith is fresh and alive—or stale and ritualistic?

3. What “old wineskins” might God be asking you to let go of so He can pour in something new?

Point 2: Faith Reaches Out in Desperation

📖 Matthew 9:20–22

Counterexample from Culture: Our culture often tells us to hide weakness, “fake it till you make it,” or wait until we’ve “got it all together” before seeking help. Social media highlights “perfect lives,” making it shameful to admit desperation. But the woman didn’t wait until she was healed to come—she reached out in her brokenness. Faith doesn’t wait for filters or appearances; it reaches for Jesus honestly.

Key Idea: Real faith doesn’t wait for the perfect moment—it reaches for Jesus right now.

Woman – unclean – bleeding for 12 year – believes is she just gets close enough to reach out and touch His hem, His tassels – she is on the outside reaching in – she knows her status – probably the weakest in the crowd but she stretches and reaches for Christ

Sin makes us like her – diseased – unclean – separated from God – hopeless –

Difference between her and crowd pushing in on Jesus – Her faith and her intentionality in striving to be close to the Messiah

– take heart – tharseo – thar seh o - take courage – be of good cheer

He does not rebuke her superstitions – but acknowledges her Faith

Your faith has made you – sozo – sode zo – saved, delivered – more than physical healing

Why did Jesus not leave her a face in the crowd – many were brought to Him to be healed – He could have just let her be healed – but He acknowledges her and her Faith

Supporting Scriptures:

Mark 5:34 – “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

Hebrews 11:6 – “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”

Open-ended Questions:

1. What does it look like to reach for Jesus in your moments of greatest desperation?

2. How can we push past fear or shame to boldly approach Jesus?

3. Have you experienced a moment where a simple act of faith brought breakthrough in your life?

Point 3: Faith Raises The Dead

📖 Matthew 9:23–26

Counterexample from Culture:The world says, “When it’s over, it’s over.” We see this in phrases like “Cancel culture”—once you’re canceled, there’s no way back. Or in career culture—“If you fail once, you’re done.” Society often closes the book on people. But Jesus never closes the book—He writes resurrection stories where the world only sees endings.

Key Idea: Faith sees life where the world sees only death.

         This is the first of 3 resurrections before His own.

Jesus finally gets to the house – the mourning has started –

Death was final – irreversible – Christ changed that

Jarius said – my daughter has died but simply come and lay your hand on her and she will live

Jesus ekballo – forces them out, drives them out, casts them out – since they laughed and had no faith

Physical pain of disease – emotional pain in the death of a loved one

Both miracles underscore the importance of touch – if I just touch his hem, just come and touch her and she will live

We need to strive to be that close to Jesus – everyday – to be touched through the presence of the Holy Spirit

Supporting Scriptures:

John 11:25 – “I am the resurrection and the life.”

Romans 8:11 – “The Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you.”

Open-ended Questions:

1. What “dead places” in your life do you need to invite Jesus to resurrect?

2. How can remembering Jesus’ power over death strengthen us in times of loss or fear?

3. What stories of transformation in others’ lives remind you of God’s resurrection power?

Closing Idea:

Faith in Jesus doesn’t just patch up the old—it creates new life. It meets us in desperation and it conquers even death. The same Jesus who touched the broken woman and raised a dead girl is still alive and working today.

Final Summary:

Matthew 9:14–26 shows us three dimensions of faith:

Faith that receives new life instead of empty religion.

Faith that reaches for Jesus with bold desperation.

Faith that believes in His power to raise the dead.

When we come to Jesus with faith—even small, trembling faith—He responds with compassion and power. Let us live as people who not only believe in this truth but also walk in it daily, bringing His life to the broken world around us.

Let us pray!