POWER TO FORGIVE SINS. -- Matthew 9:1-8. GOLDEN TEXT. --_ The Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins._ -- Matthew 9:6. TIME. --A. D. 28. Probably May or June. PLACE. -At Capernaum. HELPFUL READINGS. -- Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 2:1-17; Luke 5:17-32. LESSON ANALYSIS. --1. _Sins Forgiven;_ 2. _Bl... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY BROUGHT TO HIM. MAN SICK OF THE PALSY. As. demonstration of Christ's divine power, he was pleased to single out the palsy and leprosy, incurable diseases, to work. cure upon such as were afflicted with them.--_ Burkitt._ Mark informs us that there was such. crowd that the palsied man had to be... [ Continue Reading ]
II. BLASPHEMY. 3. CERTAIN OF THE SCRIBES SAID WITHIN THEMSELVES. They had scented heresy from afar, and had come to pry censoriously and inquisitorially into the teaching of the wonderful upstart rabbi. (See Luke 5:17.)--_ Morison._ The _scribes,_ or _rabbis,_ were the heads of the nation in the w... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE THINK YE EVIL IN YOUR HEARTS? The fault was not in him, but in themselves who thus presumed to sit in judgment on him.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHETHER IS EASIER TO SAY, THY SINS BE FORGIVEN THEE. To say, "Thy sins be forgiven thee," was easy, for no visible result could test the saying. To say, "Take up thy bed and walk," was not apparently so easy, for failure would cover with confusion. He said the last, leaving the inference--If. can d... [ Continue Reading ]
III. THE POWER OF THE SON OF MAN. 6. BUT THAT YE MAY KNOW. By doing that which is capable of being put to the proof,. will vindicate my right and power to do that which in its very nature is incapable of being proved. By these visible tides of God's grace. will give you to know in what direction t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE AROSE, AND DEPARTED TO HIS OWN HOUSE. It may be regarded as an enacted parable of sin and redemption. The paralytic typifies the sinner, by his original helplessness, (Isaiah 40:30; John 6:44; John 15:5 ;) faith, by his earnestness to come to Christ in spite of obstacle, (Psalms 25:15; Psalms... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MULTITUDE... MARVELLED. Three emotions are mentioned on the part of the multitude: (1) wonder, (2) gratitude, which is the sense of _Glorified God,_ (3) reverent fear (mentioned by Matthew).--_ Prof. Riddle._ On all occasions of very great intensity of feeling, the spirit of man instinctively o... [ Continue Reading ]
THREE MIRACLES. -- Matthew 9:18-31. GOLDEN TEXT. --_ According to your faith be it unto you._ -- Matthew 9:29. TIME. --A. D. 28. PLACE. --Capernaum. HELPFUL READINGS. -- Matthew 9:9-17; Mark 5:22-43; Luke 8:41-56; Mark 10:46-52. LESSON ANALYSIS. --1. _Death in the House;_ 2. _The Woman's Faith._ 3.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JESUS AROSE AND FOLLOWED HIM. Our blessed Redeemer refuses none who come to him with. sincere faith, though in much weakness of faith. Disciples followed. Mark says that much people followed. Perhaps drawn by curiosity to see whether he could heal the maiden.... [ Continue Reading ]
II. THE WOMAN'S FAITH. 20. AND, BEHOLD,. CERTAIN WOMAN. I think the circumstances of the New Testament narrative render the inference almost certain that this account was meant for the consolation of those multitudes of stricken women in all ages who seem to be afflicted with sorrows in very unequ... [ Continue Reading ]
TOUCH BUT HIS GARMENT. The Jews paid to this fringe. superstitious reverence. Sharing the superstition, and imagining that Christ healed by. sort of magic, this woman touched it in hope of cure. An ordinary teacher would have rebuked her superstition; Christ used it to teach her better. Observe tha... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS TURNED... SAW HER, AND SAID. The narrative of Mark is fuller and gives some facts that Matthew has omitted. DAUGHTER. A term of affection, but, no doubt, as employed by our Savior, implying that all that was spiritually distinctive in her character had been derived from himself. THY FAITH... [ Continue Reading ]
III. THE DEAD MADE WHOLE. 23. AND WHEN JESUS CAME INTO THE RULER'S HOUSE. He healed the woman on the way. As he spoke his last words to her, according to Mark, they reached the house. Jesus had likely been delayed before starting, and, as preparations for burial commence as soon as breath leaves t... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVE PLACE, FOR THE MAID IS NOT DEAD, BUT SLEEPETH. The reality of the death is not denied, but only the fact implicitly assumed, that death will be followed by. resurrection, as sleep is by an awakening. He, the Lord of life, takes away that word of fear, "She is dead," and puts in its room that mi... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE PEOPLE WERE PUT FORTH. Luke (8:51) says that Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother of the maiden were permitted to remain. HE TOOK HER BY THE HAND. As we learn from the parallel accounts, he said to her, _Talitha cumi._ This is Aramaic, the language generally spoken by the com... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FAME WENT ABROAD. Mark dwells emphatically upon the astonishment felt by the parents (see St. Luke), but shared doubtless by the three apostles. It was the first miracle which manifested their Master as Lord over death and life, the first which prepared their minds for the resurrection.--_ Cook... [ Continue Reading ]
IV. THE. LIND SEE. 27. TWO BLIND MEN FOLLOW HIM. This account is given only by Matthew. Other evangelists give the very similar case which occurred at Jericho, related also by Matthew in 20:30-34. This miracle occurred at Capernaum, probably as he left the house of Jairus. Blindness is still very... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BLIND MEN CAME TO HIM. Not until he was come into the house he was seeking. The Lord did Dot heed their cry until they had been drawn out of the great throng, probably because he did not wish to publicly respond to the title that he was the son of David. It was too early in his ministry for him... [ Continue Reading ]
ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH BE IT UNTO YOU. Faith is the hand which takes what God offers, the spiritual organ of appropriation, the conducting link between man's emptiness and, God's fulness.--_ Schaff._... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS STRICTLY CHARGED THEM, ETC. They had already shouted on the streets. title that had annoyed the Master. After this he wished them to keep their mouths closed. Their changed condition would sufficiently tell the story without their indiscreet babbling.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THEY... SPREAD ABROAD HIS FAME IN ALL THAT COUNTRY. This was wrong. It was their duty to obey whether they understood _why_ or not. Christ had not commanded silence without good reasons. Loud-mouthed and prating zeal often does harm, even when the parties intend well. PRACTICAL AND SUGGESTIVE.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HARVEST AND THE LABORERS. -- Matthew 9:35-38; Matthew 10:1-8. GOLDEN TEXT. --_ Freely ye have received, freely give._ -- Matthew 10:8. TIME. --A. D. 28. PLACE. --Somewhere in the vicinity of the Sea of Galilee. HELPFUL READINGS. -- Matthew 9:32-34; Mark 3:6-19; Mark 6:7-11; Luke 9:1-6. LESSON AN... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HARVEST TRULY IS PLENTEOUS, BUT THE LABORERS ARE FEW. First the people are represented under the figure of sheep, scattering abroad, without. shepherd's care; next as. ripe and abandoned harvest, ready to be lost unless reapers are sent to gather it. This same figure is used in John 4:35-36, an... [ Continue Reading ]
PRAY YE THEREFORE THE LORD OF THE HARVEST. The Lord of the harvest is Christ. When we pray the Lord for anything we must work to fulfill our own prayers. If we pray for laborers we must be willing to become laborers ourselves, or to send and sustain other laborers.. prayer is hypocritical if we do... [ Continue Reading ]