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

1
He entered into a boat, and crossed over, and came into his own city. ​
2
Behold, they brought to him a man who was paralyzed, lying on a bed. Yeshua, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, cheer up! Your sins are forgiven you.” ​
3
Behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man blasphemes.” ​
4
Yeshua, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? ​
5
For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk?’
6
But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...” (then he said to the paralytic), “Get up, and take up your mat, and go up to your house.” ​
7
He arose and departed to his house.
8
But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such authority to men. ​

The Call of Matthew

9
As Yeshua passed by from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax collection office. He said to him, “Follow me.” He got up and followed him. ​
10
As he sat in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Yeshua and his disciples. ​
11
When the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, “Why does your rabbi eat with tax collectors and sinners?” ​
12
When Yeshua heard it, he said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do. ​
13
But you go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. ” ​

On Fasting, New Cloth, and New Wine

14
Then Yochanan’s disciples came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don’t fast?”
15
Yeshua 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 would tear away from the garment, and a worse hole is made. ​
17
Neither do people put new wine into old wine skins, or else the skins would burst, and the wine be spilled, and the skins ruined. No, they put new wine into fresh wine skins, and both are preserved.”

A Ruler’s Daughter and a Sick Woman

18
While he told 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
Yeshua got up and followed him, as did his disciples.
20
Behold, a woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years came behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment; ​
21
for she said within herself, “If I just touch his garment, I will be made well.”
22
But Yeshua, turning around and seeing her, said, “Daughter, cheer up! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour. ​
23
When Yeshua came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players, and the crowd in noisy disorder,
24
he said to them, “Make room, because the girl isn’t dead, but sleeping.” They were ridiculing him. ​
25
But when the crowd was put out, he entered in, took her by the hand, and the girl arose. ​
26
The report of this went out into all that land.

Jesus Heals the Blind and Mute

27
As Yeshua passed by from there, two blind men followed him, calling out and saying, “Have mercy on us, son of David!” ​
28
When he had come into the house, the blind men came to him. Yeshua said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They told him, “Yes, Lord.”
29
Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” ​
30
Their eyes were opened. Yeshua strictly commanded them, saying, “See that no one knows about this.” ​
31
But they went out and spread abroad his fame in all that land.
32
As they went out, behold, a mute man who was demon possessed was brought to him.
33
When the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke. The multitudes marveled, saying, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!”
34
But the Pharisees said, “By the prince of the demons, he casts out demons.” ​

The Harvest is Plentiful

35
Yeshua went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people. ​
36
But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd. ​
37
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the laborers are few. ​
38
Pray therefore that the Lord of the harvest will send out laborers 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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