Matthew9
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1And he entered into a boat, and crossed over, and came into his own city.
2And behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, be of good cheer; thy sins are forgiven.
3And behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
4And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
5For which is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and walk?
6But that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority on earth to forgive sins (then saith he to the sick of the palsy), Arise, and take up thy bed, and go unto thy house.
7And he arose, and departed to his house.
8But when the multitudes saw it, they were afraid, and glorified God, who had given such authority unto men.
9And as Jesus passed by from thence, he saw a man, called Matthew, sitting at the place of toll: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
10And it came to pass, as he sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples.
11And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Teacher with the publicans and sinners?
12But when he heard it, he said, They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick.
13But go ye and learn what this meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice: for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.
14Then come to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
15And Jesus said unto them, Can the sons of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then will they fast.
16And no man putteth a piece of undressed cloth upon an old garment; for that which should fill it up taketh from the garment, and a worse rent is made.
17Neither do men put new wine into old wine-skins: else the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins perish: but they put new wine into fresh wine-skins, and both are preserved.
18While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.
19And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.
20And behold, a woman, who had an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the border of his garment:
21for she said within herself, If I do but touch his garment, I shall be made whole.
22But Jesus turning and seeing her said, Daughter, be of good cheer; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
23And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute-players, and the crowd making a tumult,
24he said, Give place: for the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.
25But when the crowd was put forth, he entered in, and took her by the hand; and the damsel arose.
26And the fame hereof went forth into all that land.
27And as Jesus passed by from thence, two blind men followed him, crying out, and saying, Have mercy on us, thou son of David.
28And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.
29Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it done unto you.
30And their eyes were opened. And Jesus strictly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.
31But they went forth, and spread abroad his fame in all that land.
32And as they went forth, behold, there was brought to him a dumb man possessed with a demon.
33And when the demon was cast out, the dumb man spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.
34But the Pharisees said, By the prince of the demons casteth he out demons.
35And Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of disease and all manner of sickness.
36But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were distressed and scattered, as sheep not having a shepherd.
37Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few.
38Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth laborers into his harvest.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Matthew 9.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: 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).
vv1-8
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.
v9
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.
vv10-13
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.
Key Words
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἐμβαίνω (embaínō): to walk on, i.e. embark (aboard a vessel), reach (a pool)
εἰς (eis): to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
πλοῖον (ploîon): a sailer, i.e. vessel
διαπεράω (diaperáō): to cross entirely
ἔρχομαι (érchomai): to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
ἴδιος (ídios): pertaining to self, i.e. one's own; by implication, private or separate
πόλις (pólis): a town (properly, with walls, of greater or less size)
ἰδού (idoú): used as imperative lo!;
προσφέρω (prosphérō): to bear towards, i.e. lead to, tender (especially to God), treat
Cross References
Matthew 9Directly quoted by Jesus to rebuke the Pharisees' formalistic objections to His table fellowship.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Parallel account of Matthew's (Levi's) call and subsequent dinner with tax collectors.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Connects Jesus' bridegroom metaphor with John the Baptist's witness of himself as the bridegroom's friend.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Identifies Capernaum as Jesus' 'own city' where He took up residence after leaving Nazareth.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel discussion of fasting and the metaphors of new/old garments and wineskins.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Messianic prophecy fulfilled by Jesus opening the eyes of the blind in this passage.
Supported by John Calvin
Parallel blasphemous accusation by the Pharisees attributing Christ's exorcisms to Beelzebub.
Supported by John Calvin
Old Testament source for Moses' prayer that the congregation be not as sheep without a shepherd.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Demonstrates Jesus' divine attribute of knowing the inward thoughts of men's hearts.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Echoes Christ's mission statement that He came specifically to seek and save lost sinners.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Illustrates the literal 'old bottles' (cracked wineskins) mentioned in Jesus' parable.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallels the belief and healing associated with touching the hem of Jesus' garment.
Supported by JFB
Jesus uses the same euphemism of sleep for death prior to raising Lazarus.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Identical saying of Jesus concerning the plentiful harvest and scarcity of laborers.
Supported by JFB
Elijah's raising of the widow's son, prefiguring Christ's authority over death.
Supported by John Calvin