Matthew 9:1
JESUS GOT INTO THE BOAT. He returns across the lake to Capernaum, where he made his home.... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS GOT INTO THE BOAT. He returns across the lake to Capernaum, where he made his home.... [ Continue Reading ]
SOME PEOPLE BROUGHT HIM A PARALYZED MAN. This man was eager to be healed, and had his friends bring him to Jesus. JESUS SAW HOW MUCH FAITH. Mark's account says that they made a hole in the roof and let the man down (because of the crowd) (Mark 2:1-12). YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN. Note Jesus says _"are f... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SOME TEACHERS OF THE LAW. They scented heresy, and had come from Jerusalem to check into this "Prophet of Galilee" (Luke 5:17). The "Teachers of the Law" were the theologians, the official interpreters of Scripture, and also the judges, legislators and politicians therefore the "opinion-makers... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS KNEW. He knew their thinking, and the fact that they were wrong about him.... [ Continue Reading ]
IS IT EASIER TO SAY. There was no way they could test his claim to forgive sins, even though this was the more difficult thing to do. But the order to "Get up and walk" would be immediately visible. He states that if he can order the man to walk, he can also forgive his sins. I WILL PROVE TO YOU. By... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MAN GOT UP AND WENT HOME. This is a parable of sin and salvation. The paralyzed man can symbolize the sinner, unable to help himself (John 6:44-45; John 15:5); he showed his faith by coming to Jesus (Psalms 25:15; Psalms 86:2; Psalms 86:7_:_ James 2:22); and God's grace is shown in the ability t... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE PEOPLE SAW IT. _"And his title will be: Wonderful Counselor"_ (Isaiah 9:6).... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SAW A TAX COLLECTOR. Matthew introduces himself. He is also called Levi (Luke 5:27). It was his duty to collect taxes for the Occupation Government of the Romans. Tax collectors were hated, because they represented a foreign power, and also because they were often unfair, and dishonest. However,... [ Continue Reading ]
WHILE JESUS WAS HAVING DINNER AT HIS HOUSE. Matthew prepared a big feast and invited many people to be at it (Luke 5:29). TAX COLLECTORS AND OUTCASTS. Tax collectors are mentioned in the previous verse. The outcasts were those who had been expelled from the synagogue. The strict Jew would not eat wi... [ Continue Reading ]
SOME PHARISEES SAW THIS. It is not implied that the Pharisees were invited to the feast, but they were always looking for heresy. WHY DOES YOUR TEACHER? Tax collectors and outcasts were considered "heathen" by the strict Jew (_compare_ Acts 11:3; Galatians 2:12).... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS HEARD THEM AND ANSWERED. What he says, means: "If these people are as sinful as you say, then they are in great need of a Savior." (The strict Jews though of themselves as being perfect, and despised everyone else (Luke 18:19).... [ Continue Reading ]
GO AND FIND OUT. Hosea 6:6. They needed to learn what this meant. God is more pleased by kindness and helpfulness, than he is by ceremonial acts. Christ came to be the world's Savior!... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY IS IT? Some of the disciples of John the Baptist really sided in with the Pharisees, and would not follow Christ. The Pharisees fasted twice a week (Luke 18:12), and these did so too. They believed there was religious merit to be gained by this, and they could not understand why the followers of... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS ANSWERED. Fasting is a sign of sorrow. Jesus answers that this is not a time for sorrow now, because the bridegroom is there with them. BUT THE TIME WILL COME. He speaks of the crushing sorrow they will feel when he is crucified and buried. Real fasting takes place only when there is a need fo... [ Continue Reading ]
NO ONE PATCHES UP. Two illustrations follow, which show that Christianity was not intended to be "Judaism patched up." NEW CLOTH. UNSHRUNK it would shrink and tear a bigger hole in the old cloth.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOR DOES ANYONE POUR. Wine was kept in skin "bottles." New wine would ferment and burst the old skins that had become rigid.... [ Continue Reading ]
A JEWISH OFFICIAL CAME TO HIM. One of the synagogue elders, an official who convened the congregation, preserved order, and who invited the readers and speakers. Mark gives his name as Jairus. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all give this. From them we learn that this girl was twelve years old, that she was... [ Continue Reading ]
SO JESUS GOT UP. Jesus is going to the house of Jairus to make the girl live again.... [ Continue Reading ]
A CERTAIN WOMAN. On the way, another miracle takes place. W. H. Thompson, MD., feels this account gives special comfort to those women who suffer similarly. This woman had spent all her money on many doctors, but none had been able to cure her. TOUCHED THE EDGE OF HIS CLOAK. A cloak was a square or... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE SAID TO HERSELF. The Jews had a superstition about the edge of a cloak. Sharing this, the woman touched it in hope of receiving a cure for her disease.... [ Continue Reading ]
YOUR FAITH HAS MADE YOU WELL. Christ's power was the cause, but he recognizes her faith as an active faith, and so speaks these words.... [ Continue Reading ]
SO JESUS WENT INTO THE OFFICIAL'S HOUSE. He healed the woman on the way here. It was the custom among the Jews to hire musicians and mourners to play sad music and scream and cry to show the sadness of the death.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE IS ONLY SLEEPING. Jesus does not deny the reality of death. He means to say that death will be followed by the raising from death, just as people wake up from sleep. THEY ALL STARTED MAKING FUN OF HIM. They knew the child was dead, and they did not understand what Jesus meant.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHE GOT UP. Peter, James, John, and the parents were allowed to stay (Luke 8:51). He took her hand and said: "Get up, child!" (_sea_ Mark 5:41). Immediately she got up fully recovered.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE NEWS. Mark's account emphasized the amazement of the parents which the three apostles probably shared,... [ Continue Reading ]
TWO BLIND MEN. Only Matthew gives this. Blindness is very common under the burning sun and blinding sands of the East. Blind beggars were very common, due to the lack of medical care. HAVE MERCY ON US. They called him "Son of David," which implies they considered him the Messiah.... [ Continue Reading ]
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT I CAN DO THIS? They follow him into the house and come up to him. What Jesus asks them, requires a confession of their faith. They give it in their answer.... [ Continue Reading ]
MAY IF HAPPEN. Faith is the hand that reaches out to seize what God offers.... [ Continue Reading ]
30-31. DON'T TELL THIS TO ANYONE. The fact that they could now see, would attract attention. But they do not obey Jesus' order. Note three things about Jesus: (1) He is the Life. He wakes the dead, and He grants spiritual life. (2) He is Health. Disease, sorrows, and sins which no man can heal disa... [ Continue Reading ]
32-33. A MAN WHO COULD NOT TALK. Compare (Luke 11:14) Physical and spiritual illness combined. _See note on_ Matthew 8:29. WE NEVER SAW THE LIKE IN ISRAEL. No prophet had ever done such wonders as these!... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE PHARISEES SAID. They were always looking for trouble. IT IS THE CHIEF OF THE DEMONS. They meant: "It isn't God working through him, he uses the power of the Devil.... [ Continue Reading ]
SO JESUS WENT AROUND. He took his ministry into new areas.... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS HEART WAS FILLED WITH PITY FOR THEM. Our Lord felt very strongly the needs of every human being. BECAUSE THEY WERE WORRIED AND HELPLESS. The Pharisees were supposed to be the "shepherds of Israel," but they had no love. The people were left without guidance or help of any kind.... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS A LARGE HARVEST. First the people were symbolically "wandering sheep without a shepherd." Now he speaks of them as a "ripe harvest," about to be lost unless someone gathers it into the storage barns.... [ Continue Reading ]
PRAY TO THE OWNER. The owner is Christ. To pray for "workers" is to make yourself a worker also. When we pray to the Lord for anything, we must be willing to do our part to make it come true.... [ Continue Reading ]