Matthew 9:1

1 And after getting into a boat he crossed the sea and came to his own town.

Matthew 9:1 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 9:1

And he entered into a ship
Or "the ship", the selfsame ship he came over in, with his disciples. The Gergesenes, or Gadarenes, or both, having desired him to depart their coasts, showing an unwillingness to receive him, and an uneasiness at his company, he immediately turned his back upon them, as an ungrateful people, being no better than their swine; and who, by their conduct, judged themselves unworthy of his presence, ministry, and miracles: he returned to the sea side, took shipping, and

passed over
the sea of Tiberias again,

and came into his own city;
not Bethlehem, where he was born, nor Nazareth, as Jerom thought, where he was educated, but Capernaum, as is clear from ( Mark 2:1 ) where he much dwelt, frequently conversed, and his disciples: here he paid tribute as an inhabitant, or citizen of the place, which he was entitled to by only dwelling in it twelve months, according to the Jewish canons; where it is asked F4,

``how long shall a man be in a city ere he is as the men of the city? It is answered, "twelve months"; but if he purchases a dwelling house, he is as the men of the city immediately;''

that is, he is a citizen, and obliged to all charges and offices, as they are: though they seem to make a distinction between an inhabitant and a citizen F5.

``A man is not reckoned (ryeh ynbk) , "as the children of the city", or as one of the citizens, in less than twelve months, but he may be called, or accounted, (ryeh ybvwym) , "as one of the inhabitants" of the city, if he stays there thirty days.''

One or other of these Christ had done, which denominated this city to be his, and he to be either an inhabitant, or a citizen of it.


FOOTNOTES:

F4 Misn. Bava Bathra, c. 1. sect. 5.
F5 Gloss. in T. Bab. Sanhedrim, fol. 112. 1.

Matthew 9:1 In-Context

1 And after getting into a boat he crossed the sea and came to his own town.
2 And just then some people were carrying a paralyzed man lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven."
3 Then some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming."
4 But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?
5 For which is easier, to say, "Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, "Stand up and walk'?
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.