Matthew 9:8

8 And the people seeing dreaded [Soothly the companies seeing dreaded], and glorified God, that gave such power to men.

Matthew 9:8 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 9:8

But when the multitude saw it
The miracle that was wrought; when they saw the man take up his bed, and carry it home, which was done by Christ, as a proof of his having power to forgive sin,

they marvelled, and glorified God:
they were struck with amazement and astonishment at the sight, it being what was strange and unusual; the like to which they had never seen before, nor heard of: and concluding it to be more than human; they ascribed it to God; they praised, and adored the divine goodness,

which had given such power unto men;
of working miracles, healing diseases, and delivering miserable mortals from such maladies, as were otherwise incurable; still looking upon Christ as a mere man, by whom God did these things; not knowing yet the mystery of the incarnation, God manifest in the flesh.

Matthew 9:8 In-Context

6 But that ye know that man's Son hath power to forgive sins in earth, then he said to the sick man in palsy [then he said to the man sick in palsy], Rise up; take thy bed, and go into thine house.
7 And he rose, and went into his house.
8 And the people seeing dreaded [Soothly the companies seeing dreaded], and glorified God, that gave such power to men.
9 And when Jesus passed from thence, he saw a man, Matthew by name, sitting in a tollbooth. And he said to him, Follow thou me. And he rose, and followed him.
10 And it was done, while he sat at the meat in the house, lo! many publicans and sinful men came, and sat at the meat with Jesus and his disciples. [And it was done, him sitting at the meat in the house, lo! many publicans and sinful men coming sat at the meat with Jesus and his disciples.]
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.