The Gospels · Chapter 9 of 28

Matthew 9

Jesus forgives and heals a paralyzed man, proving the Son of man has power to forgive sins. He calls Matthew the tax collector, eats with sinners, and declares he came for the sick, not the righteous. He answers questions about fasting, raises a ruler's daughter, heals a bleeding woman and two blind men, casts out a mute spirit, and is moved with compassion for crowds like sheep without a shepherd.

What happens in Matthew 9

Back in his own city, Jesus sees the faith of those who bring a paralytic and tells the man his sins are forgiven. When scribes silently charge blasphemy, Jesus heals the man's body to prove the Son of man's authority to forgive, and the crowds glorify God. He calls Matthew from the tax booth and dines with publicans and sinners, telling critics that the sick, not the whole, need a physician, and that he desires mercy, not sacrifice. Asked about fasting, he speaks of the bridegroom, new cloth, and new wine.

A ruler begs for his dead daughter; on the way a woman with a twelve year hemorrhage touches his garment and is made whole by her faith, and Jesus raises the girl by taking her hand. He heals two blind men according to their faith and frees a mute demoniac. Traveling every city and village, he is moved with compassion and calls for laborers for the plentiful harvest.

Matthew 9 in context

Matthew continues the mighty works begun in chapter eight, now weaving in mounting conflict with religious leaders and the call of Matthew the tax collector himself, whose Gospel this is. The chapter deliberately pairs Jesus's authority to heal bodies with his authority to forgive sins, and it closes by turning outward to the crowds, setting up the sending of the twelve apostles in chapter ten.

Main themes of Matthew 9

Matthew 9 (KJV)

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.

Verses to carry from Matthew 9

“And, 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.”Matthew 9:2

“But 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.”Matthew 9:13

“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.”Matthew 9:36

Reflection

Jesus still moves toward the sick, not the self sufficient, so admitting our need is the doorway, not the disqualification. He forgives, he heals, he welcomes those others write off. The compassion that saw shepherdless crowds sees us too, and it invites even hidden, trembling faith to reach out and touch him.

A prayer from Matthew 9