Matthew 9

Matthew 9 captures a series of miraculous events and teachings of Jesus that highlight His authority and compassion. The chapter begins with Jesus healing a paralyzed man, forgiving sins, and challenging religious leaders who question His actions. He calls Matthew, a tax collector, to be His disciple, which draws criticism due to Matthew's background. Jesus also addresses questions on fasting, heals a woman with a long-term ailment, raises a girl from the dead, and heals two blind men. The chapter ends with Jesus’ deep compassion for the multitudes, emphasizing the need for laborers in His harvest.

Matthew 9:1-2 (NKJV)
1 So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city.
2 Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”

Jesus’ return to His own city, likely Capernaum, brings a scene of faith as friends bring a paralyzed man to Him. Recognizing their faith, Jesus prioritizes the man’s spiritual condition by forgiving his sins. This highlights Jesus' authority not only over physical ailments but over sin itself, demonstrating that His mission is both spiritual and physical.

Matthew 9:3-8 (NKJV)
3 And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!”
4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?
5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’?
6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
7 And he arose and departed to his house.
8 Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.

The scribes silently accuse Jesus of blasphemy for claiming the authority to forgive sins, a power they believed belonged to God alone. Jesus perceives their thoughts and challenges them by performing the physical healing as a demonstration of His divine authority. The crowd's awe and praise underscore Jesus' role as God’s representative, embodying both authority and compassion.

Matthew 9:9 (NKJV)
9 As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.

Jesus’ calling of Matthew, a tax collector, marks a significant moment, as tax collectors were generally despised for their association with Roman authorities and perceived corruption. Matthew’s immediate response of leaving his position to follow Jesus reveals his readiness for transformation and the inclusive nature of Jesus’ ministry.

Matthew 9:10-13 (NKJV)
10 Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.
11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
13 But 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’ association with tax collectors and sinners challenges the Pharisees’ perception of righteousness. His response underscores that His mission is to offer healing and salvation to those who recognize their need for it. By quoting Hosea, Jesus reminds them that God values mercy over mere ritual, emphasizing compassion over rigid adherence to religious formalities.

Matthew 9:14-17 (NKJV)
14 Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?”
15 And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.
16 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse.
17 Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

When John the Baptist's disciples ask why Jesus’ disciples do not fast, Jesus compares His presence to a wedding feast, stating that "the groom" is with them, so it is not a time for fasting. The idea of a wedding feast highlights the joy and celebration of His ministry. Fasting, in this context, would be inappropriate while the Bridegroom (Jesus) is present. Jesus uses this analogy to explain that His coming brings a time of rejoicing and renewal, not mourning. He then shifts to the analogy of new wine in new wineskins, emphasizing that His teachings represent a new covenant that cannot fit into the old Jewish religious structures. The Old Testament rituals, like fasting, were part of a temporary system, while the New Testament inaugurated by Jesus is a fresh and transformative way of relating to God, requiring an open and flexible mindset.

Matthew 9:18-26 (NKJV)
18 While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.”
19 So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples.
20 And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment.
21 For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.”
22 But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.
23 When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing,
24 He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him.
25 But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose.
26 And the report of this went out into all that land.

Two miracles unfold, highlighting Jesus’ authority over both disease and death. A ruler asks Jesus to heal his dead daughter, believing that Jesus can restore her to life. On the way to the house, a woman suffering from a bleeding condition for twelve years touches Jesus’ garment, believing that even this small act will heal her, and she is made well. Jesus, recognizing her faith, assures her that it is her faith that has healed her. Upon arriving at the ruler’s house, Jesus tells the mourners that the girl is "not dead, but sleeping," using the metaphor of sleep to signify that death is not permanent for Him. He raises her from the dead, showcasing His divine power over death. This passage underscores the themes of faith, restoration, and Jesus’ sovereignty over life and death, offering hope to those who trust in Him.

Matthew 9:27-31 (NKJV)
27 When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!”
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.”
29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.”
30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, “See that no one knows it.”
31 But when they had departed, they spread the news about Him in all that country.

Two blind men follow Jesus, crying out for mercy and acknowledging Him as the "Son of David," a messianic title. Jesus asks them if they believe He can heal them, and they affirm their faith. He then touches their eyes, saying, "According to your faith let it be to you," and they are immediately healed. Jesus warns them sternly to keep the healing quiet, but they go out and spread the news about Him throughout the region. The reason Jesus tells them to remain silent is likely to avoid premature publicity of His messianic identity and mission. Jesus was cautious about revealing His full identity too early, as it could provoke opposition from religious leaders and hinder the timing of His ministry, which was centered on fulfilling God's plan, not merely attracting attention. His caution is also consistent with the theme of "Messianic secret," where He controls when and how His true nature as the Messiah is revealed.

Matthew 9:32-34 (NKJV)
32 As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed.
33 And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying, “It was never seen like this in Israel!”
34 But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons.”

The healing of the mute man elicits amazement from the crowd, who recognize the unprecedented nature of Jesus’ work. However, the Pharisees, refusing to acknowledge Jesus’ divine authority, attribute His power to demonic sources, showing their resistance and blindness to God’s work through Him.

Matthew 9:35-38 (NKJV)
35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

The chapter concludes with Jesus’ compassion for the people, likening them to shepherdless sheep. Recognizing the vast needs and the lack of workers, Jesus encourages His disciples to pray for more laborers, underscoring both the urgency and the shared responsibility of His mission.