The Spiritual Significance of Touching the Hem of the Lord's Garment

 

The Spiritual Significance of Touching the Hem of the Lord's Garment

 

Matthew 9:20-22 "And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, for she said to herself, 'If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.' Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, 'Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.' And instantly the woman was made well."

Matthew 14:36 "and implored him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well."

Mark 5:28-30 "For she said, 'If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.' And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, 'Who touched my garments?'"

 

Item	Content
Meaning	Touching the Lord Himself in His humanity; contacting Christ's perfect behavior and virtues under heavenly rule
Symbolism	Contacting the perfection of Christ's human virtues; God becoming touchable in Christ's humanity
Means	Faith - imparted into us through Christ's attractiveness
Effects	1. Receiving healing and salvation 2. Being delivered from sickness (the oppression of the devil) 3. Stopping the loss of life 4. Transmission of Christ's divine power into the person 5. Being transformed, with changes in character
Application	1. Contacting Christ in prayer 2. Focusing on Christ's behavior and actions under heavenly rule 3. Seeking to truly touch Christ, rather than merely following the crowd
Examples	1. The woman with an issue of blood (Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34, Luke 8:43-48) 2. The people of Gennesaret touching the hem of Jesus' garment and being healed (Matthew 14:34-36, Mark 6:53-56) 3. Believers contacting Christ in spirit for life supply (e.g., Paul's experience in Philippians 3:10-11) 4. Believers experiencing Christ's human virtues in daily life through Bible reading and prayer
Related Scriptures	3. Luke 8:46 "But Jesus said, 'Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.'" Numbers 15:38-39 "Speak to the people of Israel, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a cord of blue on the tassel of each corner. And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after." Colossians 2:9-10 "For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority." 1 Timothy 6:16 "who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen." Acts 10:38 "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him."

 

This table lists specific examples from the Bible and believers' lives, illustrating how to 'touch the hem of the Lord's garment' and its spiritual significance:

 

l  The example of the woman with an issue of blood comes directly from the Gospel accounts, demonstrating a practical case of healing through faith.

l  The experience of the people of Gennesaret shows that this healing is not limited to just one person, but can be generally applied to all who come to Jesus in faith.

l  Paul's desire expressed in Philippians reflects the attitude of believers in their spiritual lives to continually seek contact with Christ.

l  The last example applies this spiritual principle to the daily lives of modern believers, explaining how we can 'touch the hem of the Lord's garment' through spiritual practices such as Bible reading and prayer.

 

These examples help us better understand and apply the spiritual teaching of 'touching the hem of the Lord's garment'."

 

*Please refer to the 2024 Summer Live Training - Experiencing, Enjoying, and Expressing Christ (1)

 Message Two: Christ as the One Whose Action Is under Heavenly Rule, Our Shepherd, Our Rest, and the Sower