Lectionary Calendar
Monday, March 18th, 2024
the Fifth Week of Lent
There are 13 days til Easter!
Attention!
Partner with StudyLight.org as God uses us to make a difference for those displaced by Russia's war on Ukraine.
Click to donate today!

Bible Commentaries
Matthew 9

Brown's Commentary on the New TestamentBrown's Commentary

Search for…
Enter query below:
Additional Authors

Introduction

  1. Introduction
    Read: Luke 19:28-42
    1. Why did Jesus do this?
    2. Certainly, it was first and foremost so that He could become the “Lamb that was slain before the foundation of the world” …the propitiation for the sin of the world and so that He could demonstrate His love for the world!
    3. Matthew 23:37-38 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! 38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
    4. It was also so that He could show His compassion upon the world:
    5. Psalm 146:5-10 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God: 6 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever: 7 Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners: 8 The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous: 9 The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down. 10 The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.
    6. Psalms 147:3-5 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. 4 He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. 5 Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
    7. Isaiah 35:5-6 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
    8. Jesus does all of these things…at the end of the chapter He says to pray for “Laborers” for the harvest – He also uses people as His instruments here on earth…but we’re just that: tools in the hand of the Master. Are we willing?

Verses 1-8

  1. Forgiveness of Sins
    Matthew 9:1-8 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. 2 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. 3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. 4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? 5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? 6 But 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. 7 And he arose, and departed to his house. 8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.
    1. Jesus healed the man to show the people He has the power over sin and the ability to forgive our sins

      Application:
    2. ​​​​​​Sin can bind us up so badly that we become like this man – we can’t get up.
    3. Old saying… re: Sampson – Sin will blind, bind and grind us!
    4. This works for Satan as we then can NOT serve in this capacity so even if we aren’t in blatant or habitual sin, “he” will try to make us think we are incapacitated through discouragement, fear, pride, lust, discontentment & covetousness as well as physical affliction.
    5. We must walk under the anointing of the Holy Spirit putting on the FULL Armor of God every day that we might continue to stand under the barrage of the enemy and when it is all done, still be standing!

Verses 9-13

  1. The Call of Discipleship
    Matthew 9:9
    And 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.
    1. Rise up and Follow!
      1. Mark 8:36-37 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
      2. When called, Matthew simply got up and followed – no questioning or challenging or whining about what he had to give up…look what he got – JESUS and eternal life!!!
    2. Mercy, Not Sacrifice
      Matthew 9:10-13 And 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. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? 12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. 13 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.
      1. The self-righteous Pharisees thought it was wrong to be with sinners and gentiles and tax collectors…
      2. Jesus said that the healthy don’t need the physician, but the sick – the righteous don’t need to be made “more righteous”,
      3. Rather, those who are broken, lost, & hurting need the healing saving touch of Jesus – that’s where our focus should be…
      4. Do we purpose to go to the outcast, the downtrodden, the broken, the wounded…
      5. Do we seek to minister and UNCONDITIONALLY love the unlovable or those who think no one cares?
      6. Are we focused on the people Jesus focused on? Do we practice mercy or sacrifice?

Verses 14-38

  1. A New Way
    1. The Old Paths
      Matthew 9:14-17 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? 15 And 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. 16 No 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. 17 Neither 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.
      1. Jeremiah 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
      2. This “NEW WAY” is to show mercy, compassion and love rather than be singularly focused upon our own righteousness!
      3. God will handle our righteousness if we will simply keep our eyes on Him and follow His Word.
      4. It’s no co-incidence that we are looking at Psalm 119 on Wednesdays…it’s a call to Honor and follow His Word!
    2. “Others Centered”
      1. The Women’s “Issue”
        Matthew 9:18-26 While 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. 19 And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples. 20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: 21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. 22 But 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.
        1. Give me your eyes…to see other’s pain and silent suffering
        2. She had unsee-able pain and suffering.
        3. Being unclean, she would lose much of her fellowship with others and with her husband.
        4. Jesus had compassion on her…calling her “daughter” and bringing her comfort.
      2. The Maid Arose
        Matthew 9:23-26 And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, 24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. 25 But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. 26 And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.
        1. Give me your eyes…to see other’s pain and silent suffering
        2. Here the suffering is in a ruler – a man in authority, yet Jesus raises his daughter up from death!
        3. Our station in life does not direct our Lord, rather our faith opens the door for His touch.
      3. The Blind Men
        Matthew 9:27-31 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us. 28 And 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. 29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. 30 And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it. 31 But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.
        1. Give me your eyes…to see other’s pain and silent suffering
        2. Jesus touched these two men…NOT in the open where all would be amazed, rather he was somewhat in private and did it “just” for them, not for a show!
        3. Ministry is always one life at a time!
      4. The “Dumb” Man
        Matthew 9:32-38 As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil. 33 And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel. 34 But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.
    3. Lord, Send Laborers to the Harvest
      Matthew 9:35-38 And 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. 36 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. 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
      1. ray…pray…pray!
      2. Then be ready to be used…to minister wherever and however the LORD chooses –
        1. Be an empty vessel for Jesus to fill up and pour out on the world!
  2. Conclusion
    1. Love Him, Do HIS will, seek Him in His Word.
    2. Seek to please God and bring Him Glory…do this by asking HIM what He wants you to do each day and in each situation you encounter.
    3. Seek to minister His Grace to those who need it most!
Bibliographical Information
Brown, Jim. "Commentary on Matthew 9". "Brown's Commentary on the New Testament". https://studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bnc/matthew-9.html. 2017.
adsFree icon
Ads FreeProfile