Matthew 9:23

And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,

And {G2532} when Jesus {G2424} came {G2064} into {G1519} the ruler's {G758} house {G3614}, and {G2532} saw {G1492} the minstrels {G834} and {G2532} the people {G3793} making a noise {G2350},

When Yeshua arrived at the official's house and saw the flute-players, and the crowd in an uproar,

When Jesus entered the house of the synagogue leader, He saw the flute players and the noisy crowd.

And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute-players, and the crowd making a tumult,

Commentary

Context

Matthew 9:23 is part of a larger narrative concerning Jesus's miraculous power. Immediately preceding this verse, a synagogue ruler named Jairus had approached Jesus with an urgent plea: his daughter had just died. Jesus, on His way to Jairus's house, was briefly interrupted by the healing of the woman with the issue of blood. Upon arriving at the house, Jesus found the scene described in this verse, indicating the widely held belief that the girl was indeed deceased.

Cultural and Historical Insights

The KJV term "minstrels" refers to professional flute players (Greek: aulētēs), who were commonly hired in ancient Jewish culture to play mournful music at funerals or wakes. Their presence, along with "the people making a noise" (Greek: thorubeō, indicating loud wailing and lamentation), signifies a full-blown mourning ritual. This custom was deeply ingrained, with even the poorest families expected to hire at least two flute players and one wailing woman. The commotion at Jairus's house was a clear sign that, in the eyes of everyone present, the girl was irrevocably dead, and the customary mourning had begun.

Key Themes

  • The Reality of Death: From a human perspective, the scene vividly portrays the finality of death, as understood and mourned in ancient society.
  • Human Despair vs. Divine Power: The chaotic noise of mourning stands in stark contrast to the quiet authority Jesus is about to demonstrate. It highlights the natural human reaction to loss before Jesus's intervention.
  • Atmosphere of Unbelief: The presence of professional mourners and the loud lamentation set the stage for the disbelief Jesus would encounter when He declared the girl was not dead but sleeping (Matthew 9:24).

Linguistic Nuances

The Greek word for "minstrels," aulētēs, specifically denotes a flute player, highlighting the instrumental music used in mourning. The phrase "making a noise" comes from the Greek thorubeō, which implies a tumultuous, loud commotion or wailing. This accurately captures the intense, public expression of grief characteristic of funerals in that period, often involving professional mourners who would lead the lamentations.

Practical Application

This verse, though brief, sets the scene for one of Jesus's most profound miracles. It reminds us that Jesus often enters into our most chaotic and despairing moments. Just as He stepped into a house filled with the sounds of death and hopelessness, He can bring His peace and life into our own situations of grief, loss, or apparent finality. The world may declare a situation beyond hope, but Jesus's presence can transform the atmosphere of despair into one of divine possibility and resurrection power, as seen in the subsequent verses when He raises the girl from the dead.

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Cross-References

  • 2 Chronicles 35:25

    And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and the singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel: and, behold, they [are] written in the lamentations.

  • Mark 5:35

    ¶ While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's [house certain] which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?

  • Mark 5:40

    And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.

  • Luke 8:49

    While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's [house], saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.

  • Luke 8:51

    And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.

  • Matthew 9:18

    ¶ While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.

  • Matthew 9:19

    And Jesus arose, and followed him, and [so did] his disciples.
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