Matthew 9:24

Wednesday, 23 April 2025

 

He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. Matthew 9:24

 

“He said to them, ‘You withdraw! For not she died, the damsel, but she sleeps.’ And they derided Him” (CG).

 

In the previous verse, Matthew noted that when Jesus came into the house, He saw the pipers and those tumultuating. Now Matthew continues the thought, saying, “He said to them, ‘You withdraw!’”

 

In place of the idea of withdrawing, Mark’s gospel reads a bit differently, saying, “When He came in, He said to them, ‘Why make this commotion and weep?’”

 

There is no contradiction because both thoughts can easily be sewn together. Matthew focused on one thing, Mark on another. Thus, the entire thought could be expressed as, “When  He came in, He said to them, ‘Why make this commotion and weep? You withdraw!’” Understanding this logical and harmonious sequence of thought, Jesus continues with, “For not she died, the damsel, but she sleeps.”

 

In these words, Jesus uses a new word to describe the girl, korasion. It is a diminutive form of the word koré, a maiden. It will be seen only in Matthew and Mark. As an explanation of the word, Strong’s Lexicon says –

 

“The term ‘korasion’ is used in the New Testament to refer to a young girl or maiden. It is a diminutive form, often implying youth or smallness, and is used to describe a girl who is not yet of marriageable age. The term is used in contexts that highlight the innocence and vulnerability of young girls.”

 

A word that suitably translates this Greek word would be damsel. As for Jesus’ words, in saying that she is not dead, it would be misleading unless the thought is fully understood. The girl is dead in the sense that her soul has departed. There was no life left in her body. However, because of Jesus’ power and authority, she was not “dead and gone.”

 

Rather, like Lazarus in John 11, he was dead but with the surety of being restored to life –

 

“When Jesus heard that, He said, ‘This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.’”
...
Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” 13 However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.
14 Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.” John 11:4 & 12-15

 

Understanding the usage of the word by Jesus, He replaces the thought of death with that of sleep. Those gathered to mourn, however, knew what the state of being dead meant and what it looked like. Being mourners, they would have been around enough dead to identify the state with ease. Therefore, hearing Jesus’ words, they would have thought He was off His rocker. Thus, it says, “And they derided Him.”

 

Not knowing who Jesus is or the power He possessed, it would be like any other person coming into a bedroom or morgue where a dead person lay. The life had departed, and the end had come. If the person said, “This child is alive,” it would be a ridiculous proposition, and those hearing it would scold the speaker and tell him he had no idea what he was talking about.

 

However, the difference between such a scenario and the arrival of Jesus is infinite in scope. The Lord God had entered the death chamber.

 

Life application: It is extremely difficult for us to get our minds around the state of death. This is especially true when it is sudden and unexpected. Here is a vibrant child, brother, friend, coworker, etc. Each day you get up, and he is there. His not being there is the last thing one would think of because we are geared towards normalcy in such situations.

 

However, there may come a day when that person is suddenly dead. When this occurs, our minds actually shut down in various ways. The process of accepting that death has occurred can take a while. Even if we know it is true, we keep resurrecting the memory of the life that was, trying to reinstate it and mentally overcome what has taken place.

 

Eventually, there is the thought of complete loss because the state of death is fully accepted, and the connection is severed. Depending on the person, there are all kinds of things our minds will then make up. There are scenarios where the person is “in a better place,” is free from some enemy he may have faced (such as a physical limitation of some sort), etc.

 

For the Christian dealing with a departed believer, however, there is no need to make up such things in the mind. They are actually a reality that exists. The Bible absolutely assures us that because of Jesus, believers have entered a state of sleep that is only temporary in nature.

 

Whatever physical or mental trials we faced in life are set aside. And whatever supposed permanency the state of death brings about for others is voided in Christ. In Him is life. When a person comes to Jesus through belief in the gospel, His life is transferred to that person. The physical death we experience cannot overcome the spiritual life we have been granted.

 

Therefore, when the call is made at Jesus’ coming, it will be impossible for the believer to remain physically dead. Jesus’ word is the command of life. Nothing can override it, and nothing can block what He commands. Have faith in this. In Christ, death is defeated. Our separations may be painful, but they are temporary blips on the way to eternal glory –

 

“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13, 14

 

We are so grateful to You, O God, for giving us life, even while we live in these bodies of death. Unless Jesus comes first, we are set to return to the dust. But because of what He has accomplished, that will be a short nap leading to an eternal state of wonder and delight. Death? No fear here! Jesus has prevailed. We shall rise again. Hooray for Jesus! Amen.