Matthew Chapter 9 - Helpful Notes

“And he entered into a ship and passed over…” Remember, in the land of the Gadarenes, after the demons were sent into the pigs,  that Jesus was told to leave by the townspeople. Jesus does not stay where He is not wanted. He will not hang around those that have hardened their hearts against him and he will respect their decision when it comes to the time of judgement.  As the Bible says, “ My spirit shall not always strive with man.” (Genesis 6:3) Matthew Henry comments, “ some observe, that in those bloody wars which the Romans made upon the Jews, which began not many years after this, they first besieged the town of Gadara, where these Gadarenes dwelt.” He says,” Those that drive Christ from them, draw all miseries upon them. Woe unto us, if God depart from us.” I remember as a young Believer, being told a cautionary tale about another Christian, rather like the foolish young man in Proverbs 7. This man made plans to see a prostitute and as he came to her house and he began to feel conviction, he said to God “Lord, look away…” They say it took about four years before he found the Lord again!

Outline

Jesus heals a paralytic 1-8

Jesus calls Matthew. 9

Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners; 10-13

Jesus defends his disciples for not fasting; 14-17

Jesus cures the sick woman and raises Jairus’s daughter from the dead.  18- 25

Jesus gives sight to two blind men; 27-31

Jesus heals a mute man possessed of a demon; 32-35

Jesus has compassion on the multitude. 36-38

Here in Matthew 9, we learn a bit about Matthew, the writer of the gospel, himself. We also learn about the further activities of evil spirits, or demons and the ways in which they can afflict people.

Jesus heals a paralytic 1-8

These verses are so important, since they reveal the authority of Jesus and the power of faith. As I look at the text in my Bible, the words of Jesus here are written in red: “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.” John MacArthur has said, “Forgiveness is man's greatest need and therefore God's greatest gift.” He may well be right. But who has the right to forgive man’s sin?

Let’s start with an important question, what is sin?

There are sins of Commission, those things that we commit against God and there are sins of Omission, those things which we omit to do. We can perhaps sum up these two types of sin, with two Scriptures:

“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3:4.

“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” James 4:17.

But who has the authority to forgive sin? Surely, the one whose Law has been broken; this is the privilege of Almighty God and Him alone. So when Jesus pronounces the paralyzed man as forgiven, it is obvious why “certain of the Scribes said within themselves, this man blasphemeth.” If He was just a man, then He just committed blasphemy; but if He is more than a man, if He is God “manifest in the flesh,” (1 Timothy 3:16) then He is not claiming any right, that does not belong to Him. As Paul says in Philippians 2:6, Jesus “thought it not robbery to be equal with God.” EXP (See Isaiah 43:25; Isaiah 44:22.) None of the prophets had this power! (Read verse 8) That is, this is how it appeared to them, that Jesus was just a man.

Jesus calls Matthew. 9

I love the calling of Matthew, or Levi as he is called by the other gospel writers. There is a degree of modesty here, since Matthew, the writer of this gospel, is referring to himself. The other evangelists use the more respectable, or honourable name of Levi.

You will notice the lack of hesitation in Matthew’s response to his calling, “he arose and followed Him.” Let’s turn to John 6:44-45 (Read) It is only those that have been drawn, by the still small voice of God, that find themselves ready to follow when the call comes. “For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14)

Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners; 10-13

We learn from the other Gospel writers that the meal that follows was actually a feast and it was given by Matthew himself. Again, we see the modesty of Matthew; perhaps there are some lessons we, as Christians can learn from Matthew’s example; such as speaking sparingly of our good works, rather than pointing them out to others! As James says, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak…” 

Jesus defends his disciples for not fasting; 14-17

In the following verses we read about the subject of fasting. If we go back to Matthew 6: 17-18 (Read) So it’s important to understand that Jesus is not against fasting and there IS a time when His disciples would fast.

In verses 15, 16 and 17 we see three illustrations given as to why the disciples of Jesus do not fast, at this time. The first is as “the children of the bride-chamber.”

Albert Barnes said, “The children of the bride-chamber - that is, the bridemen, or "men who had the special care of the bridal chamber, and who were therefore his special friends" - do not think of fasting while he is with them. With them it is a time of festivity and rejoicing, and mourning would not be appropriate. When he is removed or taken away, then their festivity will be ended, and "then" will be the proper time for sorrow. So, says he, John, your friend and teacher, is in captivity. With you it is a time of deep grief, and it is appropriate that you should fast. I am with my disciples. It is with them a time of joy. It is not fit that they should use the tokens of grief, and fast now. When I am taken away, it will then be proper that they should fast.” Fasting is often associated with grieving. Maybe it’s time for Christians to grieve and fast for the state of the church today, maybe that’s what the Spirit of God would call us to?

So the first reason is: it’s not the right time. The second illustration is found in verse 16 (Read) John Gill says “it is true, that young converts are to be tenderly dealt with, as they are by Father, Son, and Spirit, as the disciples were by Christ, and the first Christians were by the apostles:” So we can see that this new cloth, or new (or New Testament) doctrine and new wine, (hard doctrine) in verse 17 are contrasted with old cloth and old bottles. There is a time of preparation needed; as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:2 “I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.” 

Jesus cures the sick woman and raises Jairus’s daughter from the dead.  18- 25

There came a certain ruler. This is one of the rulers of the synagogue (probably of the synagogue of Capernaum). His name was Jairus Matthew, Mark, and Luke all give this account. We also learn from the other writers that he had a daughter who was twelve years old who had been dying and now at the time of him speaking to Jesus, was in fact dead. Yet Jairus says to Jesus “come and lay Thy hand upon her, and she shall live.” As Jesus is on his way to heal this twelve year old girl, he is apprehended by a woman with an issue of blood, which coincidentally, has also been a problem for twelve years.

We read that she “said within herself, If I may touch his garment, I shall be made whole.” An action that has no inward conviction based on faith, is a vain action. Regardless of who tells you to do it, or who has done it in the past. Notice the logic of faith; the woman is able to reason within herself, that Christ is able; that he doesn’t even have to approach her, or speak to her (perhaps similar to the Centurion). It is also worth noting that her issue of blood would have made her unclean according to the Mosaic Law. Go to Leviticus 15;25 (Read) Her uncleanness makes another parallel with the healing of the leper that we saw last week. Bearing all these things in mind, let’s just recap for a moment. So we have learned from these miraculous healings in the gospel of Matthew, that Christ is the healer of: 

• The unclean.
• The incurable.
• The humble.
• The one that has faith.

We read in verse 23 that Jesus finally makes it to Jairus’s house. He orders the mourners out and says, “the maid is not dead but sleepeth. And they laughed Him to scorn.” The world will always laugh at the miraculous, their eyes are fixed on that which is temporal, they have been blinded by Satan the god of this world. But the supernatural power of God is confirmed by the healing hands of Jesus. John Wesley says, “Christ raised three dead persons to life; this child, the widow's son, and Lazarus: one newly departed, another on the bier (a bier is a stand on which a corpse, or a coffin is placed) , the third smelling in the grave: to show us that no degree of death is so desperate as to be past his help.” I would say, he particularly specialises in raising to life those that are spiritually dead!

Jesus gives sight to two blind men; 27-31

In verse 27 we have to men who are physically blind, yet spiritually they see! They proclaim that Jesus is the promised Messiah! “Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.” Now He doesn’t heal them immediately. Do they wander off despondent? No! They continue to follow and cry to him until they receive from him. I said it last week, there are many lessons for us in these miraculous healings, that go beyond just a physical healing.

Jesus heals a mute man possessed of a demon; 32-35

Verse 32-33 (Read) Here is a man who is dumb, or mute. It is clear from what happens, that the cause of his affliction is not natural, but supernatural. This is not to say that, on examination there may have been physiological, observable conditions that rendered the man to be without the power of speech; but that the root of these things was a demonic spirit. The demon is cast out and the man is once more able to speak. Can this happen today? Sure, why not? Who can say how many illnesses, afflictions are not merely physical, but actually spiritual in origin.

Jesus has compassion on the multitude. 36-38

In these last verses we see the compassion of Christ. I have said before, that there is a lot of talk of passion in the churches today, but a lack of compassion.

The people were looking for God, looking for salvation and instead they were getting the traditions of men.

Albert Barnes comments, “He saw the people burdened with the rites of religion and the doctrines of the Pharisees; sinking down under their ignorance and the weight of their traditions; neglected by those who ought to have been enlightened teachers; and scattered and driven out without care and attention.” They were like Isaiah says, sheep that had gone astray and yet here is Jesus, the Good Shepherd; the one who will take care of their souls.

Let’s read verses 37 and 38 (Read)

There are multitudes who are ready to receive the gospel, but the problem is, that not everybody is ready to be a labourer. Labouring is hard work; it is largely a thankless task. This involves a word that few Christians like to hear these days, “commitment.” I will finish with the words of John Wesley on this subject: “it is an employ not pleasing to flesh and blood; so full of reproach, labour, danger, temptation of every kind, that nature may well be averse to it. Those who never felt this, never yet knew what it is to be labourers in Christ's harvest.” I guess he should know.

Copyright © Paul Jennings.