Matthew 9

A Paralytic Healed

1 And getting into a boat, he crossed over and came to his own town.

2 And behold, they brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher, and [when] Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Have courage, child, your sins are forgiven."

3 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming!"

4 And knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?

5 For which is easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'?

6 But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins," then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, pick up your stretcher and go to your home."

7 And he got up [and] went to his home.

8 But [when] the crowds saw [this], they were afraid and glorified God who had given such authority to men.

Matthew Called to Follow Jesus

9 And [as] Jesus was going away from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth and said to him, "Follow me!" And he stood up [and] followed him.

10 And it happened [as] he {was dining} in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners were coming [and] {dining} with Jesus and his disciples.

11 And [when they] saw [it], the Pharisees began to say to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

12 And [when he] heard [it], he said, "Those who are healthy do not have need of a physician, but those {who are sick}.

13 But go [and] learn what it means, "I want mercy and not sacrifice." For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

On Fasting

14 Then the disciples of John approached him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?"

15 And Jesus said to them, "{The bridegroom's attendants} are not able to mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them. But days are coming when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

16 But no one puts a patch of unshrunken cloth on an old garment, for its patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear becomes worse.

17 Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins. {Otherwise} the wineskins burst and the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are destroyed. But they put new wine into new wineskins and both are preserved."

A Woman Healed and a Daughter Raised

18 [As] he was saying these [things] to them, behold, one of the rulers came [and] knelt down before him, saying, "My daughter has just now died, but come, place your hand on her and she will live!"

19 And Jesus and his disciples got up [and] followed him.

20 And behold, a woman who had been suffering with a hemorrhage twelve years approached from behind [and] touched the edge of his cloak,

21 for she said to herself, "If only I touch his cloak I will be healed."

22 But Jesus, turning around and seeing her, said, "Have courage, daughter! Your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that hour.

23 And [when] Jesus came into the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the disorderly crowd,

24 he said, "Go away, because the girl is not dead, but is sleeping." And they ridiculed him.

25 But when the crowd had been sent out, he entered [and] took her hand, and the girl got up.

26 And this report went out into that whole region.

Two Blind Men Healed

27 And [as] Jesus was going away from there, two blind men followed him, crying out and saying, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!"

28 And [when he] came into the house, the blind men approached him, and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord."

29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith let it be done for you."

30 And their eyes were opened, and Jesus sternly warned them, saying, "See [that] no one finds out."

31 But they went out [and] spread the report about him in that whole region.

A Demon Expelled

32 Now [as] they were going away, behold, they brought to him a demon-possessed man [who was] unable to speak.

33 And [after] the demon had been expelled, the one who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were astonished, saying, "{This has never been seen before} in Israel!"

34 But the Pharisees were saying, "By the ruler of demons he expels the demons!"

A Plentiful Harvest But Few Workers

35 And Jesus was going around all the towns and the villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and every sickness.

36 And [when he] saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were weary and dejected, like sheep that did not have a shepherd.

37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest [is] plentiful, but the workers [are] few.

38 Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest that he send out workers into his harvest."

Matthew 9 Commentary

Chapter 9

Jesus returns to Capernaum, and heals a paralytic. (1-8) Matthew called. (9) Matthew, or Levi's feast. (10-13) Objections of John's disciples. (14-17) Christ raises the daughter of Jairus, He heals the issue of blood. (18-26) He heals two blind men. (27-31) Christ casts out a dumb spirit. (32-34) He sends forth the apostles. (35-38)

Verses 1-8 The faith of the friends of the paralytic in bringing him to Christ, was a strong faith; they firmly believed that Jesus Christ both could and would heal him. A strong faith regards no obstacles in pressing after Christ. It was a humble faith; they brought him to attend on Christ. It was an active faith. Sin may be pardoned, yet the sickness not be removed; the sickness may be removed, yet the sin not pardoned: but if we have the comfort of peace with God, with the comfort of recovery from sickness, this makes the healing a mercy indeed. This is no encouragement to sin. If thou bring thy sins to Jesus Christ, as thy malady and misery to be cured of, and delivered from, it is well; but to come with them, as thy darlings and delight, thinking still to retain them and receive him, is a gross mistake, a miserable delusion. The great intention of the blessed Jesus in the redemption he wrought, is to separate our hearts from sin. Our Lord Jesus has perfect knowledge of all that we say within ourselves. There is a great deal of evil in sinful thoughts, which is very offensive to the Lord Jesus. Christ designed to show that his great errand to the world was, to save his people from their sins. He turned from disputing with the scribes, and spake healing to the sick man. Not only he had no more need to be carried upon his bed, but he had strength to carry it. God must be glorified in all the power that is given to do good.

Verse 9 Matthew was in his calling, as the rest of those whom Christ called. As Satan comes with his temptations to the idle, so Christ comes with his calls to those who are employed. We are all naturally averse from thee, O God; do thou bid us to follow thee; draw us by thy powerful word, and we shall run after thee. Speak by the word of the Spirit to our hearts, the world cannot hold us down, Satan cannot stop our way, we shall arise and follow thee. A saving change is wrought in the soul, by Christ as the author, and his word as the means. Neither Matthew's place, nor his gains by it, could detain him, when Christ called him. He left it, and though we find the disciples, who were fishers, occasionally fishing again afterwards, we never more find Matthew at his sinful gain.

Verses 10-13 Some time after his call, Matthew sought to bring his old associates to hear Christ. He knew by experience what the grace of Christ could do, and would not despair concerning them. Those who are effectually brought to Christ, cannot but desire that others also may be brought to him. Those who suppose their souls to be without disease will not welcome the spiritual Physician. This was the case with the Pharisees; they despised Christ, because they thought themselves whole; but the poor publicans and sinners felt that they wanted instruction and amendment. It is easy, and too common, to put the worst constructions upon the best words and actions. It may justly be suspected that those have not the grace of God themselves, who are not pleased with others' obtaining it. Christ's conversing with sinners is here called mercy; for to promote the conversion of souls is the greatest act of mercy. The gospel call is a call to repentance; a call to us to change our minds, and to change our ways. If the children of men had not been sinners, there had been no need for Christ to come among them. Let us examine whether we have found out our sickness, and have learned to follow the directions of our great Physician.

Verses 14-17 John was at this time in prison; his circumstances, his character, and the nature of the message he was sent to deliver, led those who were peculiarly attached to him, to keep frequent fasts. Christ referred them to John's testimony of him, Joh. 3:29 . Though there is no doubt that Jesus and his disciples lived in a spare and frugal manner, it would be improper for his disciples to fast while they had the comfort of his presence. When he is with them, all is well. The presence of the sun makes day, and its absence produces night. Our Lord further reminded them of common rules of prudence. It was not usual to take a piece of rough woolen cloth, which had never been prepared, to join to an old garment, for it would not join well with the soft, old garment, but would tear it further, and the rent would be made worse. Nor would men put new wine into old leathern bottles, which were going to decay, and would be liable to burst from the fermenting of the wine; but putting the new wine into strong, new, skin bottles, both would be preserved. Great caution and prudence are necessary, that young converts may not receive gloomy and forbidding ideas of the service of our Lord; but duties are to be urged as they are able to bear them.

Verses 18-26 The death of our relations should drive us to Christ, who is our life. And it is high honour to the greatest rulers to attend on the Lord Jesus; and those who would receive mercy from Christ, must honour him. The variety of methods Christ took in working his miracles, perhaps was because of the different frames and tempers of mind, which those were in who came to him, and which He who searches the heart perfectly knew. A poor woman applied herself to Christ, and received mercy from him by the way. If we do but touch, as it were, the hem of Christ's garment by living faith, our worst evils will be healed; there is no other real cure, nor need we fear his knowing things which are a grief and burden to us, but which we would not tell to any earthly friend. When Christ entered the ruler's house, he said, Give place. Sometimes, when the sorrow of the world prevails, it is difficult for Christ and his comforts to enter. The ruler's daughter was really dead, but not so to Christ. The death of the righteous is in a special manner to be looked on as only a sleep. The words and works of Christ may not at first be understood, yet they are not therefore to be despised. The people were put forth. Scorners who laugh at what they do not understand, are not proper witnesses of the wonderful works of Christ. Dead souls are not raised to spiritual life, unless Christ take them by the hand: it is done in the day of his power. If this single instance of Christ's raising one newly dead so increased his fame, what will be his glory when all that are in their graves shall hear his voice, and come forth; those that have done good to the resurrection of life, and those that have done evil to the resurrection of damnation!

Verses 27-31 At this time the Jews expected Messiah would appear; these blind men knew and proclaimed in the streets of Capernaum that he was come, and that Jesus was he. Those who, by the providence of God, have lost their bodily sight, may, by the grace of God, have the eyes of their understanding fully enlightened. And whatever our wants and burdens are, we need no more for supply and support, than to share in the mercy of our Lord Jesus. In Christ is enough for all. They followed him crying aloud. He would try their faith, and would teach us always to pray, and not to faint, though the answer does not come at once. They followed Christ, and followed him crying; but the great question is, Do ye believe? Nature may make us earnest, but it is only grace that can work faith. Christ touched their eyes. He gives sight to blind souls by the power of his grace going with his word, and he puts the cure upon their faith. Those who apply to Jesus Christ, shall be dealt with, not according to their fancies, nor according to their profession, but according to their faith. Christ sometimes concealed his miracles, because he would not indulge the conceit which prevailed among the Jews, that their Messiah should be a temporal prince, and so give occasion to the people to attempt tumults and seditions.

Verses 32-34 Of the two, better a dumb devil than a blaspheming one. Christ's cures strike at the root, and remove the effect by taking away the cause; they open the lips, by breaking Satan's power in the soul. Nothing can convince those who are under the power of pride. They will believe anything, however false or absurd, rather than the Holy Scriptures; thus they show the enmity of their hearts against a holy God.

Verses 35-38 Jesus visited not only the great and wealthy cities, but the poor, obscure villages; and there he preached, there he healed. The souls of the meanest in the world are as precious to Christ, and should be so to us, as the souls of those who make the greatest figure. There were priests, Levites, and scribes, all over the land; but they were idol shepherds, ( Zechariah 11:17 ) ; therefore Christ had compassion on the people as sheep scattered, as men perishing for lack of knowledge. To this day vast multitudes are as sheep not having a shepherd, and we should have compassion and do all we can to help them. The multitudes desirous of spiritual instruction formed a plenteous harvest, needing many active labourers; but few deserved that character. Christ is the Lord of the harvest. Let us pray that many may be raised up and sent forth, who will labour in bringing souls to Christ. It is a sign that God is about to bestow some special mercy upon a people, when he stirs them up to pray for it. And commissions given to labourers in answer to prayer, are most likely to be successful.

Footnotes

• [a]. A reference to Capernaum
• [b]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("saw") which is understood as temporal
• [c]. Some manuscripts have "perceiving"
• [d]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("got up") has been translated as a finite verb
• [e]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("saw") which is understood as temporal
• [f]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [g]. *Here "[as]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("saw") which is understood as temporal
• [h]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("stood up") has been translated as a finite verb
• [i]. *Here "[as]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("was dining")
• [j]. Literally "was reclining at table"
• [k]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("were coming") has been translated as a finite verb
• [l]. Literally "reclining at table"
• [m]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("saw") which is understood as temporal
• [n]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [o]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("heard") which is understood as temporal
• [p]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [q]. Literally "having badly"
• [r]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("go") has been translated as a finite verb
• [s]. A quotation from Hos 6:6 (see also Matt 12:7)
• [t]. That is, John the Baptist
• [u]. Literally "the sons of the bridal chamber"
• [v]. Literally "but if not"
• [w]. *Here "[as]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("was saying")
• [x]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("came") has been translated as a finite verb
• [y]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("got up") has been translated as a finite verb
• [z]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("approached") has been translated as a finite verb
• [aa]. Or "tassel"
• [ab]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("came") which is understood as temporal
• [ac]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("entered") has been translated as a finite verb
• [ad]. *Here "[as]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("going away") which is understood as temporal
• [ae]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("came") which is understood as temporal
• [af]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("went out") has been translated as a finite verb
• [ag]. *Here "[as]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("were going away")
• [ah]. *Here "[after]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("had been expelled")
• [ai]. Literally "never has it been seen thus"
• [aj]. Or "began to say"
• [ak]. Or "every kind of"
• [al]. Or "every kind of"
• [am]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("saw") which is understood as temporal