The story of Jesus healing the woman with the “issue of blood” (Matt 9:19–22) is quite mysterious. Why did the woman think that the fringe of Jesus’ garment would heal her? She very well could have thought that if his shadow passes over her, she will be healed (see Acts 5:15). What is so special about the fringe of his garment? The explanation may come from the Hebrew Bible. Our Old Testament ends with a prophecy about the coming Messiah, “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall” (Mal 4:2; NASB). The word for “wings” (kanaph) is also the same word used to describe the fringes (or tassels) on the garments that all Israelite men were commanded to wear (Num 15:38). Thus, in Matthew, when the woman touched the tassel of Jesus’ garment, she may have thought of Mal 4:2 and identified Jesus with the “sun of righteousness.” Thus, while her faith was indeed great, it was also a faith informed by the Holy Scriptures.

Let us strive for our faith to be as informed and great as this woman!