Continuing a Bible study of the Gospels:
(Matthew 9:1) And He entered into a ship and crossed over, and came into His own city.
At the end of the last chapter and post, the Gergesenes had asked Jesus to leave their country. Therefore, He boarded a ship and crossed over the sea, going back to His own city, Capernaum, where He spent most of His adult life.
(2) And behold, they brought to Him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed; and Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the one sick of the palsy, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you."
Some people brought to Jesus a man struck with palsy, which probably meant he was paralyzed. It is interesting to note that the original word translated as "palsy" is "paralutikos," very similar to the word "paralytic." The fact that they brought the man lying on a bed, probably more accurately a mattress or pallet, shows he could not walk. Jesus saw faith in those who brought him to Him to be healed, but rather than just immediately healing the man, Jesus told him to be of good cheer. He called him "son," probably meant to be an endearing term, and may have been encouraging him as the man most likely had begun to greatly despond. Jesus, knowing the hearts of men, may have known the man felt guilty and believed that sinful living had brought about his condition. He may have felt he was too great a sinner for Jesus to regard him. Therefore, Jesus, first calling him an endearing name, told him to take heart and be of cheer because his sins had been forgiven.
(3) And behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, "This man blasphemes!"
Some scribes who were witnessing this event, said either to themselves, or within their circle, but not aloud and openly, that Jesus blasphemed, because He had attributed to Himself the ability to forgive sins, that which only belonged to God.
(4) And Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?"
Although they had not said it aloud, Jesus knew the thoughts of the scribes, and asked them why they regarded Him as evil; and with that, knowing their thoughts as no mere man could know, He proved His power divine; only God can forgive sins and only God knows the hearts of men.
(5) "For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say 'Arise and walk'?"
These scribes had obviously seen or heard of Jesus's miraculous healings. How could He miraculously heal, other than by divine power of God? That same power that miraculously heals, forgives sins; both are equally easy to God, and equally difficult to mere man. The root cause of sickness and death in this world is sin, and Jesus had gone directly to the source of the sickness in this man.
(6) "But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins," then He said to the one sick of the palsy, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."
So that the scribes might know the truth, that the same One who had power on earth to miraculously heal, also had the power to forgive sins, Jesus told the paralytic to get up, take his bed, and go home. In other words, to prove to the scribes that He had the power and authority to forgive sins, He would perform the act of healing that they surely perceived to require the power of God.
(7) And he arose, and departed to his house.
The paralytic, perfectly healed, indeed rose up and went to his house.
(8) But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled, and glorified God, who had given such power to men.
That which was seen as evil and blasphemous to the scribes, was seen by the multitudes of people as a miracle of God, and they praised and glorified Him. At this point, they realized only God could do these things, and in their minds, Jesus was a mere man, but they saw Him as one to whom God had given great power.
(9) And as Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the custom house; and He said to him, "Follow Me." And he arose and followed Him.
Jesus went on from the place where He had healed the paralytic. He saw a man named Matthew (the author of this gospel account) sitting at the custom house, a place where taxes were collected. Matthew was also known as Levi, which some of the other gospel authors call him. Matthew was in the custom house, presumably in the midst of his business of collecting taxes, when Jesus called to him to follow Him. It appears he, without hesitation, immediately rose and followed Jesus.
(10) And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.
This same account in Luke says that Matthew himself had made a great feast in his own house for Jesus, and there was a great company of tax collectors and sinners who were at this feast. As Matthew had been a tax collector, it makes sense he would have known many such people.
(11) And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, "Why does your Master eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
When the Pharisees saw this, the account in Luke says they murmured against Jesus's disciples, asking why would their master or teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners, not daring to ask Jesus Himself aloud. Of course, the insinuation was that their master could not be righteous Himself if He associated with such people.
(12) But when Jesus heard that, He said to them, "Those who are well do not need a physician, but they who are sick."
Even though the Pharisees didn't have the courage to address Him, Jesus heard what they said, and addressed them directly. Jesus told them that those who were well did not need a physician, but it was the sick who needed Him, and He should be found among them. Likewise, those who would deem themselves righteous as the Pharisees obviously thought of themselves, then perhaps felt no need to have Him around them. However, to those sinners He came to heal and save them. Here Jesus represented Himself as the Great Physician of souls.
(13) "But you go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."
Jesus challenged the Pharisees to learn the meaning of the scripture Hosea 6:6, "For I desired mercy and not sacrifice." The meaning, of course, was that God preferred acts of mercy and kindness over ritual acts of religion. Jesus came for the merciful act of saving sinners, not for engaging in religious rituals with the righteous. Jesus told them He did not come to call the righteous to repentance, but He came for sinners; therefore it was right He should associate with them. Of course, all are sinners, but the Pharisees didn't see themselves that way, so Jesus was in essence telling them, if they were so righteous, then they didn't need Him, but these people did.
(14) Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?"
It appears that these disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus at Matthew's feast. It is probable that John was in prison by this time. His disciples probably correctly understood that John was the forerunner of the Messiah, so they didn't understand why there was this difference between John's disciples and Jesus's with regard to fasting. They were possibly grieving because of John's imprisonment, and at that time observing days of fasting; and they didn't understand why the followers of Jesus would not join with them in lamenting the captivity of the one who was the forerunner and baptizer of their Lord.
(15) And Jesus said to them, "Can the children of the bridechamber mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and then they will fast."
The 1599 Geneva Bible Translation Notes states that "children of the bridechamber" was a Hebrew idiom for those who were admitted into the marriage chamber as the groom's closest friends. Jesus's point was that while He, the bridegroom, was with them, it was a time of rejoicing, not mourning. However, He did say there would come a time when He, the bridegroom, would be taken away from them, and then they would mourn and would fast.
(16) "No man puts a piece of new cloth on an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up takes from the garment, and the tear is made worse."
This is a rather difficult verse to understand, but I believe the meaning is this: No one would put a new raw unwashed piece of cloth on an old garment and expect it to properly mend a hole. The patch of new cloth, when washed, would shrink and pull away from the garment and the tear would be made worse. Just like the children of the bridechamber could not be expected to mourn like those from without, that new patch of Christians could not be expected to wear like the old legalistic religious crowd. Luke put it this way in his account, "The piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old." Likewise, there was no agreement between the laws of God, that true spirit of the law Jesus was teaching them, and the old legalistic religious rituals of man. It would only make things worse to plop those new Christians into the old ways, expecting them to observe the old traditions of man. Either they would lose the true spirit of God's laws, or they would disrupt the old legalistic rituals. Just like the children of the bridechamber could not mourn, but only rejoice, so this new patch of Christians could not be expected to squelch the spirit and adhere to legalistic laws of man.
(17) "Neither do men put new wine into old bottles, else the bottles break and the wine runs out, and the bottles perish; but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved."
This one is even more difficult. However, when you realize that wine bottles back then were actually leather wineskins, it becomes easier to understand. New fermenting wine would soon burst old worn out wineskins. Once again, the new does not agree with the old. Expecting new growing spiritual Christians to fit into the old religion of legalistic rules would hurt both; the Christians' spirits would be squelched, and their actions would disrupt the legalistic rites of man. Once again, keeping these new Christians in their right place and time with Jesus, the bridegroom, preserves them, and doesn't disrupt the laws of man. Jesus was telling the disciples of John with these three examples, that there was a propriety for things, and at that present time, His disciples were doing what was proper at that time.
(18) While He spoke these things to them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshiped Him, saying, "My daughter is even now dead, but come and lay Your hand upon her, and she will live."
While Jesus was speaking to the disciples of John, a certain ruler came to Him. The accounts in Mark and Luke tell us this man's name was Jairus, and he was an elder of the synagogue. He indeed worshiped Jesus and fell down at His feet, according to the other accounts. From the other accounts, we get the picture that the man left his daughter at the point of death, and he imagined she would be dead by this time, or else he had been informed that she was indeed dead by then. This man demonstrated great faith in Jesus that with His touch, he knew his daughter would live. This is the first account in the Gospels of Jesus raising someone from the dead, although, chronologically, there had been one before this, described in Luke.
(19) And Jesus arose and followed Him, and so did His disciples.
It appears that Jesus immediately arose and followed the man to his home. His disciples followed, desiring to witness the miracle, I'm sure. Jesus could have instantly healed the girl without going to her, and may have healed her before she died. The reasons He didn't are at the least two-fold. One was to demonstrate to His disciples that they should spare no steps or pains to save a soul. The other was likely to give the child time to die, and He would perform a greater miracle. Why did Jesus have to perform a bigger miracle? He was teaching that He had power over everything--sickness, demons, weather, and even death.
(20) And behold, a woman who was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind and touched the hem of His garment. (21) For she said within herself, "If I may but touch His garment, I shall be whole."
While Jesus was on His way to Jairus's house, a woman who had been ill with a flow of blood for twelve years, came up behind Him and touched the hem of His garment. She felt that if she could only touch Jesus's garment, she would be healed and made whole."
(22) But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her, He said, "Daughter, be of good comfort; your faith has made you whole." And the woman was made whole from that hour.
When the woman touched His hem, Jesus turned around and spoke to her, telling her to be of good cheer, that her faith had healed her. She surely had demonstrated great faith in Him that merely touching the hem of His garment would heal her. She was healed or made whole, probably instantly. The original word that was translated as "hour" also meant "an instant," and knowing our Lord by His previous miracles, I am sure the healing was instantaneous.
(23) And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, (24) He said to them, "Make room, for the maiden is not dead, but sleeps." And they laughed Him to scorn.
By the time Jesus arrived at the ruler's house, his daughter was indeed dead. There were musicians and people lamenting her death. Jesus told them to make room for Him, that the girl was not dead, but only sleeping. To that statement, the people ridiculed Him for they "knew" her to be dead.
(25) But when the people were put out, He went in and took her by the hand, and the maiden arose.
When the people were moved out, Jesus went in to where the girl lay, and took her by the hand, and she arose.
(26) And the fame of this went abroad into all that land.
The report of this miracle of raising that girl from the dead went far and wide all over that countryside.
(27) And when Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, "Son of David, have mercy on us!"
When Jesus left Jairus's house where he had raised his daughter from the dead, two blind men followed Him, crying out to Him, calling Him the son of David, and asking Him to have mercy on them. These blind men seemed to have great faith that Jesus was the Messiah, that Son of David (Matthew 1:1), and He would open the eyes of the blind (Isaiah 35:5).
(28) And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him, and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord."
When Jesus had come into the house to which He had been going, the blind men followed Him. Jesus did not stop to talk to them as they followed Him on the way to the house, even though they were crying out to Him. This may have been to avoid an audience, or perhaps to test their faith, as He did then, asking them if they believed He could heal their blindness. They answered that yes, they believed He was able.
(29) Then He touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith let it be to you."
Jesus touched their eyes. He certainly did not have to touch them to heal them, but since they were blind, I believe it may have been an extra bit of communication demonstrating that the power to heal their eyes did come from Him. Jesus healed in many different ways, I believe to show His power was not limited to any one way, and to prove there was no one magic formula. He told the blind men that according to the great faith they had, they would receive the sight they believed He could grant.
(30) And their eyes were opened; and Jesus sternly charged them, saying, "See that no man knows."
Their eyes were immediately opened, meaning they could see. Jesus this time more sternly charged these recipients of miraculous healing not to tell anyone. How could they not tell? Even if they tried to keep such an amazing miracle a secret, it would become quite evident pretty soon afterward that they could now see. I believe the only explanation is that Jesus didn't want them to go out and immediately proclaim it. It is probably for the same reason that He didn't heal them until they came privately into the house. For one thing, Jesus did not heal for fame and vain glory; and He did not want to draw even more throngs of people that might hasten His persecution and crucifixion, as all things must be done in God's timing.
(31) But they, when they were departed, spread abroad His fame in all that country.
In spite of Jesus's stern command, the blind men went out and proclaimed far and wide what He had done for them, spreading His fame throughout all that country.
(32) As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a dumb man possessed with a devil.
When the blind men went out of the house, some other people brought to Jesus a mute man who was demon-possessed.
(33) And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spoke, and the multitudes marveled, saying, "It was never seen like this in Israel!"
Apparently, the muteness was not natural, but was demon-caused, for when Jesus cast out the demon, the mute man immediately spoke. The multitudes marveled, meaning a great number of people had come to witness the miracle, possibly being driven by the proclamation of the blind men as they were going out. They exclaimed there had never before been anything like the miracles of Jesus seen in Israel. Although there had been many miracles performed in Israel's past by Moses and the prophets, they had never seen anything like what Jesus could do.
(34) But the Pharisees said, "He casts out devils by the prince of the devils."
The Pharisees, who had begun to be envious and scornful of Jesus, absurdly remarked that He cast out demons by the power of the prince of the demons, Satan himself. They could not deny that Jesus had indeed cast out demons, nor could they deny that it was a good thing that He did in casting them out. Therefore, their only possible charge against Him was that He cast out demons by the power of Satan, which seems a ridiculous charge, because why would Satan want to cast devils out of people? But such is the wisdom of fools, as there is no wisdom against God (Proverbs 21:30).
(35) And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
Jesus went about all the cities and villages, not confining Himself to one area, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the good news of the kingdom of the Messiah, that is, that reconciliation to God was possible through salvation in the Messiah. Once again, it is stated that Jesus healed every sickness and disease among the people. Also I am once again reminded that Word of Faith followers believe this means every sickness and disease must now be healed if only we had the faith to believe Christ has already done it. He has indeed healed us from death, but He has not healed us from every disease we may possess on earth. I believe the hundred percent healings He did during His time was for the purpose of showing His power over all sin, sickness, and death. To not heal even one would have made fodder for the skeptics to say He was unable to heal that one. However, we have the knowledge that Christ did overcome all, even death, and now those miraculous healings are not always necessary. Yes, sometimes people are healed miraculously in this day and age. I have been witness to one remarkable healing. If that is God's will that it might be used for His glory and to bring more people to salvation, then He may choose to do it. However, it can also be His will to have people witness the faith and joy in someone even through his or her sickness, and that can make people want to know the reason and source of their joy (1 Peter 3:15).
(36) But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were faint and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
As Jesus went about all the cities and villages, He was moved with compassion for the multitudes of people He saw. They were weary in their minds and souls, tossed about and divided with the rites of religion and the doctrines of the Pharisees. Although they had many teachers, they had no one to care for their souls, and were lost as sheep with no shepherds.
(37) Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few."
Being moved by seeing all the people without a shepherd, Jesus told His disciples that the harvest of souls that were prepared to receive the truth of the gospel was plentiful, but there were few workers or ministers to bring them in to their place of salvation.
(38) "Therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest that He will send forth laborers into His harvest."
Jesus instructed His disciples to pray to God that He would send forth laborers to bring these lost souls to salvation. The original word "ekballo" that was translated as "send forth" was actually a much stronger emphatic word, meaning more like "eject" or "thrust forth." There was to be an urgency in the prayers for workers who had never before had occasion for work such as this. Therefore they were to be pushed outside their comfort zones into new territory, being led by the Holy Spirit and furnished with the grace and gifts necessary for the work.
This chapter presented many different healings by Jesus. Jesus healed all who came to Him, demonstrating His power over all sins and demons and even death. There is no sin so bad, nor any sinner so wicked, that cannot be forgiven by Jesus. There was also demonstrated in this chapter the perseverance of those coming to Christ in the case of the man on a cot being brought by others, and the woman who grabbed at Jesus's hem as He went by. So the poor sinner should let no obstacle stand in his way, but come to Jesus at once. We saw in this chapter strong instances of faith in Jesus to heal and even raise from the dead. We may be just as assured that Jesus will not turn any of us away who truly seek His salvation.
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