Matthew — Chapter 9

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1Jesus got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own town.

2Just then some men brought to Him a paralytic lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.”

3On seeing this, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming!”

4But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Why do you harbor evil in your hearts?

5Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?

6But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...” Then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”

7And the man got up and went home.

8When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

9As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. “Follow Me,” He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him.

10Later, as Jesus was dining at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him and His disciples.

11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

12On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

13But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

14Then John’s disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast so often, but Your disciples do not fast?”

15Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while He is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

16No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. For the patch will pull away from the garment, and a worse tear will result.

17Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will spill, and the wineskins will be ruined. Instead, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

18While Jesus was saying these things, a synagogue leader came and knelt before Him. “My daughter has just died,” he said. “But come and place Your hand on her, and she will live.”

19So Jesus got up and went with him, along with His disciples.

20Suddenly a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak.

21She said to herself, “If only I touch His cloak, I will be healed.”

22Jesus turned and saw her. “Take courage, daughter,” He said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that very hour.

23When Jesus entered the house of the synagogue leader, He saw the flute players and the noisy crowd.

24“Go away,” He told them. “The girl is not dead, but asleep.” And they laughed at Him.

25After the crowd had been put outside, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.

26And the news about this spread throughout that region.

27As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”

28After Jesus had entered the house, the blind men came to Him. “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” He asked. “Yes, Lord,” they answered.

29Then He touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you.”

30And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one finds out about this!”

31But they went out and spread the news about Him throughout the land.

32As they were leaving, a demon-possessed man who was mute was brought to Jesus.

33And when the demon had been driven out, the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!”

34But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that He drives out demons.”

35Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness.

36When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

37Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.

38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.”

1And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.

2And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

3And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.

4And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

5For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?

6But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

7And he arose, and departed to his house.

8But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

9And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

10And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

11And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

12But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

13But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

14Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

15And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

16No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.

17Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

18While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.

19And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.

20And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:

21For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

22But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

23And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,

24He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.

25But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.

26And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.

27And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.

28And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

29Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

30And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

31But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.

32As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.

33And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.

34But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.

35And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

36But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

37Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

38Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

1And he entered into a boat, and crossed over, and came into his own city.

2And behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, be of good cheer; thy sins are forgiven.

3And behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.

4And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

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

6But that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority on earth to forgive sins (then saith he to the sick of the palsy), Arise, and take up thy bed, and go up unto thy house.

7And he arose, and departed to his house.

8But when the multitudes saw it, they were afraid, and glorified God, who had given such authority unto men.

9And as Jesus passed by from thence, he saw a man, called Matthew, sitting at the place of toll: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

10And it came to pass, as he sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples.

11And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Teacher with the publicans and sinners?

12But when he heard it, he said, They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick.

13But go ye and learn what [this] meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.

14Then come to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

15And Jesus said unto them, Can the sons of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then will they fast.

16And no man putteth a piece of undressed cloth upon an old garment; for that which should fill it up taketh from the garment, and a worse rent is made.

17Neither do [men] put new wine into old wine-skins: else the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins perish: but they put new wine into fresh wine-skins, and both are preserved.

18While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.

19And Jesus arose, and followed him, and [so did] his disciples.

20And behold, a woman, who had an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the border of his garment:

21for she said within herself, If I do but touch his garment, I shall be made whole.

22But Jesus turning and seeing her said, Daughter, be of good cheer; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

23And when Jesus came into the ruler`s house, and saw the flute-players, and the crowd making a tumult,

24he said, Give place: for the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.

25But when the crowd was put forth, he entered in, and took her by the hand; and the damsel arose.

26And the fame hereof went forth into all that land.

27And as Jesus passed by from thence, two blind men followed him, crying out, and saying, Have mercy on us, thou son of David.

28And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.

29Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it done unto you.

30And their eyes were opened. And Jesus strictly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

31But they went forth, and spread abroad his fame in all that land.

32And as they went forth, behold, there was brought to him a dumb man possessed with a demon.

33And when the demon was cast out, the dumb man spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.

34But the Pharisees said, By the prince of the demons casteth he out demons.

35And Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of disease and all manner of sickness.

36But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were distressed and scattered, as sheep not having a shepherd.

37Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few.

38Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth laborers into his harvest.

1After getting into a boat he crossed to the other side and came to his own town.

2Just then some people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Have courage, son! Your sins are forgiven.”

3Then some of the experts in the law said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming!”

4When Jesus perceived their thoughts he said, “Why do you respond with evil in your hearts?

5Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’?

6But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—then he said to the paralytic—“Stand up, take your stretcher, and go home.”

7So he stood up and went home.

8When the crowd saw this, they were afraid and honored God who had given such authority to men.

9As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. “Follow me,” he said to him. So he got up and followed him.

10As Jesus was having a meal in Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Jesus and his disciples.

11When the Pharisees saw this they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

12When Jesus heard this he said, “Those who are healthy don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do.

13Go and learn what this saying means: ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

14Then John’s disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don’t fast?”

15Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests cannot mourn while the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days are coming when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and then they will fast.

16No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment because the patch will pull away from the garment and the tear will be worse.

17And no one pours new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the skins burst and the wine is spilled out and the skins are destroyed. Instead they put new wine into new wineskins and both are preserved.”

18As he was saying these things, a leader came, bowed low before him, and said, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and she will live.”

19Jesus and his disciples got up and followed him.

20But a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for 12 years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.

21For she kept saying to herself, “If only I touch his cloak, I will be healed.”

22But when Jesus turned and saw her he said, “Have courage, daughter! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed from that hour.

23When Jesus entered the leader’s house and saw the flute players and the disorderly crowd,

24he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but asleep!” And they began making fun of him.

25But when the crowd had been forced outside, he went in and gently took her by the hand, and the girl got up.

26And the news of this spread throughout that region.

27As Jesus went on from there, two blind men began to follow him, shouting, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”

28When he went into the house, the blind men came to him. Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.”

29Then he touched their eyes saying, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.”

30And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about this!”

31But they went out and spread the news about him throughout that entire region.

32As they were going away, a man who was demon-possessed and unable to speak was brought to him.

33After the demon was cast out, the man who had been mute began to speak. The crowds were amazed and said, “Never has anything like this been seen in Israel!”

34But the Pharisees said, “By the ruler of demons he casts out demons!”

35Then Jesus went throughout all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and sickness.

36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were bewildered and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

37Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.

38Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest-ready fields.”

1He entered into a boat, and crossed over, and came into his own city.

2Behold, they brought to him a man who was paralyzed, lying on a bed. Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, cheer up! Your sins are forgiven you.”

3Behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man blasphemes.”

4Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?

5For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk?’

6But 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 to your house.”

7He arose and departed to his house.

8But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

9As Jesus 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.

10As he sat in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples.

11When the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

12When Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do.

13But 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.”

14Then John’s disciples came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don’t fast?”

15Jesus 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.

16No 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.

17Neither 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.”

18While 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.”

19Jesus got up and followed him, as did his disciples.

20Behold, a woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years came behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment;

21for she said within herself, “If I just touch his garment, I will be made well.”

22But Jesus, turning around and seeing her, said, “Daughter, cheer up! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.

23When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players, and the crowd in noisy disorder,

24he said to them, “Make room, because the girl isn’t dead, but sleeping.” They were ridiculing him.

25But when the crowd was put out, he entered in, took her by the hand, and the girl arose.

26The report of this went out into all that land.

27As Jesus passed by from there, two blind men followed him, calling out and saying, “Have mercy on us, son of David!”

28When he had come into the house, the blind men came to him. Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They told him, “Yes, Lord.”

29Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.”

30Their eyes were opened. Jesus strictly commanded them, saying, “See that no one knows about this.”

31But they went out and spread abroad his fame in all that land.

32As they went out, behold, a mute man who was demon possessed was brought to him.

33When the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke. The multitudes marveled, saying, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!”

34But the Pharisees said, “By the prince of the demons, he casts out demons.”

35Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.

36But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd.

37Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the laborers are few.

38Pray therefore that the Lord of the harvest will send out laborers into his harvest.”

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Articles
Reflection

Summary

Jesus forgives and heals a paralyzed man, showing the scribes who accuse him of blasphemy that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins (vv. 1-8). He calls the tax collector Matthew to follow him, then eats with tax collectors and sinners, telling the objecting Pharisees that he came to call sinners, not the righteous, comparing himself to a physician for the sick (vv. 9-13). When asked why his disciples don't fast like John's, Jesus explains that mourning is out of place while the bridegroom is present, and illustrates the point with new cloth on old garments and new wine in old wineskins (vv. 14-17). He raises a synagogue leader's daughter from death and heals a woman who touches his garment after twelve years of bleeding, then gives sight to two blind men and casts a demon out of a mute man, astonishing the crowds while the Pharisees credit the demons' prince (vv. 18-34). Moved with compassion for the crowds, who are harassed and scattered like sheep without a shepherd, Jesus tells his disciples that the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few (vv. 35-38).

Authorship & Background

Author: Matthew (see Chapter 1 notes for full authorship details).
Historical Context: Chapter 9 continues the demonstration of Jesus' authority through miracles and includes Matthew's own calling (v.9). It records five miracles and three controversies, culminating in Jesus' compassion for the crowds and His call for laborers. This chapter is deeply personal for Matthew — he records his own conversion from tax collector to disciple.
Classification: Gospel — Narrative
Key Themes: sins forgiven before legs are healed, addressing the deeper need first and proving the authority to do either, Matthew himself called from a tax booth with two words and answering with an immediate dinner party, two objections answered with two quotations, mercy and not sacrifice for the Pharisees, a bridegroom taken away for John's disciples, new wine refused a home in old wineskins as the chapter's own image for what is happening, a woman healed by touching a hem while a ruler's daughter waits, and a diagnosis offered for the whole crowd's condition, sheep having no shepherd, that turns immediately into a call to pray for laborers
The Paralytic (vv.1-8): Jesus' first words to the paralyzed man were not "be healed" but "thy sins be forgiven thee." He addressed the deeper need first. The healing was proof of His authority to forgive — something only God can do.
Matthew's Calling (v.9): Tax collectors (publicans) were despised — they worked for Rome, often extorted their own people, and were considered traitors and sinners. Jesus called Matthew from his tax booth with two words: "Follow me." Matthew's immediate response and the dinner party that followed show the transforming power of Christ's call.
Why Eateth Your Master with Publicans (vv.10-15): The dinner at Matthew's house draws two separate objections, and Jesus answers both with quotations. To the Pharisees asking why he eats with publicans and sinners, he cites Hosea, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, with the medical proverb before it, they that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. To John's disciples asking about fasting, the answer is a wedding, can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? and then the clause that darkens it, the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
New Wine in New Wineskins (vv.16-17): Jesus is not patching up the old system — He is bringing something entirely new. The kingdom cannot be contained in the old structures of Pharisaic Judaism.
The Ruler's Daughter and the Woman (vv.18-26): Matthew's version is the shortest of the three and keeps the structure: a request interrupted by a healing. The ruler's statement is more absolute here than in Mark, my daughter is even now dead, come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. The woman with the issue of blood twelve years touches the hem of his garment and is told her faith hath made her whole. At the house the minstrels are already in and the crowd is put out with a sentence they laugh at, the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. He took her by the hand, and the maid arose.
Two Blind Men, and a Dumb Man (vv.27-34): Two blind men follow him calling him thou son of David, which is the first time anyone in Matthew uses the title in public. The question put to them is about belief rather than need, believe ye that I am able to do this? and the healing is according to your faith be it unto you. He charges them strictly to tell no one and they spread it abroad in all that country. Then a dumb man possessed with a devil, and the two reactions Matthew sets against each other: the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel, and the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.
The Harvest Is Plenteous (vv.35-38): The chapter closes with the same three-verb summary that opened the ministry, teaching, preaching and healing, and then the sentence that explains the whole section: when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. The diagnosis is a leadership failure. Then the harvest image, the harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few, and an instruction that is not to go but to ask, pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers. The men who pray it are sent in the first verse of the next chapter.

Map & Geography

  • Capernaum ("His own city," v.1): Jesus returned across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum, His ministry headquarters.
  • The tax booth (v.9): Matthew/Levi's tax collection post was likely on the Via Maris trade route that passed through Capernaum, a commercial crossroads between Damascus and the Mediterranean.
  • The ruler's house (v.23): A local synagogue ruler (Jairus) in Capernaum.

Places on this map

  • CapernaumKfar Nahum, IsraelA fishing village on the north-west shore of the Sea of Galilee, on the road running from the coast to Damascus. A customs post and a garrison explain the tax collector and the centurion; the harbour and the synagogue explain why Jesus made it his base. Wikipedia
  • Sea of GalileeLake Kinneret, IsraelA freshwater lake 13 miles by 8, sunk 700 feet below sea level in a bowl of hills. Cold air spilling over the rim onto warm water is what produces the sudden violent squalls the Gospels keep describing. Wikipedia
  • DamascusDamascus, SyriaAn oasis city where the Barada river runs out of the Anti-Lebanon into the desert, about 135 miles north-east of Jerusalem. It sat astride the caravan roads to Mesopotamia and Arabia, which made Aram rich and made it Israel's most persistent northern rival. Wikipedia
  • Mediterranean SeaCalled simply the Great Sea, and treated as the western edge of the world. Israel's coast has almost no natural harbours, so for most of its history the sea was a boundary rather than a road, and seafaring was left to the Phoenicians. Wikipedia

Towns sit on their excavated or traditional site. Regions, rivers and seas are ringed rather than dotted, because for those a single point is only an anchor. Coastlines from Natural Earth.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik examines the connection between forgiveness and healing, Matthew's calling, the new wine/wineskins teaching, the woman's faith, and Jesus' compassion for the shepherdless crowds.
  • Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
  • Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.

Videos

Matthew 8-9 | Healing and Authority | Bible Study
Spoken Gospel

Jesus Heals the Paralytic (Matthew 9)
The Chosen

Articles

  • GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of Matthew -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.

Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.

Reflection

  • The Deeper Need First (v.2) — Jesus forgives the paralytic's sins before healing his body, addressing the deeper problem before the visible one. What is the deeper need in your life that you might be ignoring while you focus on surface problems?
  • Immediate, Costly Obedience (v.9) — Matthew leaves his lucrative tax booth the moment Jesus calls him, with no guarantee of what comes next. What would you have to leave behind to follow Jesus more fully?
  • Called for the Broken (v.13) — Jesus says He came for sinners, not for those who think they have it together. Do you approach God as someone who needs Him, or as someone who's mostly fine on his own?
  • Faith That Reaches Out (v.22) — A woman who had suffered for years reaches out in desperate faith and is healed and commended by Jesus. What desperation in your life could drive you closer to Christ rather than further away?
  • Moved With Compassion (v.36) — Jesus looks at the crowds, harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd, and is moved with compassion. When you see people around you struggling, what do you feel — indifference, judgment, or compassion?
  • Praying for the Harvest (vv.37-38) — Jesus says the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few, and His solution is prayer, not merely a program. Are you praying for God to send workers into the harvest, and are you willing to be one of them?