Jesus got into another boat and travelled across the Sea of Galilee to his hometown.
When he arrived, a disabled man lying on a bed was brought to him by some men. Seeing that the men believed he could heal the disabled man, Jesus said to the disabled man, “Be brave, son. Your sins have been forgiven.”
Some of the local teachers thought, “This man is speaking wrong things about God!”
Jesus knew the thoughts of the teachers. “Why are you thinking evil thoughts? Which is easier? To say ‘your failures are forgiven’ or ‘get up and walk’? You will know that the Son of Man has the power to forgive failures, here on earth.” He then said to the disabled man, “Pick up your bed and go home.”
The man got up and went home. The crowds were amazed and praised God, who had given power to men.
Continuing on, Jesus saw a man named Matthew sitting at a tax collector’s booth.
Jesus told him, “Follow me”.
Matthew got up and followed him. Jesus and his followers had dinner at Matthew’s house with many other tax collectors and bad people.
The Pharisees [Jews who believed a messiah was coming, but only for Jews] asked Jesus’ followers, “Why does your teacher eat with the tax collectors and dodgy people?”
Jesus overheard this and answered, “Sick people need a doctor, not healthy people. Go away and learn this: I want kindness, not sacrifices. I didn’t come to call people who are already right with God, but those that are not.
Followers of John came to Jesus and asked, “Why are we and some of the other Jews fasting, but your followers don’t?”
Jesus replied, “The wedding attendants can’t be sad while the groom is with them. The days will come when the groom will be taken away, and then they will fast. No one repairs clothing with a new patch, because the new patch will shrink and make the problem worse. No one pours new wine into old wineskins, in case the wineskins burst and the wine leaks out. They pour new wine into new wineskins and both keep well.”
As he was talking, a local leader came and knelt before him. “My daughter has died. Come and put your hand on her to bring her back to life?”
Jesus and his followers got up and followed the man.
A woman who had a constant period for 12 years came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of his cloak.
‘If I can just touch his clothes I’ll be healed’, she thought.
Jesus turned around and said, “Be brave, daughter. Because you believed, you have been healed”.
The woman was healed that very moment.
Jesus arrived at the local leader’s house and saw the funeral musicians and a crowd making a commotion.
“Everyone go away,” he said. “The girl is not dead, she is just asleep.”
The crowd laughed at him. When the crowd had been moved outside, Jesus entered and took the girl’s hand. She woke up. The news of this event spread throughout the regions.
Jesus went from there and was followed by two blind men who cried out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”
Jesus went indoors and asked the blind men. “Do you believe I am able to heal you?”
“Yes, Lord,” they replied.
Jesus touched their eyes and said, “Because of you believe, it will happen.”
They could see again. Jesus gave them strict instruction not to tell anyone. But they went anyway and told what had happened throughout the regions.
As Jesus and his followers were leaving. A demon-possessed mute man was brought to Jesus. When the demon was cast out, the man could speak.
The crowds were amazed and said, “We’ve never seen anything like this happen in Israel before.”
The Pharisees said, “He casts out demons using the power of the demon prince!”
Jesus went around all the cities and villages and taught in the churches. He told the good news of the coming kingdom, and healed all the sicknesses and diseases. He felt compassion for the crowds that he saw, because they were tired and lost like sheep without a shepherd.
He said to his followers, “There is a lot to harvest but there are not enough workers. Pray to the Lord of the harvest that he sends more workers.”
Matthew Chapter 9 Summary
Jesus shows his power by forgiving a disabled man’s sins and then healing his physical condition, leaving the crowd amazed. Jesus further invites Matthew, a tax collector, to follow him, breaking societal expectations. He uses the story of a physician tending to the sick, saying that he came to help those most in need of spiritual healing. Jesus answers questions about fasting, comparing his followers’ joy in his presence to wedding guests’ joy with their groom. He performs more miracles, healing a woman suffering from a constant period, and bringing a local leader’s daughter back to life. Jesus then restores sight to two blind men and frees a demon-possessed man, allowing him to speak. Despite warnings from Jesus to keep quiet, the miracles become famous. Some Pharisees accuse Jesus of using demonic power, but this doesn’t deter him from his mission. He continues teaching and healing across various cities and villages, asking for more workers to assist in his spiritual ‘harvest’.
Matthew Chapter 9 Bible Study Questions and Answers
- What does Jesus mean when he says he wants mercy, not sacrifice?
Answer: Jesus is focusing on the importance of care and kindness over just ceremonial acts. He values genuine care for others over formal religious practices that lack heart. - How does the call of Matthew reflect on Jesus’ teachings?
Answer: By inviting Matthew, a tax collector considered sinful by societal standards, Jesus demonstrates that his message is for everyone, especially those considered ‘lost’ or ‘sinful’. It highlights his mission of spiritual healing for all. - What do the miracles in this chapter reveal about Jesus’ power?
Answer: The miracles show Jesus’ power over physical ailments, life and death, and even spiritual entities, including demons. It shows that Jesus is not just a teacher but also carries power from God. - Why does Jesus ask his followers to pray for more workers in the harvest?
Answer: Jesus uses the idea of a harvest to represent the work of spreading God’s kingdom. He sees the large number of people who need to hear God’s message and encourages his disciples to pray for more workers to assist in this spiritual harvest. - How can Jesus’ discussion with the Pharisees teach us about taking criticism in our Christian walk?
Answer: Jesus handles the Pharisees’ criticism calmly and continues with his mission, teaching us to remain in our faith, even when faced with criticism or misunderstanding.
Matthew Chapter 9 Explained
In Matthew Chapter 9, we see an assortment of Jesus’ powers and teachings. He performs miraculous healings, demonstrating his power over physical and spiritual matters. This shows Jesus is not just a teacher but also a divine figure with the power to change people’s lives.
Firstly, Jesus heals a paralysed man, showing his power to forgive sins, which was a direct claim of godliness, causing some of the teachers to question his power. Yet, instead of falling back, Jesus proves his godly power by healing the man’s physical condition.
The call of Matthew, a tax collector, is an important moment. By inviting such a person, regarded as sinful, Jesus breaks societal conventions, showing that his message is for everyone and not just those automatically considered good people. It shows Jesus’ mission to bring spiritual healing to those most in need.
Jesus’ teachings on fasting hint at the joy his disciples find in his presence, comparing it to the joy of wedding attendants when the groom is present. He communicates the temporary nature of his time on earth, and that there will be a time for fasting when he is no longer with them.
Further, Jesus shows his power over life and death itself by bringing back to life a leader’s dead daughter, and his power and authority over spiritual entities by healing a demon-possessed man. Such acts are evidence of his godly authority and highlight the complete nature of his ministry – physical, spiritual, and emotional.
Criticism from the Pharisees does not cause Jesus to back off. Instead, he continues his journey, teaching, healing and sharing his message of God’s kingdom to all who would listen. He uses the idea of the harvest to show the extent of the task at hand, asking his disciples to pray for more workers to assist.
In essence, Matthew Chapter 9 portrays Jesus’ divine power and authority, care, and commitment to his mission of starting God’s kingdom on earth.
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Continue exploring Matthew 9
If you’d like to read Matthew 9 in other translations, here are a few BibleHub links:
For a translation that aims to be word-for-word, try Matthew 9 in the English Standard Version.
For a translation that aims to be more thought-for-thought, try Matthew 9 in the New International Version.
For a translation that aims to communicate the overall meaning, try Matthew 9 in the Contemporary English Version.
If you prefer to read the Bible in a hard-copy format, here are cheaper versions from Amazon:
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For a translation that aims to be word-for-word, ESV Economy Bible
For a translation that aims to be more thought-for-thought, NIV, Economy Bible, Paperback: Accurate. Readable. Clear.
For a translation that aims to communicate the overall meaning, Holy Bible: Contemporary English Version
If you’d like to explore Matthew in more depth, here are some commentaries I would recommend:
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Easy to access commentaries that include life applications:
The NIV Application Commentary: Matthew
Matthew (The Story of God Bible Commentary)
For a commentary that goes into more depth:
The Gospel of Matthew (The New International Commentary on the New Testament)
Not My Life 