Keywords:
Purity laws, Holy / Holy One, Gospel of Matthew, Torah, Healing, Sick / Ill, Pure / impure, Reinheidswette, Heilig / Die Heilige, Evangelie van Matteus, Genesing, Siek, Rein / onrein
Abstract
This article investigates the double story in Matthew of Jesus
touching a woman with blood flow and a dead girl, with specific reference to purity
regulations of the Hebrew Bible. According to Matthew it seems that Jesus did not
perform any purity rituals after touching the impure woman and girl. Such negligence
would have caused serious repercussions amongst the spectators. In the Sermon on the
Mount Jesus explicitly states that He did not come to abolish the Law, but in this
double story Jesus apparently abrogates purity regulations. It is suggested that
Matthew purposefully describes these events to demonstrate how these Laws found
their fulfilment in Jesus. Jesus is depicted as Emmanuel and Saviour. Instead of Him
being polluted by touching these persons, Jesus cleanses the impure woman and raises
the dead girl to life. As Holy One purity flowed from Him to the defiled persons, so
that they could be cleansed without Him being polluted. These acts of Jesus form
part of the coming of the Kingdom of heaven. By accepting Jesus as their saviour,
the Matthean community shares the benefits of his purifying power. Their purity is
no longer dependent on external purity regulations, but on the cleansing power of
Jesus, the Holy One.
