Matthew9

Jesus demonstrates his authority by forgiving sins and healing a paralytic, then calls Matthew, a publican, to follow him. He teaches about new wine and new garments, and performs several miracles, including healing a woman with an issue of blood, raising a ruler's daughter, and restoring sight and speech. The chapter concludes with Jesus' compassion for the scattered multitudes and his call for more laborers.
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Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralytic

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Jesus got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own town. ​
2
Just then some men brought to Him a paralytic lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.” ​
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On seeing this, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming!” ​
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But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Why do you harbor evil in your hearts? ​
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Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk?’
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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, pick up your mat, and go home.” ​
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And the man got up and went home.
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When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe and glorified God, who had given such authority to men. ​

The Call of Matthew

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As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. “Follow Me,” He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him. ​
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Later, as Jesus was dining at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him and His disciples. ​
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When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” ​
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On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. ​
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But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” ​

On Fasting, New Cloth, and New Wine

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At that time John’s disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast so often, but Your disciples do not fast?”
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Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while He is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast. ​
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No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. For the patch will pull away from the garment, and a worse tear will result. ​
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Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will spill, and the wineskins will be ruined. Instead, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

A Ruler’s Daughter and a Sick Woman

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While Jesus was saying these things, a synagogue leader came and knelt before Him. “My daughter has just died,” he said. “But come and place Your hand on her, and she will live.” ​
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So Jesus got up and went with him, along with His disciples.
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Suddenly a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak. ​
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She said to herself, “If only I touch His cloak, I will be healed.”
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Jesus turned and saw her. “Take courage, daughter,” He said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was cured from that very hour. ​
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When Jesus entered the house of the synagogue leader, He saw the flute players and the noisy crowd.
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“Go away,” He told them. “The girl is not dead, but asleep.” And they laughed at Him. ​
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After the crowd had been put outside, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. ​
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And the news about this spread throughout that region.

Jesus Heals the Blind and Mute

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As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” ​
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After Jesus had entered the house, the blind men came to Him. “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” He asked. “Yes, Lord,” they answered.
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Then He touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you.” ​
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And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one finds out about this!” ​
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But they went out and spread the news about Him throughout the land.
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As they were leaving, a demon-possessed man who was mute was brought to Jesus.
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And when the demon had been driven out, the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!”
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But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that He drives out demons.” ​

The Harvest is Plentiful

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Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness. ​
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When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ​
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Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. ​
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Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.”

Study Notes for Matthew 9

Verse 1

"His own city" refers to Capernaum (cf. Matt 4:13), which served as Jesus' primary base of operations in Galilee after leaving Nazareth.

Verse 2

Jesus addresses the man's spiritual need first, demonstrating that his primary mission includes dealing with the root problem of sin, not just physical ailment.

Verse 3

The scribes correctly understood that only God could forgive sins; their error was failing to recognize Jesus’ divine authority as the Son of Man.

Verse 4

Jesus demonstrates divine knowledge by perceiving their internal, unvoiced criticisms, further validating his claim to authority.

Verse 6

Jesus performs the physical healing as visible proof of the invisible authority he claimed—the power to forgive sins. 'Son of man' emphasizes both his humanity and his divine, authoritative role.

Verse 8

The crowds, still operating under a Jewish monotheistic framework, marvel that God has given such power to 'men,' perhaps not fully grasping Jesus' unique identity.

Verse 9

Matthew (also called Levi in Mark and Luke) was a tax collector (publican), a profession despised by Jews due to their collaboration with Rome and reputation for extortion.

Verse 10

Sharing a meal indicated fellowship and acceptance. Jesus' willingness to eat with 'publicans and sinners' violated the strict separation practices observed by the religious elite.

Verse 11

The Pharisees criticize the disciples, attempting to challenge Jesus' authority indirectly through his students.

Verse 12

This metaphor clarifies Jesus' mission: he views himself as a divine physician, seeking out those who recognize their spiritual sickness.

Verse 13

Jesus quotes Hosea 6:6, emphasizing that God values compassion and mercy (hesed) over external religious observance ('sacrifice'). This prioritizes relationship over ritual.

Verse 15

Jesus compares himself to the 'bridegroom,' a traditional messianic image. While the Bridegroom is present, celebration is appropriate; fasting will be necessary only after his departure (his death).

Verse 16

This parable emphasizes that the vitality and freedom of the Gospel cannot be contained within the rigid, outdated structures of Pharisaic Judaism.

Verse 18

Matthew merges two separate miracles into one continuous narrative, demonstrating Jesus' limitless power over death and disease. The 'ruler' was likely a leader in the local synagogue.

Verse 20

The woman’s condition rendered her perpetually ritually unclean (Lev 15:25-27). Her faith allowed her to bypass social and ritual barriers to seek healing.

Verse 22

Jesus affirms that the healing occurred not due to the magical power of his garment, but through the woman’s active faith. The term 'Daughter' is one of tenderness and restoration.

Verse 24

Jesus’ statement that the girl 'sleepeth' is a common biblical euphemism for death, emphasizing that death is temporary and reversible for those in Christ.

Verse 25

The raising of the dead is the ultimate demonstration of messianic authority (cf. Isa 26:19).

Verse 27

The title 'Son of David' is a specific messianic designation, acknowledging Jesus as the rightful heir to the Davidic throne and the expected deliverer of Israel.

Verse 29

This miracle emphasizes the direct link between the recipient’s faith and the power of God working through Jesus.

Verse 30

Jesus often commanded silence (the 'Messianic Secret') to manage the crowds, prevent premature political revolt, and allow his ministry to develop toward the cross.

Verse 34

This verse introduces the first major accusation that Jesus’ power is demonic, a charge that will escalate significantly in Matthew 12.

Verse 35

This verse functions as a summary statement, concluding the extensive miracle section (chapters 8-9) and setting the stage for the mission of the twelve disciples in chapter 10.

Verse 36

Jesus’ compassion is the motivation for his ministry. The image of the people as 'sheep having no shepherd' evokes prophetic passages (e.g., Ezek 34:5) lamenting Israel's poor leadership.

Verse 37

The 'harvest' refers to the gathering of people into the Kingdom of God. The mission is urgent and the potential converts are numerous, but the workers are few.

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