Mark 5:23 — Community Reflections

MARK 5:23 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.”

He pleaded earnestly with him, my little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live — the request is specific about method (put your hands on her) and specific about goal (healed and live). The earnestness of the pleading communicates the desperation of a father watching his child die. My little daughter — the diminutive communicates both the child's age and the father's tenderness. Please come — the urgency is real: the daughter is dying, not merely ill. The faith implicit in the request (Jesus' hands can heal) is the counterpart to the bleeding woman's faith that will emerge within the story.

Church Fathers on Mark 5:23

After the miracle of the demoniac, the Lord works another miracle, namely, in raising up the daughter of the ruler of the synagogue; the Evangelist, before narrating this miracle, says, 'And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto Him.'
Theophylact · 11th century

But we must understand, that what is added of the daughter of the ruler of the synagogue, took place when Jesus had again crossed the sea in a ship, though how long after does not appear; for if there were not an interval, there could be no time for the taking place of that which Matthew relates, concerning the feast at his own house; after which event, nothing follows immediately, except this concerning the daughter of the chief of the synagogue. For he has so put it…
Augustine · 4th century · de Con. Evan., 2, 28

Observe that the object of His question was that the woman should confess the truth of her long want of faith, of her sudden belief and healing, and so herself be confirmed in faith, and afford an example to others.
Bede · 8th century · in Marc., 2, 22

Read all 12 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

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