Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 9:20

"And behold, a woman, who had an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the border of his garment:" — Matthew 9:20 (ASV)

The nature of the woman’s hemorrhage is probably chronic bleeding from the womb, making her perpetually unclean (cf. Leviticus 15:25–33). Having heard of others who had been healed at Jesus’ touch, this woman decided to touch even a tassel of Jesus’ cloak. Moved in part by a superstitious view of Jesus, she struggled through the crowd, which, because of her “unclean” condition, she should have avoided.

Matthew’s account is shorter than Mark’s (Mark 5:22–43), keeping only what is of most interest to him. The woman was healed on touching Jesus’ cloak. He turned to her and indicated that it was her faith that was effective, not the superstition mingled with it.