Matthew 9

Summary. Chapter 8 shows that the Lord Jesus has authority and power over the Word, sicknesses, spirits, and the winds and the sea. In Chapter 9, we see the same trend of authority and power, including authority over the forgiveness of sins. All these show people that the Lord Jesus is the Lord above all, and He is God. Throughout this chapter, we see four themes. 1) Jesus is the Lord above all, and He is God. a) He has the authority to forgive sins and the power to heal and give life. He forgives sins and heals a paralytic, restores the ruler’s daughter to life by His word, heals a woman with bleeding when she touches His garment, and heals two blind men by touching their eyes. b) The Lord Jesus has authority over spirits. He heals the demon-oppressed man who is mute. c) He has authority over the Word. He tells Matthew, “Follow me,” and Matthew leaves his job and follows the Lord Jesus. Afterward, the Lord teaches the way at the sinner’s table. 2) The Lord Jesus shows mercy on the messenger (John). He tells John’s disciples that they cannot mix John's teachings with the Pharisees’ teachings by giving them the parables of the old garment and old wineskins. 3) The Lord Jesus is accused directly and indirectly by the Pharisees. Crowds follow the Lord, causing the jealousy of the Pharisees and scribes to grow, and they start to bring public accusations against His work on earth. 4) The harvest is plentiful, and the laborers are few. The Lord Jesus has compassion on the crowds and tells His disciples to pray for mercy from the Father to open the way for the disciples to work in the harvest.

[1] And He entered into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city.

Comments Matthew 9:1 “... His own city.” The city of Nazareth (See Matthew 2:23).

[2] And behold, they brought to Him a paralytic, lying on a mat. And Jesus having seen their faith said to the paralytic, Son, be of good courage; your sins are forgiven.

Comments Matthew 9:2 The Lord saw the faith in this man. His heart was searching for the Lord, not for healing. He came to worship the Lord. The Lord showed him mercy according to his heart. Forgiveness of sins and healing were given.

[3] And behold, certain of the scribes said to themselves, This blasphemes.

[4] And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, So, why do you think evil in your hearts?

[5] For which is easier, to say, Your sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and walk?

[6] But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on the earth to forgive sins… Then He says to the paralytic, Arise, take up your mat, and go up to your family.

Comments Matthew 9:6 The paralytic’s healing shows that the Son of Man has the authority to forgive sins. He has authority over every living breath on earth. Even sickness is also under His authority; Jesus is the Lord of all.

[7] And having arisen, he departed to his family.

[8] When the multitudes saw it, they were afraid, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

[9] And Jesus passing by from there, He saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the tax booth; and He says to him, Follow Me. And having arisen, he followed Him.

Comments Matthew 9:9 The Lord Jesus’ disciples are special. They do not see but feel the authority of Jesus; they feel they belong to the Lord Jesus. The disciples’ eyes were open to see the Lord Jesus, not because the Lord Jesus looked different, but because their eyes and hearts were open to see Him as their Lord.

[10] And it happened: He was reclining in the house, and behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and His disciples.

Comments Matthew 9:10 By the title, Teacher, they invite the Lord Jesus as a teacher, not as a guest. The door is open, and the teacher’s duty is to teach them. However, as a participant, you cannot attend such gatherings; if they invite you as a speaker, you can go.
See also Luke 5:27-30.

[11] And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, Why does your Teacher eat with the tax collectors and sinners?

Comments Matthew 9:11 The Lord Jesus joined the food but did not join the lifestyle of the tax collectors and sinners. The purpose of joining is important. Do not join to be alike, but join to show a different lifestyle. The purpose the Lord joined the table was to teach them, not to follow them.

[12] And having heard, He said, Those being strong have no need of a physician, but those being sick.

[13] However, you go, learn what it is: I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.

[14] Then came to Him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Thy disciples do not fast?

Comments Matthew 9:14 Notice the term “Pharisees” used in their question. John’s disciples mingled with the Pharisees and wanted to accept their teachings and abandon John’s teachings. That is why the Lord Jesus gave them the old garment and the old wine-skins parables. It was wrong for John’s disciples to mingle with the Pharisees and listen to their advice. Here, the Lord has mercy on the messenger, John, and He teaches John’s disciples to go back to him and not to mingle with the Pharisees.

[15] And Jesus said to them, The sons of the bridechamber cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them; however, the days will come, when the bridegroom will be lift off from them, and then they will fast.

Comments Matthew 9:15 In this verse, the Lord speaks of what will come later. Jesus’ love is greater than His own suffering. His suffering on the cross is not just for them alone, but for all humans, and not just for now but until everyone will be judged.

[16] However, no one puts a patch of unprepared cloth upon an old garment; for the filling up of it tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made.

Comments Matthew 9:16 In this parable, the Lord tells the disciples of John to separate themselves from the Pharisees.

[17] Neither pour they new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wineskins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are destroyed; but they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.

Comments Matthew 9:16-17 The “unprepared (unshrunk) cloth” and the “new wine” represent the new teachings of John about the Messiah being the Lamb of God who is coming to sacrifice Himself for the human race (See John 1:29).
The “old garment” and the “old wineskins” represent the teachings of the Pharisees and scribes. They promote their word to have equal authority with God’s Word. But this is an abomination to put themselves at the same level as God.
The “tear” and “burst” mean that the new teachings of John cannot be mixed with the teachings of the Pharisees. The parables show John’s disciples that the Pharisees will not accept the new teachings of John and will reject them. And for them, trying to mix the two teachings was wrong and will damage their calling.

[18] While He was speaking these things to them, behold, a certain ruler came, kneeling down to Him, saying, My daughter just now has died; but come, lay Thy hand upon her, and she will live.

Comments Matthew 9:18 This ruler acknowledges the Lord's authority above all, both the dead and the living. He actually acknowledged the Lord Jesus as God in front of people.

[19] And Jesus arose, followed him, also His disciples.

[20] And behold, a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, having come behind, touched the fringe of His garment;

[21] for she said within herself, If I only may touch His garment, I will be healed.

[22] And Jesus turning and seeing her said, Daughter, take courage; your faith has healed you. And the woman was healed from that hour.

Comments Matthew 9:20-22 This woman, if she touches something that belongs to Jesus, in her belief, His power is there as well. Her faith has paid her well. For more comments about this healing, see also Mark 5:25-34) and Luke 8:43-48).

[23] And Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute-players, and the crowd making a commotion;

[24] He said, Depart: for the damsel is not dead, but sleeps. And they ridiculed Him.

Comments Matthew 9:24 “... the damsel is not dead, but sleeps.” The ruler’s daughter was not dead yet; she was just in a coma. Her spirit was still holding onto her body.

[25] Now when the crowd had been put out, He entered in, took hold of her hand, and the damsel arose.

Comments Matthew 9:25 “… and the damsel arose.” The girl’s spirit was stuck in the dark and could not find the way back to her body. The body cannot wake up without the spirit. The Lord Jesus opened the path for her spirit to join back with her body. He commanded the spirit to join back with the soul and body and be at peace.

[26] And this report went out into all that land.

[27] And as Jesus passed by from there, two blinds followed Him, crying out, and saying, Have mercy on us, Son of David.

Comments Matthew 9:27 David was as God in the eyes of people. These ones really recognized the Lord Jesus as the Son of God. See also Comments Mark 10:46-52.

[28] Now having come into the house, the blinds came to Him, and Jesus says to them, Do you believe that I am able to do this? They say to Him, Yes, Lord.

Comments Matthew 9:28 “... the blinds came to Him.” This shows action from these ones who are seeking the mercy of the Lord. They believe that the Lord Jesus can heal them.
“... They say to Him, Yes, Lord.” These blinds were blind in their eyes, but they could see with their hearts, and they acknowledged the Lord Jesus as God.

[29] Then He touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith let it be to you.

Comments Matthew 9:29 The Lord Jesus touched their eyes because they acknowledged Him as God.

[30] And their eyes were opened. And Jesus strictly instructed them, saying, See that no one knows.

Comments Matthew 9:30 “See that no one knows.” The Lord Jesus wants people to come to Him because of the message He brings, not because of the works He does on earth. He wants people to believe that He is the Son of God and He is the way to heaven.

[31] But they went out; they made Him known in all that land.

Comments Matthew 9:31 They did a good work. They told and showed people who the Lord Jesus was with proof. The Lord wants us to do works for Him by our own initiative from our hearts, without Him telling us. What the Lord puts in our hearts, and not what we think with our heads, is what we should do.

[32] And as they were going out, behold, they brought to Him a mute man possessed by a demon.

Comments Matthew 9:32 Because the Lord Jesus was on the earth, and now, because the Holy Spirit occupies the earth, these dark things cannot show their power anymore.

[33] And when the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke; and the multitudes marveled, saying, It was never thus seen in Israel.

[34] Now the Pharisees said, By the chief of the demons He casts out demons.

[35] And Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness.

Comments Matthew 9:35 “... proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom.” The Gospel’s main points are:
1. The forgiveness of sins through the Son of God.
2. A chance to be forgiven by the Father through His Son.
3. The Lord Jesus is the only way out for humankind.
4. Come to the Lord Jesus.

[36] Now having seen the multitudes, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and cast aside, as sheep not having a shepherd.

[37] Then He says to His disciples, The harvest indeed is plentiful, however, the laborers are few.

Comments Matthew 9:37 "The harvest indeed is plentiful" means that there are many lost souls.
“The laborers” are the ones who are willing to leave everything and work for the Lord; the pay given to them will be according to their commitment.

[38] Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest, that He sends out laborers into His harvest.

Comments Matthew 9:38 "The Lord of the harvest" is the Father.
"His harvest" refers to the lost souls in the world.

Life and Faith Applications. 1) We must believe that the Lord Jesus is God. His works testify to this, and we should not doubt His authority and power as God. 2) We cannot mix the teachings of the Lord with any other human teachings. 3) We must always pray to the Father, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit for missionaries, pastors, and workers.