John Calvin 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)

And, behold, a woman who had been afflicted with a bloody flux. For twelve successive years the bloody flux had lasted, and the woman was so far from being negligent in seeking remedies, that she had spent all her possessions on physicians. All this is expressly stated by the Evangelists, so that the miracle may shine with brighter glory. When an incurable disease was removed so suddenly, and by the mere touch of a garment, it is perfectly obvious that it was not accomplished by human power. The thought of the woman that, if she only touched Christ’s garment, she would immediately be cured, arose from an extraordinary impulse of the Holy Spirit, and ought not to be regarded as a general rule. We know how eagerly superstition is prone to indulge in foolish and thoughtless attempts to copy the saints; but they are apes, and not imitators, who follow some remarkable example without the command of God, and are led rather by their own senses than by the direction of the Spirit.

It is even possible that there was a mixture of sin and error in the woman’s faith, which Christ graciously bears and forgives. Certainly, when she afterwards thinks that she has done wrong, and fears and trembles, there is no justification for that kind of doubt, for it is opposed to faith. Why did she not rather go straight to Christ? If her reverence for him prevented her, from what other source than his mercy did she expect aid? Why then is she afraid of offending him, if she was convinced of his favorable regard?

Yet Christ bestows high commendation on her faith. This agrees with what I have recently noticed, that God deals kindly and gently with his people—accepts their faith, though imperfect and weak—and does not hold against them the faults and imperfections with which it is connected. It was by the guidance of faith, therefore, that the woman approached Christ. When she stopped at the garment, instead of presenting herself with prayers that she might be cured, rash zeal may have drawn her a little aside from the right path, particularly as she soon afterwards shows that she had made the attempt with some degree of doubt and uncertainty. Were we even to grant that this was suggested to her by the Spirit, it still remains a fixed rule that our faith must not be driven to and fro by particular examples, but ought to rest wholly on the word of God, according to the saying of Paul, Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). This is a highly necessary warning, so that we do not dignify with the name of faith any opinion which has been rashly embraced.