Matthäus 9

1 Da trat er in das Schiff und fuhr wieder herüber und kam in seine Stadt.

2 Und siehe, da brachten sie zu ihm einen Gichtbrüchigen, der lag auf einem Bett. Da nun Jesus ihren Glauben sah, sprach er zu dem Gichtbrüchigen: Sei getrost, mein Sohn; deine Sünden sind dir vergeben.

3 Und siehe, etliche unter den Schriftgelehrten sprachen bei sich selbst: Dieser lästert Gott.

4 Da aber Jesus ihre Gedanken sah, sprach er: Warum denkt ihr so arges in euren Herzen?

5 Welches ist leichter: zu sagen: Dir sind deine Sünden vergeben, oder zu sagen: Stehe auf und wandle?

6 Auf das ihr aber wisset, daß des Menschen Sohn Macht habe, auf Erden die Sünden zu vergeben (sprach er zu dem Gichtbrüchigen): Stehe auf, hebe dein Bett auf und gehe heim!

7 Und er stand auf und ging heim.

8 Da das Volk das sah, verwunderte es sich und pries Gott, der solche Macht den Menschen gegeben hat.

9 Und da Jesus von dannen ging, sah er einen Menschen am Zoll sitzen, der hieß Matthäus; und er sprach zu ihm: Folge mir! Und er stand auf und folgte ihm.

10 Und es begab sich, da er zu Tische saß im Hause, siehe, da kamen viele Zöllner und Sünder und saßen zu Tische mit Jesu und seinen Jüngern.

11 Da das die Pharisäer sahen, sprachen sie zu seinen Jüngern: Warum isset euer Meister mit den Zöllnern und Sündern?

12 Da das Jesus hörte, sprach er zu ihnen: Die Starken bedürfen des Arztes nicht, sondern die Kranken.

13 Gehet aber hin und lernet, was das sei: "Ich habe Wohlgefallen an Barmherzigkeit und nicht am Opfer." Ich bin gekommen die Sünder zur Buße zu rufen, und nicht die Gerechten.

14 Indes kamen die Jünger des Johannes zu ihm und sprachen: Warum fasten wir und die Pharisäer so viel, und deine Jünger fasten nicht?

15 Jesus sprach zu ihnen: Wie können die Hochzeitleute Leid tragen, solange der Bräutigam bei ihnen ist? Es wird aber die Zeit kommen, daß der Bräutigam von ihnen genommen wird; alsdann werden sie fasten.

16 Niemand flickt ein altes Kleid mit einem Lappen von neuem Tuch; denn der Lappen reißt doch wieder vom Kleid, und der Riß wird ärger.

17 Man faßt auch nicht Most in alte Schläuche; sonst zerreißen die Schläuche und der Most wird verschüttet, und die Schläuche kommen um. Sondern man faßt Most in neue Schläuche, so werden sie beide miteinander erhalten.

18 Da er solches mit ihnen redete, siehe, da kam der Obersten einer und fiel vor ihm nieder und sprach: HERR, meine Tochter ist jetzt gestorben; aber komm und lege deine Hand auf sie, so wird sie lebendig.

19 Und Jesus stand auf und folgte ihm nach und seine Jünger.

20 Und siehe, ein Weib, das zwölf Jahre den Blutgang gehabt, trat von hinten zu ihm und rührte seines Kleides Saum an.

21 Denn sie sprach bei sich selbst: Möchte ich nur sein Kleid anrühren, so würde ich gesund.

22 Da wandte sich Jesus um und sah sie und sprach: Sei getrost, meine Tochter; dein Glaube hat dir geholfen. Und das Weib ward gesund zu derselben Stunde.

23 Und als er in des Obersten Haus kam und sah die Pfeifer und das Getümmel des Volks,

24 sprach er zu ihnen: Weichet! denn das Mägdlein ist nicht tot, sondern es schläft. Und sie verlachten ihn.

25 Als aber das Volk hinausgetrieben war, ging er hinein und ergriff es bei der Hand; da stand das Mädglein auf.

26 Und dies Gerücht erscholl in dasselbe ganze Land.

27 Und da Jesus von da weiterging, folgten ihm zwei Blinde nach, die schrieen und sprachen: Ach, du Sohn Davids, erbarme dich unser!

28 Und da er heimkam, traten die Blinden zu ihm. Und Jesus sprach zu ihnen: Glaubt ihr, daß ich euch solches tun kann? Da sprachen sie zu ihm: HERR, ja.

29 Da rührte er ihre Augen an und sprach: Euch geschehe nach eurem Glauben.

30 Und ihre Augen wurden geöffnet. Und Jesus bedrohte sie und sprach: Seht zu, daß es niemand erfahre!

31 Aber sie gingen aus und machten ihn ruchbar im selben ganzen Lande.

32 Da nun diese waren hinausgekommen, siehe, da brachten sie zu ihm einen Menschen, der war stumm und besessen.

33 Und da der Teufel war ausgetrieben, redete der Stumme. Und das Volk verwunderte sich und sprach: Solches ist noch nie in Israel gesehen worden.

34 Aber die Pharisäer sprachen: Er treibt die Teufel aus durch der Teufel Obersten.

35 Und Jesus ging umher in alle Städte und Märkte, lehrte in ihren Schulen und predigte das Evangelium von dem Reich und heilte allerlei Seuche und allerlei Krankheit im Volke.

36 Und da er das Volk sah, jammerte ihn desselben; denn sie waren verschmachtet und zerstreut wie die Schafe, die keinen Hirten haben.

37 Da sprach er zu seinen Jüngern: Die Ernte ist groß, aber wenige sind der Arbeiter.

38 Darum bittet den HERRN der Ernte, daß er Arbeiter in seine Ernte sende.

Matthäus 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.