Non occ.: After the healing of the woman with the issue of blood, follows the raising of the dead; “And when Jesus was come into the ruler’s house.”.
non occ.: The fame, namely, of the greatness and novelty of the miracle, and its established truth; so that it could not be supposed to be a forgery.
Mor., xviii, 43: The multitude are put forth that the damsel may be raised; for unless the multitude of worldly cares is first banished from the secrets of the heart, the soul which is laid dead within, cannot rise again.
Mystically; The Lord enters the ruler’s house, that is, the synagogue, throughout which there resounded in the songs of the Law a strain of wailing.
But that the number of the elect might be known to be but few out of the wholebody of believers, the multitude is put forth; the Lord indeed would that they should be saved, but they mocked at His sayings and actions, and so were notworthy to be made partakers of His resurrection.
“His fame went about into all that country;” that is, the salvation of the elect, the gift and works of Christ are preached.
They that had mocked the Reviver were not worthy to behold the mystery of the revival; and therefore it follows, “And when the multitude was put forth, he entered, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.”.
To this day the damsel lays dead in the ruler’s house; and they that seem to be teachers are but minstrels singing funeral dirges. The Jews also are not the crowd of believers, but of “people making a noise.” But when the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in, then all Israel shall be saved.
We may suppose that He proceeded slowly, and spake longer to the woman whom Hehad healed, that He might suffer the maid to die, and thus an evident miracle of restoring to life might be wrought. In the case of Lazarus also He waited till the third day. "And when he saw the minstrels and the people making a noise;” this was a proof of her death.
But Christ put forth all the pipers, but took in the parents, that it might notbe said that He had healed her by any other means; and before the restoring to life He excites their expectations by His words, “And he said, Give place: forthe maid is not dead, but sleepeth.”.
He restored her to life not by bringing in another soul, but by recalling that which had departed, and as it were raising it from sleep, and through this sight preparing the way for belief of the resurrection. And He not only restores her to life, but commands food to be given her, as the other Evangelists relate, that which was done might be seen to be no delusion. “And the f...
Morally; The damsel dead in the house is the soul dead in thought. He says that she is asleep, because they that are now asleep in sin may yet be roused by penitence. The minstrels are flatterers who cherish the dead.
The maiden is raised in the house with few to witness, the young man without the gate, and Lazarus in the presence of many; for a public scandal requires apublic expiation; a less notorious, a lesser remedy; and secret sins may be done away by penitence.
. Where there are crowds and distractions, Christ does not perform miracles. He takes her by the hand, thus imparting strength. And you, O reader, who are dead in sins, He will also resurrect when He puts outside the crowd and its tumult and takes you by the hand so that you might act.
