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Journey Through the Bible

Matthew 9 Matthew 9 - Jesus heals and forgives sins

1 Jesus Heals a Paralytic
Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town.

2 Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”

3 At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”

4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?

5 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?

6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” Then he said to the paralytic, “Get up, take your mat and go home.”

7 And the man got up and went home.

8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.

9 The Calling of Matthew
As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.

11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”

12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

14 Jesus Questioned About Fasting
Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?”

15 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

16 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse.

17 Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

18 A Dead Girl and a Sick Woman
While he was saying this, a ruler came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.”

19 Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.

20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.

21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”

22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment.

23 When Jesus entered the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd,

24 he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him.

25 After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.

26 News of this spread through all that region.

27 Jesus Heals the Blind and Mute
As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”

28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”
“Yes, Lord,” they replied.

29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you”;

30 and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.”

31 But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.

32 While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus.

33 And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”

34 But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”

35 The Workers Are Few
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.

36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Analysis of Matthew Chapter 9

Matthew Chapter 9 presents a series of miracles and teachings by Jesus Christ that display His divine authority and compassion. This chapter is rich in theological significance, demonstrating not just the power of Jesus to heal physical ailments but also to forgive sins and bring spiritual restoration. Let’s delve deeper into an insightful analysis of the verses in this chapter, offering detailed explanations and interpretations.

Verses 1-8: The Healing of the Paralytic

The chapter opens with the compelling story of Jesus healing a paralyzed man. Upon seeing the faith of those who brought him, Jesus tells the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven” (Matthew 9:2). This declaration surprises the onlookers, particularly the scribes who think Jesus is blaspheming. In response, Jesus demonstrates His divine authority by telling the man to “Get up, take your mat and go home,” leading to the man’s immediate healing.

This miracle holds significant theological weight, especially in its demonstration of Jesus’s authority to forgive sins. In Jewish belief, only God could forgive sins. By asserting this authority, Jesus indirectly claims His divine nature. The physical healing acts as a visible sign that underscores the invisible reality of spiritual healing.

Verses 9-13: The Calling of Matthew

Next, we see the calling of Matthew, the tax collector, to become a disciple. Jesus sees Matthew sitting at the tax booth and simply says, “Follow me,” and Matthew immediately follows. This scene shows Jesus reaching out to individuals considered sinners and outcasts by society. Tax collectors were particularly despised because they often exploited people for personal gain and worked for the occupying Roman forces.

When questioned by the Pharisees about His association with tax collectors and sinners, Jesus responds with, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matthew 9:12-13). This underscores Jesus’s mission to bring redemption and transformation to those who are spiritually lost.

Verses 14-17: The Question about Fasting

In this passage, John’s disciples ask Jesus why His disciples do not fast. Jesus responds by likening His presence among them to the presence of a bridegroom with his guests at a wedding feast. He further explains that the time for fasting will come when the bridegroom is taken away.

His response shifts the understanding of fasting from a ritualistic practice to a sign of deeper spiritual reality. Jesus’s presence brings a new dimension to worship and piety, emphasizing joy and celebration over somber ritualism. The analogy of the new cloth and new wine skins (verses 16-17) further illustrates the transformative nature of Jesus’s ministry, which is incompatible with the old forms of religious practice.

Verses 18-26: The Raising of a Dead Girl and the Healing of a Woman with a Hemorrhage

This section combines two intertwined stories of miraculous healing. A synagogue leader named Jairus approaches Jesus, requesting Him to heal his dying daughter. As Jesus heads to Jairus’s house, a woman suffering from chronic bleeding touches His cloak, believing she will be healed. Her faith heals her, and Jesus acknowledges this by saying, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has healed you” (Matthew 9:22).

Upon reaching Jairus’s house, Jesus raises the girl from death, which astonishes the onlookers. Both miracles highlight the power of faith and Jesus’s divine authority over life and death. The woman’s healing emphasizes personal faith, while Jairus’s daughter’s resurrection underscores Jesus’s mastery over even death, foreshadowing His own resurrection.

Verses 27-31: The Healing of the Blind Men

Two blind men follow Jesus, crying out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” This title, “Son of David,” acknowledges Jesus’s messianic role. When they enter the house, Jesus asks, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They respond affirmatively, and Jesus heals them, attributing their healing to their faith.

This interaction emphasizes the importance of faith as the conduit for receiving Jesus’s blessings. The rapid spread of Jesus’s fame following this miracle underscores the populist impact of His ministry.

Verses 32-34: The Healing of a Mute Man

A demon-possessed man who is mute is brought to Jesus, who casts out the demon, enabling the man to speak. The crowd is amazed, but the Pharisees accuse Jesus of casting out demons by the power of the prince of demons.

This opposition from the Pharisees marks a growing animosity towards Jesus. Their inability to reconcile Jesus’s divine power with their expectations of the Messiah leads them to irrational and hostile explanations. This passage sets the stage for the eventual conflict that will lead to Jesus’s crucifixion.

Verses 35-38: The Compassion of Jesus

The chapter concludes by summarizing Jesus’s ministry of teaching, preaching, and healing. It highlights His deep compassion for the crowds, describing them as “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). Jesus’s compassion leads Him to urge His disciples to pray for laborers to be sent into the harvest, indicating the vastness of the spiritual need and the urgency of the mission.

This final section underscores the core of Jesus’s ministry: compassionate outreach to the lost and suffering. It also serves as a call to Jesus’s followers to participate in this compassionate mission, preparing them for their future role as bearers of the gospel.

Thematic Insights

Several themes run through Matthew Chapter 9, providing profound insights into Jesus’s ministry and its implications:

  1. Divine Authority: Jesus showcases His authority over physical ailments, demons, sin, and even death. Each miracle serves to underscore His divine nature and the power inherent in His ministry.
  2. Faith: The faith of those seeking Jesus’s help is a recurrent theme. Whether it is the paralytic, the woman with the hemorrhage, or the blind men, faith acts as the conduit through which Jesus’s healing power flows.
  3. Compassion: Jesus’s actions are driven by deep compassion for the suffering and lost. His mission is characterized by a heartfelt concern for humanity’s physical and spiritual well-being.
  4. Inclusivity: Jesus reaches out to societal outcasts such as tax collectors, sinners, and the ritually unclean. His ministry breaks down barriers, extending God’s grace to all, irrespective of their social standing.
  5. Conflict: The chapter also highlights the growing conflict between Jesus and the religious authorities. Their resistance and accusations stem from an inability or unwillingness to accept Jesus’s divine authority and message.

Practical Applications

Matthew Chapter 9 offers several practical applications for modern readers:

  1. Faith in Action: The examples of faith in this chapter encourage readers to trust Jesus with their deepest needs, believing in His power to bring transformation.
  2. Compassion: Jesus’s compassion serves as a model for how His followers should approach those who are suffering or marginalized. Compassionate action is intrinsic to genuine discipleship.
  3. Mission: Jesus’s call for laborers in the harvest fields challenges believers to engage actively in evangelism and service, addressing both physical and spiritual needs in their communities.
  4. Welcoming the Outcast: By reaching out to outcasts, Jesus teaches the importance of inclusivity and breaking social barriers. Modern followers are called to embody this inclusive love in their relationships and ministry.

In conclusion, Matthew Chapter 9 is a powerful testament to Jesus’s divine authority, compassionate mission, and the centrality of faith. It invites readers to deeper trust in Jesus, compassionate outreach to others, and active participation in His mission. By understanding and applying these insights, modern believers can align themselves more closely with the heart and mission of Jesus, reflecting His love and power in their own lives and communities.

Understanding the Key Messages in Matthew 9: Insights and Explanation

In Matthew 9, Jesus performs various miracles, including healing a paralyzed man, raising a dead girl to life, and restoring sight to the blind. He also calls Matthew, a tax collector, to be His disciple. Jesus emphasizes compassion and forgiveness, challenging the religious leaders' criticism with His authority. He encourages His followers to pray for workers in the harvest. This chapter showcases Jesus' power, compassion, and ministry to both physical and spiritual needs.

Notes

This chapter highlights Jesus' power to heal, forgive sins, and call sinners to be His disciples. It emphasizes the importance of compassion and challenges religious legalism.