A garment, and what it covers
The Hem of the Garment
A woman who had been ill for twelve years pressed through a crowd to touch the border of Jesus' garment. She reasoned that if she could reach only the hem, she would be made whole, and her faith met the mercy that heals.
“And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:”Matthew 9:20
The garment in Scripture
The garment in Scripture. And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment (Matthew 9:20). She said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole (Matthew 9:21). Mark tells us she had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse (Mark 5:26). Under the law her condition made her unclean, so she came behind Him, hidden in the press of the crowd, reaching only for the edge of His clothing. Jesus turned about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort, thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour (Matthew 9:22). The prophet Malachi had spoken of the day when unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings (Malachi 4:2), and the word rendered wings is the same word used for the borders or hems of a garment.
What it means
What it means. The woman's faith was small in her own eyes, for she hoped only to touch the outermost edge, yet it was faith enough to lay hold of Christ. She had spent everything on other helps and had grown worse, and now she came empty to the one who could make her whole. Jesus did not rebuke her for reaching secretly. He called her Daughter, He spoke comfort, and He made it clear that it was not the cloth that healed her but her faith reaching to Him. This is the tender good news that no one is beneath His notice, that a trembling hand reaching for the least part of Christ finds the whole of His mercy. The hem she touched belonged to the Lord, and to touch Him even at the border is to be joined to all that He is. Her long uncleanness was not stronger than His holiness. Where the law kept her at a distance, grace drew her near and sent her away whole.
How it points to Christ
How it points to Christ. Malachi's promise of the Sun of righteousness with healing in his wings finds a quiet fulfillment here, for the healing was in the borders of Christ's garment for the one who came believing. The garment is only cloth, but the one who wears it is the covering the whole Bible has been longing for. To be clothed in Christ is to reach past the hem to the Lord Himself, in whom is our righteousness and our healing. Isaiah rejoiced, he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10). Paul writes that as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ (Galatians 3:27), and calls us to put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14). The woman reached out and was covered by His mercy. So the sinner reaches to Christ and is clothed in Him, no longer unclean and at a distance but a daughter, comforted and made whole.
Questions people ask
Was there power in the garment itself?
No. Jesus made clear that it was not the cloth but her faith reaching to Him that healed her: thy faith hath made thee whole (Matthew 9:22). The garment was simply where her hand met the Lord. Scripture never invites us to trust in objects but in Christ.
What is the connection to Malachi 4:2?
Malachi promised that the Sun of righteousness would arise with healing in his wings, and the Hebrew word for wings is also used for the borders or hems of a garment. Many teachers see a fitting echo here, though we should hold it as a rich connection rather than a stated fulfillment.