Matthew 9:25Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

When Christ encountered the mourners and the multitude, He cleared the house, performing a miracle in front of the parents, not by imparting another soul to the deceased, but by restoring the one who had departed, awakening the young woman as if from slumber. He held her hand to reassure onlookers, facilitating their faith in the resurrection. The Father urged Him, “Lay your hand on her,” yet He went beyond this by lifting the girl directly, demonstrating His ability to command all things. Not only did He raise her, but also instructed that she be given food, ensuring that the miracle was recognized as genuine. He refrained from serving the food Himself, instead directing her parents, much like when He told Lazarus, “Let him go” (John 11:44), ultimately involving him in the meal. Thus, Christ consistently provided unequivocal evidence of both death and resurrection. Observe not just the act of rising from the dead, but that Christ also instructed silence about it, underscoring the need for humility and discouraging vanity. Furthermore, He dismissed all who wept, viewing them as unworthy of witnessing such a magnificent event. Do not emulate those whom the Lord expelled from the house; instead, strive to resemble Peter, John, and James. If the Savior sent away the mourners, how much more should this be true now, as it is known that death is merely a fleeting dream, a truth clearer than daylight itself. However, the Lord will indeed resurrect your daughter in even greater glory. The young girl, though she returned to life, eventually perished again, while your daughter, upon rising, will know immortality. Therefore, no one should weep, mourn, or bemoan the work of Christ. Truly, He has triumphed over death. Why do you weep in futility? Death is akin to a dream. Why lament? The Hellenes, when they act thus, are subject to mockery. When a believer falters in such circumstances, how can he justify himself? How can those who act so foolishly find forgiveness, given that so much time has passed since Christ’s advent, and the resurrection of the dead is a certainty? Yet you seem to amplify your condemnation by presenting tearful Hellenic wives, escalating the lamentation and igniting the fire, disregarding the words of the Apostle Paul: “What agreement has Christ with Beliar? What part has a believer with an infidel?” (2 Cor. 6:15). Even the Hellenic sages, despite their ignorance of resurrection, assert, “Bear with courage, for what has occurred cannot be reversed by mourning.” And you, exposed to divine teachings, are you not ashamed to be more cowardly than they? We do not urge you to “bear with courage” merely because what has happened is unchangeable; instead, we say, “Bear with courage, for it is certain that he who has died will rise again.” Your child sleeps, not dead; he rests, not perished; he shall rise to receive eternal life, immortality, and the inheritance of angels. Do you not hear what the Psalmist declares, “Turn my soul to thy rest, for the Lord hath favored thee” (Ps. CXIV, 6)? God considers death a favor, yet you mourn. What more would you do if you were an adversary to the departed? If anyone has cause to weep, let it be the devil, lamenting that we go on to receive the highest blessings. Such weeping suits his malice but is inappropriate for you, who should seek a crown of victory and peace. Indeed, death is a tranquil retreat. Reflect on the numerous trials present in this life; recall how many times you have cursed it. Life weighs heavier over time. From the outset, you are bound to face great sorrows, as it is written: “in sorrow you shall bring forth children,” and “by the sweat of your face shall you eat bread” (Gen. III, 16, 17); “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33). But nothing of the sort is spoken of in regard to the life to come; on the contrary, it declares, “sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Is. XXXV, 10); and again, “They shall come from the east and west, and sit down in the kingdom of God” (Matt. 8:11). There lies a heavenly altar, bright lights, and life eternal. So why do you shame the deceased? Why instill fear in others about death? Why foster accusations against God, as if He has prepared great misfortunes for us? Or even more so, why, following the death of a relative, do you call upon the poor and request the priests to pray for him? You say it is for the comfort of the departed, that the Judge may be merciful to him. Is this truly the basis for your weeping and wailing? But you contradict yourself. As he has reached the harbor, you expose yourself to the storm. What can we say? You claim it is our nature. No, do not blame nature, nor reverence your tears as necessary. We turn everything upward, indulge in weaknesses, and increase the suffering of the unfaithful. Indeed, how can we proclaim immortality to others when we tremble before it ourselves? Many Hellenes, despite their ignorance of immortality, adorned themselves with crowns after the death of their children and donned white garments to attain present glory. Yet you, hoping for future glory, continue to weep like bereaved wives. Do you have no heir? Do you have no one to inherit your estate? What is it you desire more: that your son should inherit worldly goods or that he should claim the blessings of heaven? Would you choose for him to receive transient treasures soon to be left behind, or eternal and imperious riches? You cannot keep him as your heir; God has made him His heir in your place. He has no share in the inheritance of his brethren; rather, he has become a co-heir with Christ. You may ask whom we should bequeath our possessions. You can entrust them to him in a manner far more secure than if he remained alive; this poses no obstacle. If the barbaric practice involves burying property with the deceased, you should contribute to the deceased’s glory—not to decay but to adorn him in greater magnificence, cleansing his sins if he departed from this life burdened, and if he was righteous, enhancing his reward. If you wish to see him, live as he did, and you will soon achieve that blessed vision. Moreover, if you do not believe us, time itself shall affirm it; yet when that day comes, no reward will remain for you; comfort shall arise from the passage of days. If you become wise now, you will gain two significant benefits: relief from afflictions and eternal glory from God, for the patient endurance of trials is far more commendable than almsgiving or any other virtue. Consider that the Son of God Himself died for you, while you die for yourself. He, although troubled and prayerful, embraced death with much suffering and awe. He endured not only death but an ignominious one, undergoing scourging, insult, and torment, teaching you to endure all with courage. Yet when He died and laid aside His mortal body, He took it up again in greater glory, offering you hope. If all this is not mere fable, refrain from tears; if you recognize it as truth, do not weep. How can you implore others to believe if you yourself grieve? Yet, if you persist in sorrow, remember that the deceased has been liberated from numerous afflictions. Hence, envy him not. To wish for your own death over his premature departure, lamenting that he did not live longer to endure more sorrows, reveals a certain envy. Do not believe he will never revisit your home; rather, anticipate moving in with him soon. Do not think the departed shall not return here; all that we perceive will not endure unchanged, but will assume a new form. Heaven, earth, and sea shall be renewed, and then you will receive your son in greater splendor. If he left as a sinner, death vouchsafes liberation from ongoing evil; for if God foresaw his eventual repentance, He would not have called him home beforehand. But if he passed righteously, he has gained eternal blessings he shall never lose. This makes it evident that your tears arise not from profound love, but from overwhelming passion. If you love the departed, rejoice and give thanks that he has been freed from current sufferings. Reflect: what extraordinary or novel phenomena occur in the world that have not transpired in the past? Do you not witness the same cycles repeating each day? Day follows night, night follows day; winter yields to summer, and summer transitions to winter; the routine remains unchanged, with calamities recurring time and again. Would you prefer to keep your son continually beset by these hardships—subjecting him to illness, anguish, fear, and dread? You cannot, after all, claim that amid this vast sea, he could remain untouched by woes, anxieties, and other tribulations. Also, consider that you have not begotten him immortal, and should he not have died now, a similar fate would eventually catch up to him. But you have not had the chance to fully enjoy him? You shall relish him in the life to come. Do you wish to see him here, though? What holds you back? You can behold him through spiritual awakening, for the hope of future blessings is clearer than sight. If your son resided in royal chambers, you would not demand his presence there out of desire to see him when you know he is honored. But now, seeing he has departed for far greater rewards, you cannot endure a brief separation, even with a betrothed in his place. Do you lack a husband? Yet you possess consolation in the Father of the strong and the Judge of orphans. Hear how Paul respects such widowhood by stating, “The true widow, who trusts in God even in solitude” (1 Tim. 5:5). Truly, the more such a widow exhibits patience, the more she is glorified. Therefore, do not grieve over what may earn you a crown and reward; you have given back what was entrusted to you. Do not remain anxious, as you have placed your possessions in a treasury beyond theft. If you comprehend the distinction between this life and the one to come, recognizing present possessions as mere shadows and future treasures as everlasting and boundless, you shall need no other convictions. Your son is now free from all change; while here, he could be good or bad. Witness how many deny their offspring. How many are forced to bear children whose behavior is worse than the most rejected? Thus, contemplating these truths, we should exercise mercy. Moreover, in acting according to this understanding, we do good for the departed, earning respect from men and immense rewards from God for our patience. We will attain eternal blessings, which we shall all enjoy through the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

In the daughter of the synagogue leader, we see a representation of the Church that emerged from the Gentiles. The synagogue leader symbolizes the prophets or apostles, particularly St. Peter, who was the first to address the Gentile believers, and subsequently stands for all saints who, through righteous faith rather than adherence to the law, have found favor with God. Ultimately, in order to grasp the full mystery of our salvation embodied in this young woman, the Lord, as recounted by Luke, raises her from death and instructs her to eat. This action illustrates the connection between faith and our salvation. When any believer is liberated from eternal death through baptism and, having received the Holy Spirit, is restored to life, it is essential that he be commanded to partake of that divine sustenance which the Lord states: Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you (John 6:53).

Chrysostom notes, ‘He did not summon another soul to the deceased, but brought back the very spirit that had departed, awakening the child as if from sleep.’ To strengthen the faith of those present, He held her hand, emphasizing the reality of her resurrection. While the father had asked Him to lay a hand on her, He went further: instead of simply touching her, He lifted the dead girl by the hand, revealing His authority over life and death. Not only did He resurrect her, but He also instructed that she be given something to eat, ensuring that the miracle would not be viewed as a trickery. Interestingly, He did not serve her Himself but directed her parents to provide the nourishment, akin to how He later tells those around Lazarus, ‘Untie him, let him go,’ before inviting him to share in a meal. Then Christ directed her parents not to speak of these events, emphasizing the importance of humility and caution against pride. By urging silence regarding the miracle, the Lord intended to shield God's work from human speculation and gossip, and to prevent the potential hostility of agitated adversaries seeking to incite unrest over thoughts of the coming Kingdom of the Messiah.

It is through these private, transient situations that one can understand why the Lord sometimes revealed Himself in public or chose to conceal Himself; here He commanded silence, while on another occasion, He made the healing of the woman with the flow of blood known publicly, and when He was across the Lake of Gennesaret and delivered the demon-possessed, He instructed them to proclaim His deeds.

Luke also emphasizes that when Jesus commanded, “Girl, arise!” her spirit returned, indicating it had indeed been separated from her body for a time.

In the room where the deceased girl lay, Jesus chose only to bring her parents and three of His disciples—Peter, James, and John—who had previously been granted the privilege of witnessing other significant occurrences in Jesus' ministry. However, the Lord instructed these witnesses not to disclose what had just transpired (as recorded in Mark and Luke). This caution reflects a concern that an immediate revelation of such a profound miracle could lead to explosive, uncontrolled enthusiasm among the people in favor of Jesus, while simultaneously inciting resentment among the scribes and Pharisees.

Moreover, this directive may have held personal significance for Jairus. A deliberate and quiet contemplation of the miracle, away from the throngs of public admiration and chatter, could foster a deeper faith in Jesus for Jairus, who had previously remained unmoved by other miraculous works when he held the position of ruler in the synagogue (Mk. 1:21). It was only his own need that brought him to Jesus, and while his faith was genuine and fervent, it still required further affirmation.

Notably, despite the Lord's instructions to the witnesses concerning silence, the news of the miracle inevitably spread throughout the region (Matthew). After Jesus departed from Jairus' home, the relatives and mourners witnessed the girl alive and in good health, undoubtedly sharing the news widely. Yet, due to the profound silence maintained by the closer witnesses, particularly her parents, the news circulated more slowly and lacked the immediacy and intensity that firsthand accounts could have provided, which consequently diminished its impact on the public’s perception.

She woke up and began to walk, a feat impossible in her previous condition. Those who witnessed this extraordinary miracle were struck with amazement. To help them comprehend the reality of what had transpired, Jesus instructed them to offer food to the resurrected girl, using this tangible evidence to demonstrate that she was indeed a living being, in need of nourishment, and not merely the ghost of someone who had passed away.