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.

Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralytic

So he stepped into a boat, crossed the lake again and came to his own town.

Some people brought him a paralyzed man lying on a mattress. When Yeshua saw their trust, he said to the paralyzed man, "Courage, son! Your sins are forgiven."

On seeing this, some of the Torah-teachers said among themselves, "This man is blaspheming!"

Yeshua, knowing what they were thinking, said, "Why are you entertaining evil thoughts in your hearts?

Tell me, which is easier to say -- `Your sins are forgiven' or `Get up and walk'?

But look! I will prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." He then said to the paralyzed man, "Get up, pick up your mattress, and go home!"

And the man got up and went home.

When the crowds saw this, they were awestruck and said a b'rakhah to God the Giver of such authority to human beings.

The Call of Matthew

As Yeshua passed on from there he spotted a tax-collector named Mattityahu sitting in his collection booth. He said to him, "Follow me!" and he got up and followed him.

WhileYeshua was in the house eating, many tax-collectors and sinners came and joined him and his talmidim at the meal.

When the P'rushim saw this, they said to his talmidim, "Why does your rabbi eat with tax-collectors and sinners?"

But Yeshua heard the question and answered, "The ones who need a doctor aren't the healthy but the sick.

As for you, go and learn what this means: `I want compassion rather than animal-sacrifices.' For I didn't come to call the `righteous,' but sinners!"

On Fasting, New Cloth, and New Wine

Next, Yochanan's talmidim came to him and asked, "Why is it that we and the P'rushim fast frequently, but your talmidim don't fast at all?"

Yeshua said to them, "Can wedding guests mourn while the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them; then they will fast.

No one patches an old coat with a piece of unshrunk cloth, because the patch tears away from the coat and leaves a worse hole.

Nor do people put new wine in old wineskins; if they do, the skins burst, the wine spills and the wineskins are ruined. No, they pour new wine into freshly prepared wineskins, and in this way both are preserved."

A Ruler’s Daughter and a Sick Woman

While he was talking, an official came in, kneeled down in front of him and said, "My daughter has just died. But if you come and lay your hand on her, she will live."

Yeshua, with his talmidim, got up and followed him.

A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years approached him from behind and touched the tzitzit on his robe.

For she said to herself, "If I can only touch his robe, I will be healed."

Yeshua turned, saw her and said, "Courage, daughter! Your trust has healed you." And she was instantly healed.

When Yeshua arrived at the official's house and saw the flute-players, and the crowd in an uproar,

he said, "Everybody out! The girl isn't dead, she's only sleeping!" And they jeered at him.

But after the people had been put outside, he entered and took hold of the girl's hand, and she got up.

News of this spread through all that region.

Jesus Heals the Blind and Mute

As Yeshua went on from there, two blind men began following him, shouting, "Son of David! Take pity on us!"

When he entered the house, the blind men came up, and Yeshua said to them, "Do you believe that I have the power to do this?" They replied, "Yes, sir."

Then he touched their eyes and said, "Let it happen to you according to your trust";

and their sight was restored. Yeshua warned them severely, "See that no one knows about it."

But instead, they went away and talked about him throughout that district.

As they were going, a man controlled by a demon and unable to speak was brought to Yeshua.

After the demon was expelled the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed. "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Isra'el," they said.

But the P'rushim said, "It is through the ruler of the demons that he expels demons."

The Harvest is Plentiful

Yeshua went about all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and weakness.

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

Then he said to his talmidim, "The harvest is rich, but the workers are few.

Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out workers to gather in 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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Matthew9

Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralytic

The Call of Matthew

On Fasting, New Cloth, and New Wine

A Ruler’s Daughter and a Sick Woman

Jesus Heals the Blind and Mute

The Harvest is Plentiful

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