Matthew 9:8

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

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("saw") which is understood as temporal
• [b]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation