Matthew 9
9
A Paralytic Healed
1And Jesus, getting into a boat, crossed over the Sea of Galilee and came to [Capernaum] His own city.
2They brought to Him a man who was paralyzed, lying on a stretcher. Seeing their [active] faith [springing from confidence in Him], Jesus said to the paralytic, “Do not be afraid, son; your sins are forgiven [the penalty is paid, the guilt removed, and you are declared to be in right standing with God].” 3And some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man blasphemes [by claiming the rights and prerogatives of God]!” 4But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven and the penalty paid,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? [Both are possible for God; both are impossible for man.] 6But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority and the power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your stretcher and go home.” 7And he got up and went home [healed and forgiven]. 8When the crowds saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God and praised Him, who had given such authority and power to men.
Matthew Called
9As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew (Levi) sitting in the tax collector’s booth; and He said to him, “Follow Me [as My disciple, accepting Me as your Master and Teacher and walking the same path of life that I walk].” And Matthew got up and followed Him.
10Then as Jesus was reclining at the table in Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and #This description would include non-observant Jews, those who rejected Pharisaic ordinances and interpretations of the Law, as well as others who flaunted the rules of morality and civil law.sinners [including non-observant Jews] came and ate with Him and His disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Master eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12But when Jesus heard this, He said, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but [only] those who are sick. 13Go and learn what this [Scripture] means: ‘I desire compassion [for those in distress], and not [animal] sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call [to repentance] the [self-proclaimed] righteous [who see no need to change], but sinners [those who recognize their sin and actively seek forgiveness].”
The Question about Fasting
14Then the disciples of John [the Baptist] came to Jesus, asking, “Why do we and the Pharisees often fast [as a religious exercise], but Your disciples do not fast?” 15And Jesus replied to them, “Can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16But no one puts a piece of unshrunk (new) cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and a worse tear results. 17Nor is new wine put into old #A skin was a bag made from the skin of an animal. New wine was always put in a new bag so that the bag would stretch as the wine continued to ferment, and then the bag would harden. An old bag would burst if new wine was put in it.wineskins [that have lost their elasticity]; otherwise the wineskins burst, and the [fermenting] wine spills and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, so both are preserved.”
Miracles of Healing
18While He was saying these things to them, a ruler (synagogue official) entered [the house] and kneeled down and worshiped Him, saying, “My daughter has just now died; but come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live.” 19Jesus got up and began to accompany the ruler, with His disciples.
20Then a woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the [tassel] fringe of His outer robe; 21for she had been saying to herself, “If I only touch His outer robe, I will be healed.” 22But Jesus turning and seeing her said, “Take courage, daughter; your [personal trust and confident] faith [in Me] has made you well.” And at once the woman was [completely] healed.
23When Jesus came to the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players [who were professional, hired mourners] and the [grieving] crowd making an uproar, 24He said, “Go away; for the girl is not dead, but is sleeping.” And they laughed and jeered at Him. 25But when the crowd had been sent outside, Jesus went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. 26And the news about this spread throughout all that district.
27As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed Him, screaming loudly, “Have mercy and compassion on us, #A common reference to the Messiah as a descendant of David.Son of David (Messiah)!” 28When He went into the house, the blind men came up to Him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe [with a deep, abiding trust] that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” 29Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith [your trust and confidence in My power and My ability to heal] it will be done to you.” 30And their eyes were opened. And Jesus #In Greek this term suggests an emotional indignation or violent displeasure. It occurs five times in the NT (four times in reference to Jesus’ words or feelings): Matt 9:30; Mark 1:43; 14:5; John 11:33, 38.sternly warned them: “See that no one knows this!” 31But they went out and spread the news about Him throughout that whole district.
32While they were going away, a mute, demon-possessed man was brought to Jesus. 33And when the demon was driven out [by Jesus], the mute man spoke; and the crowds wondered in amazement, saying, “Never before has anything like this [miracle] been seen in Israel.” 34But the Pharisees were saying, “He casts out the demons by [the power of] the ruler of demons.”
35Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages [in Galilee], teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news (gospel) of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness [His words and His works reflecting His Messiahship].
36When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion and pity for them, because they were dispirited and distressed, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is [indeed] plentiful, but the workers are few. 38So pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”
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Matthew 9
9
Jesus Heals a Man Who Could Not Walk
(Mark 2.1-12; Luke 5.17-26)
1Jesus got into a boat and crossed back over to the town where he lived.#9.1 where he lived: Capernaum (see 4.13). 2Some people soon brought to him a man lying on a mat because he could not walk. When Jesus saw how much faith they had, he said to the man, “My friend, don't worry! Your sins are forgiven.”
3Some teachers of the Law of Moses said to themselves, “Jesus must think he is God!”
4But Jesus knew what was in their minds, and he said, “Why are you thinking such evil things? 5Is it easier for me to tell this man his sins are forgiven or to tell him to get up and walk? 6But I will show you that the Son of Man has the right to forgive sins here on earth.” So Jesus said to the man, “Get up! Pick up your mat and go on home.” 7The man got up and went home. 8When the crowds saw this, they were afraid#9.8 afraid: Some manuscripts have “amazed.” and praised God for giving such authority to people.
Jesus Chooses Matthew
(Mark 2.13-17; Luke 5.27-32)
9As Jesus was leaving, he saw a tax collector#9.9 tax collector: See the note at 5.46. named Matthew sitting at the place for paying taxes. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” Matthew got up and went with him.
10 #
Lk 15.1,2. Later, Jesus and his disciples were having dinner at Matthew's house.#9.10 Matthew's house: Or “Jesus' house.” Many tax collectors and other sinners were also there. 11Some Pharisees asked Jesus' disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and other sinners?”
12Jesus heard them and answered, “Healthy people don't need a doctor, but sick people do. 13#Mt 12.7; Ho 6.6. Go and learn what the Scriptures mean when they say, ‘Instead of offering sacrifices to me, I want you to be merciful to others.’ I didn't come to invite good people to be my followers. I came to invite sinners.”
People Ask about Going without Eating
(Mark 2.18-22; Luke 5.33-39)
14Some followers of John the Baptist came and asked Jesus, “Why do we and the Pharisees often go without eating,#9.14 without eating: See the note at 4.2. while your disciples never do?”
15Jesus answered:
The friends of a bridegroom aren't sad while he is still with them. But the time will come when he will be taken from them. Then they will go without eating.
16No one uses a new piece of cloth to patch old clothes. The patch would shrink and tear a bigger hole.
17No one pours new wine into old wineskins. The wine would swell and burst the old skins.#9.17 swell and burst the old skins: While the juice from grapes was becoming wine, it would swell and stretch the skins in which it had been stored. If the skins were old and stiff, they would burst. Then the wine would be lost, and the skins would be ruined. New wine must be put into new wineskins. Both the skins and the wine will then be safe.
A Dying Girl and a Sick Woman
(Mark 5.21-43; Luke 8.40-56)
18While Jesus was still speaking, an official came and knelt in front of him. The man said, “My daughter has just now died! Please come and place your hand on her. Then she will live again.”
19Jesus and his disciples got up and went with the man.
20A woman who had been bleeding for twelve years came up behind Jesus and barely touched his clothes. 21She had said to herself, “If I can just touch his clothes, I will be healed.”
22Jesus turned. He saw the woman and said, “Don't worry! You are now healed because of your faith.” At that moment she was healed.
23When Jesus went into the home of the official and saw the musicians and the crowd of mourners,#9.23 the crowd of mourners: The Jewish people often hired mourners for funerals. 24he said, “Get out of here! The little girl isn't dead. She is just asleep.” Everyone started laughing at Jesus. 25But after the crowd had been sent out of the house, Jesus went to the girl's bedside. He took her by the hand and helped her up.
26News about this spread all over that part of the country.
Jesus Heals Two Blind Men
27As Jesus was leaving that place, two blind men began following him and shouting, “Son of David,#9.27 Son of David: The Jewish people expected the Messiah to be from the family of King David, and for this reason the Messiah was often called the “Son of David.” have pity on us!”
28After Jesus had gone indoors, the two blind men came up to him. He asked them, “Do you believe I can make you well?”
“Yes, Lord,” they answered.
29Jesus touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, you will be healed.” 30They were able to see, and Jesus strictly warned them not to tell anyone about him. 31But they left and talked about him to everyone in that part of the country.
Jesus Heals a Man Who Could Not Talk
32As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, some people brought to him a man who could not talk because a demon was in him. 33After Jesus had forced the demon out, the man started talking. The crowds were so amazed they began saying, “Nothing like this has ever happened in Israel!”
34 #
Mt 10.25; 12.24; Mk 3.22; Lk 11.15. But the Pharisees said, “The leader of the demons gives him the power to force out demons.”
Jesus Has Pity on People
35 #
Mt 4.23; Mk 1.39; Lk 4.44. Jesus went to every town and village. He taught in their synagogues and preached the good news about God's kingdom. Jesus also healed every kind of disease and sickness. 36#Nu 27.17; 1 K 22.17; 2 Ch 18.16; Ez 34.5; Mk 6.34. When he saw the crowds, he felt sorry for them. They were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37#Lk 10.2. He said to his disciples, “A large crop is in the fields, but there are only a few workers. 38Ask the Lord in charge of the harvest to send out workers to bring it in.”
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