9:18–19 As Jesus continues to teach, a Jewish ruler comes to him in behalf of his daughter who has just died. Kneeling before Jesus, he declares that if Jesus will but come and touch her she will be restored to life. This ruler of the synagogue (as Mark and Luke both identify him) was an important person in the Jewish community. To seek the help of one who would be considered a dangerous heretic by the orthodox indicated how desperate he was. His faith in the power of Jesus to perform such an act suggests that those in the synagogue were fully aware of the activity and claims of Jesus. Jesus’ response is immediate. He rises from the table and, accompanied by his disciples, starts toward the home of the ruler.

It is often noted that Matthew’s accounts are considerably shorter than Mark’s. …