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What does Matthew 9 mean?

Chapter Commentary:

In chapter 9, Matthew continues to tell the stories of Jesus healing and casting out demons and even bringing the dead to life. Each story demonstrates that He is truly the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus repeatedly emphasizes that faith in Him is key to the healing experienced by many.

The friends of a paralyzed man bring him to Jesus to be healed. This account parallels the description given in the gospel of Mark (Mark 2:1–12). Jesus strangely begins by telling the man his sins are forgiven. To themselves, some scribes in the room accuse Jesus of blasphemy for presuming to do what only God can do: forgive sins. Jesus demonstrates that He has the authority of God to forgive sins by showing that He has the authority to heal the man. This brings a certain amount of fear, but the crowd also recognizes the work of God and offers appropriate praise (Matthew 9:1–8).

Jesus calls another of the twelve disciples when He sees Matthew sitting in a booth working as a tax collector. Men like Matthew worked for the occupying Roman government, taking money from their fellow Israelites. Many were corrupt, and all were hated. Tax collectors were seen as immoral traitors by the common people of Israel. Christ tells Matthew to follow Him. Matthew leaves behind his booth and becomes a disciple of Jesus. Soon, Jesus and the other disciples are having dinner at Matthew's house with Matthew's friends: tax collectors and other "sinners" (Matthew 9:9– 10).

The Pharisees ask Jesus' disciples why He eats with such people. In their minds, righteous people should not associate, in any way, with those who are immoral. Jesus gives a symbolic response, using the idea of doctors and sick people. In part, His point is that "sinners" are the very people to whom God's people ought to be ministering, just as the sick are those to whom a doctor is drawn. Christ is also pointing out that those who don't think they're sick—such as the self-deluded Pharisees—are not His mission, either. Jesus orders His critics to go learn what it means in Scripture when God says that He desires mercy and not sacrifice, quoting from the book of Hosea (Matthew 9:11–13).

The disciples of John the Baptist then ask why Jesus' disciples do not fast as they and the Pharisees do. This is not necessarily a hostile question. Jesus replies with three illustrations. First, why would the wedding guests mourn when the bridegroom is with them? They will fast when the bridegroom is taken away. Next, Jesus says that you don't put a new patch on an old garment or new wine in old wineskins. The old ways of thinking and acting—as Israel had become accustomed—were not meant to be crammed together with Christ's newer, better understanding (Matthew 9:14–17).

While this conversation is going on, a man comes to see Jesus, setting off a string of four amazing healing miracles in a row. This man is a ruler in the synagogue whose daughter has just died. Parallel accounts are found in Mark chapter 5 and Luke chapter 8, including additional details. The man says that if Jesus will come and lay His hand on the girl, she will live. While Jesus and the disciples are on their way to the man's house, a woman who has suffered for 12 years with a discharge of blood touches the edge of Jesus' cloak and is instantly healed. Jesus tells her that her faith has made her well (Matthew 9:18–22).

Jesus and the company finally come to the house of the synagogue ruler whose daughter has died. Professional mourners have already arrived to play instruments and wail. They laugh, though, when Jesus tells them to go away because the girl is not dead, only sleeping. Jesus then takes the girl's hand, and she stands up, alive (Matthew 9:23–26).

As Jesus makes His way back from that incredible moment, two blind men in the crowd begin to cry out, expressing faith in Jesus' healing ability as well as their view that He is the Messiah. When Jesus reaches the house, they come inside, and He heals them—after asking if they believe that He can. Despite Jesus' instructions, the men eagerly tell many people about what has happened (Matthew 9:27–31).

As the blind men are leaving, a demon-oppressed man is brought before Jesus. The demon has made the man unable to speak. Jesus casts the demon out, and the man begins to talk. The crowd around Jesus once again marvels. The Pharisees, though, decide that Jesus only casts out demons by the power of Satan. Their rejection of Christ is so powerful that even the most obvious signs are lost on them (Matthew 9:32–34).

Finally, Jesus looks out over the growing crowds of people who have come to see Him. He is moved with compassion for them. Matthew notes that the people are like lost sheep; this echoes comments Jesus makes elsewhere about being a "Good Shepherd," in comparison to the failed religious leaders who were misguiding Israel (John 10:11–13). Jesus instructs His followers to pray earnestly that the Lord will send laborers out to gather in the plentiful harvest (Matthew 9:35–38).

Matthew 9:1–8 finds Jesus teaching in a crowded house. The friends of a paralyzed man bring him to see Jesus. The gospel of Mark indicates that the crowd is massive, so the men make a hole in the roof and lower him down on his bed (Mark 2:3–4). Jesus tells the man his sins are forgiven. Some scribes in the room call this blasphemy. Jesus, though, demonstrates that He has the authority on earth to forgive sins by showing that He has the authority to tell the paralyzed man to stand up and walk home. The man does exactly that.

Matthew 9:9–13 begins with Jesus calling Matthew, a tax collector, to follow Him as His disciple. Soon, Jesus and His disciples are having dinner in Matthew's home with many tax collectors and others labelled as "sinners." In answer to a question from the Pharisees about why Jesus would eat with these people, He responds that the sick need a doctor, not the healthy. He tells the Pharisees to go learn the meaning of the Scripture in which God says that He desires mercy, not sacrifice. Jesus declares that He has come to call sinners, not the righteous.

Matthew 9:14–17 begins with a question from the disciples of John the Baptist. They want to know why Jesus' disciples do not fast as they and the Pharisees do. Jesus asks if the wedding guests should mourn while the bridegroom is with them. They will fast when the bridegroom is taken away. Then Jesus gives two more illustrations: Nobody would put a patch of new cloth on an old garment or new wine in an old wineskin.

Matthew 9:18–26 begins with the arrival of a ruler of the synagogue. He tells Jesus that his daughter has just died, but that she will live if Jesus comes and lays His hand on her (Mark 5:21–24). Jesus and the disciples are following the man to his house when a woman in the crowd touches the edge of Jesus' garment. As also indicated in the gospel of Mark, she is immediately healed from a 12-year illness (Mark 5:25–29). Arriving at the home of the man, Jesus sends away the professional mourners. He takes the dead girl's hand, and she is restored to life (Mark 5:35–43).

Matthew 9:27–34 describes the healing of two blind men and one mute man. The blind men follow Jesus in the crowd, crying out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David." They believe Jesus is the Messiah and that He can make them see. Jesus does so, but they disobey His command not to tell anyone. Next, a demon-oppressed man is brought to Jesus. The demon has made the man unable to speak. Jesus casts out the demon, and the man starts talking. The crowds marvel at this, but the Pharisees decide Jesus' power over demons comes from Satan.

Matthew 9:35–38 gives a wide-ranging overview of Jesus' earthly teaching and preaching ministry. It describes Jesus' great compassion while looking out over crowds of people who have come to see Him. He recognizes they are harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Christ tells His followers the harvest is plentiful, but there are too few workers. He commands those followers to pray earnestly that the Lord of the harvest will send out workers to gather it in.

Chapter Summary:

Matthew 9 continues to show how Jesus authenticated His claims to be the Messiah by powerful miracles of healing and casting out demons. He heals a paralyzed man after telling the man his sins are forgiven. He calls Matthew to follow Him and eats dinner with Matthew and other tax collectors. He answers questions from Pharisees and others. A woman who touches His cloak is healed from a 12–year illness, and Jesus raises a dead girl back to life. He restores sight to blind men and speech to one who is demon oppressed. He is filled with compassion for the crowds.

Chapter Context:

Matthew 9 follows the same pattern of Matthew 8, showing through miraculous works of healing that Jesus is truly the Messiah. Christ forgives the sins of a paralyzed man and heals him. He calls Matthew to follow Him and eats with tax collectors and sinners. A woman is healed by touching His garment and a dead girl is given life by the touch of His hand. Two blind men see, and Jesus casts out a demon, restoring speech to its victim. Finally, Jesus declares that the harvest is plentiful and tells His followers to pray for workers. Chapter 10 builds on this compassion as Jesus commissions the Twelve to go and deliver His gospel to the people.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.

Accessed 5/6/2024 6:51:28 PM