Luke 8:52Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

When the Lord declared that the young woman was not deceased but merely sleeping, referring to death as a sleep—intending to awaken those who had died, as if to stir her from slumber—those present ridiculed Him, thinking He was allowing the miracle to transcend a mere miracle. This way, they could not later claim that the maiden had not truly died but had only been asleep. He orchestrated this to silence those who sought to deride Him. Her death was so apparent that they mocked Him when He asserted she was simply sleeping.

Upon arriving at the home of the one who sought His help, He calms their mourning, quiets the musicians, and halts the tears of those grieving, declaring, "The girl is not dead, but sleeping." Those present, it is noted, mocked Him. Observe the remarkable wisdom in His approach. Though He fully understood that the young girl had passed away, He proclaimed, "She is not dead, but asleep." Why did He say this? Let us not assert that Christ spoke falsely. For to Him, who is Life itself, nothing is truly dead. This is why we, with unwavering hope in the resurrection of the dead, refer to them as "asleep." In Christ, they will be resurrected, and, as the Apostle Paul indicates, "they live for Him," signifying that they are destined to live.

Regarding the resurrection, it was reported to the ruler by his servants, “Do not trouble him” (Luke 8:49). Even now, they continue to lack faith in the resurrection, which Jesus foretold in the law and accomplished in the gospel. When He arrived at the ruler’s home, He chose a small group as witnesses to the impending resurrection, indicating that belief in the resurrection was scarce. Ultimately, when the Lord declared, “She is not dead, but asleep,” they mocked Him, as noted by Luke (Luke 8:53). The one who lacks faith cannot help but scoff. Those who consider themselves deceased may grieve for their loved ones, but the believer in resurrection perceives not death but a state of rest.

they mourned and struck their chests in sorrow. All these matters are elaborated in that passage. The phrase ‘struck their chests in sorrow over her’ conveys the idea of lamentation for her.

My brethren, know that each of us can fall into deception, except Christ alone, our Lord and Friend. He always knows, but we do not always know—except when we look to Him and listen to Him.

The Gospel of Matthew recounts that in Jairus's home, both singers and a large crowd were mourning for the deceased girl. This indicates that the Jewish custom included not only weeping over the dead but also singing dirges (Am. 5:16). The gathered individuals were openly grieving. When Jesus stated that the girl was not dead but merely sleeping, He aimed to highlight two points: either to show His immediate power by awakening her from death or to prompt acknowledgment of her genuine death, ensuring that once He raised her, there could be no dispute about her being truly dead and then resurrected. To dispel any uncertainty and criticisms, and to affirm His divine authority over life and death, He allowed Himself to be ridiculed. Upon hearing that the girl was merely sleeping, they mocked Him as if He were delusional. Yet their laughter ultimately led them to recognize that she was undeniably dead.

As soon as the Lord finished speaking, word reached Jairus that his daughter had passed away. Yet, Jesus reassured him, encouraging him not to fear but to have faith in His ability to bring her back to life. Upon arriving at the house, He encountered a scene of chaos, which could have jeopardized their faith. The Lord declared that the girl was merely sleeping, but they ridiculed Him. He dismissed the crowd and, with only the parents and a few disciples present, took the girl by the hand and called out, "Little girl, arise," and she was brought back to life. The astonished parents received the instruction to remain silent about this miracle. This directive stemmed from the potential threat posed by the Pharisees and the erratic behavior of the crowds.

As Jesus entered Jairus' home, He proclaimed, "The maiden is not dead, but asleep," addressing both her family and the mourners who lamented in accordance with their customs. Through this statement, Christ both foretells the young girl's resurrection and illustrates that death does not signify the complete end of life. Though the physical body may perish, the spirit endures, possessing the power to bring the body back to life (cf. Jn. 11:11).

In Jewish tradition, the family of the deceased did not merely grieve their personal loss; they often employed professional mourners, and the mourning was sometimes accompanied by music. Consequently, in the home where the body was laid, particularly among the affluent, there was loud weeping, cries of anguish, and somber melodies often played on flutes. When Jesus arrived at Jairus' house, He encountered the mourners and the crowd in turmoil (Matthew 9:23), filled with loud lamentations. In such moments, only the dead warrant mourning, yet Jairus' daughter was about to experience resurrection; therefore, her death did not call for sorrow.

Upon reaching His destination, they found a chaotic scene filled with paid mourners and musicians who, with fake wailing and uproar, struck their chests, mocking the quietness of true grief and the solemn dignity of death. These insincere gestures stirred the spirit of Christ; first stopping at the entrance to prevent the crowd from following Him, He entered the house accompanied only by three of His most trusted disciples, Peter, James, and John. Here, He commanded the meaningless lamentations to stop; however, when His statement that "the maiden was not dead, but sleeping" was met with harsh scorn, He expelled the hired mourners in righteous anger.

The Lord's return from the region of the Gerasenes, Jairus' plea, the healing of the woman suffering from a hemorrhage, and the resurrection of Jairus' daughter are all narrated in Luke, closely mirroring Mark’s account (Mark 5:21-43). While Mark provides a detailed description, Matthew presents a more concise version of these occurrences, yet fundamentally consistent in essence (Matthew 9:18-26). For further clarification, refer to the notes regarding the mentioned texts in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. The phrase ‘The people received Him’ indicates that they welcomed Him with joy and affection.

The healing of the woman suffering from hemorrhage served to uplift Jairus, bolstering his trust in the Lord’s miraculous abilities. While Jesus was offering His final words of comfort to her, news arrived from the synagogue leader's home carrying the sorrowful message: Thy daughter is dead; why trouble the Master any further? Christ aimed to ensure that they were fully aware of the girl’s passing, so their faith in her resurrection would be unwavering (St. John Chrysostom). Upon hearing of her death, the Lord addressed the father with these words: Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made whole (St. Athanasius of Alexandria). ‘He does not ask for faith because He requires assistance from others. He is the Lord and the Source of faith.