Matthew 9:1._And came into his own city. _This passage shows, that _Capernaum _was generally believed to be the birth-place of Christ, because his visits to it were frequent: for there is no room to doubt, that it is the same history which is related by the three Evangelists, though some circumstanc... [ Continue Reading ]
2._And when Jesus saw their faith. _It is God alone, indeed, who knows _faith: _but they had given evidence of _faith _by the laboriousness of that attempt: for they would never have submitted to so much trouble, nor contended with such formidable hindrances, if they had not derived courage from ent... [ Continue Reading ]
3._And, lo, some of the scribes _They accuse Christ of blasphemy and sacrilege, because he claims for himself what is God’s prerogative. The other two Evangelists tell us also that they said, _Who can forgive sins but God alone? It _is beyond all question, that their eagerness to slander drove them... [ Continue Reading ]
4._And when Jesus saw their thoughts _He now gives a proof of his Divinity in bringing to light their secret thoughts: _for who knoweth the things of a man but the spirit of man which is in him? _(1 Corinthians 2:11.) And so Mark adds, that _Jesus knew by his Spirit: _which means, that what was conc... [ Continue Reading ]
5._Whether is it easier to say? _The meaning is, that, as it is not easier to quicken by a word a body which is nearly dead than to forgive _sins, _there is no reason to wonder that he _forgives sins, _when he has accomplished the other. The argument which our Lord uses may appear to be not well-fou... [ Continue Reading ]
6._That the Son of man hath authority on earth. _This _authority _is very different from what was given to the apostles, and from what is now exercised by the pastors of the Church: for they cannot so properly be said to _pardon sins, _as to declare that they are pardoned, when they deliver the comm... [ Continue Reading ]
8._And the multitudes who saw _Instead of _astonishment _which Matthew mentions, (511) the other two Evangelists employ the word ἔκστασις, or amazement: and Luke adds _fear _But the design of all the Evangelists is to show, that the power of God was not merely acknowledged, but that all were struck... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 9:9._Jesus saw a man sitting at the customhouse. _The _custom-house _has usually been a place noted for plundering and for unjust exactions, and was at that time particularly infamous. In the choice of Matthew out of that place, not only to be admitted into the family of Christ, but even to... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 9:11._Why does your Master eat with publicans and sinners? _The scribes attack the disciples of Christ, and, with the view of soliciting them to revolt, reproach him with what was at first sight base and shameful.” Of what use was it that he should be their Master, if it were not to withdraw... [ Continue Reading ]
12._Not they who are in health need a physician _It is evident from Christ’s reply that the scribes erred in two ways: they did not take into account the office of Christ; and, while they spared their own vices, they proudly despised all others. This deserves our particular attention, for it is a di... [ Continue Reading ]
13._But rather go and learn _He dismisses and orders them to depart, because he saw that they were obstinate and unwilling to learn. Or rather he explains to them, that they are contending with God and the Prophet, when, in pride and cruelty, they are offended at relief which is given to the wretche... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 9:14._Then come to him the disciples of John. _Luke represents the _Pharisees _as speaking: Mark appears to connect both. And, indeed, there is no room to doubt that the _Pharisees _maliciously endeavored, by this stratagem, to draw _the disciples of John _to their party, and to produce a qu... [ Continue Reading ]
15._Can the children of the bridegroom mourn? _Christ apologizes for his disciples on the score of the season, alleging that God was still pleased to indulge them in joyous feelings, as if they were present at a marriage: for he compares himself to _the bridegroom, _who enlivens his friends by his p... [ Continue Reading ]
16._And no man putteth a piece of fresh cloth. _He supports the preceding statement by two comparisons, one of which is taken from _garments, _and the other from vessels of _wine _Those who think that he compares worn-out garments and decayed bottles to the Pharisees, and new wine and fresh cloth to... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 9:18._While he was speaking these things to them. _Those who imagine that the narrative, which is here given by Mark and Luke, is different from that of Matthew, are so clearly refuted by the passage itself, that there is no necessity for a lengthened debate. All the three agree in saying th... [ Continue Reading ]
20._And, lo, a woman who had been afflicted with a bloody flux. _For _twelve successive years _the _bloody flux _had lasted, and the woman was so far from being negligent in seeking remedies, that _she had spent all her substance on physicians _All this is expressly stated by the Evangelists, that t... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 9:22._Take courage, my daughter. _This expression shows the weakness of her faith for, had there been no impropriety in her _trembling, _Christ would not have corrected it by exhorting her to _take courage _Yet, at the same time, he commends her _faith; _and this supports the view which I ha... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 9:27._And while Jesus was departing. _The other Evangelists say nothing about these two miracles; for, as we have already said, and as John expressly affirms, (John 21:25,) they did not intend to record every action of Christ, but only to prove, by a brief summary, that he is the Messiah. No... [ Continue Reading ]
28._Do you believe that I can do this? _But from other passages of Scripture, it is evident that our knowledge of his power will be cold and unprofitable, if we are not convinced of his willingness. And yet Christ is satisfied with their reply, and applauds their faith, as if it had been all that co... [ Continue Reading ]
29._According to your faith. _Though the subject of the narrative is a remarkable benefit conferred on _two blind men, _yet from this declaration of Christ we may draw the general doctrine, that if we pray in faith, we will never sustain a refusal in our prayers. But if those two men, whose faith wa... [ Continue Reading ]
30._And Jesus threatened them _Either he wished to have other persons as witnesses of the miracle, or to delay the publication of it till another time. Their conduct in immediately proclaiming it every where is worthy of blame: for the notion entertained by some, that Christ forbade them for the pur... [ Continue Reading ]
32._They brought to him a dumb man _It is probable that this man was not naturally _dumb, _but that, after he had been given up to the devil, (531) he was deprived of the use of speech: for all _dumb _persons are not _demoniacs _He was afflicted in such a manner as to make it evident, by visible sig... [ Continue Reading ]
34._But the Pharisees said _Hence it is evident with what rage and fury they were filled, who did not scruple to assail with wicked slander so illustrious a work of God. We ought to observe the contrast between the applause of the people and the blasphemy of those men. The saying of the people, that... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 9:35._And Jesus went about _This statement is made by way of anticipating an objection, and is intended to inform us that the whole ministry of Christ is not minutely described: for he was constantly employed in the discharge of his office; that is, in proclaiming the doctrine of salvation,... [ Continue Reading ]
36._He was moved with compassion towards them _Hence we infer, first, how great was the indolence of the priests, who, though they were scattered over the whole country, in order to enlighten the people with heavenly doctrine, were _slow-bellies, _(Titus 1:12.) True, they boasted that they were supe... [ Continue Reading ]
37._The harvest is indeed abundant _By this metaphor he intimates, that many of the people are ripe for receiving the gospel. Though the greater number afterwards rejected basely and with vile ingratitude the salvation offered to them, yet the limited number of the elect, who were mixed with unbelie... [ Continue Reading ]
38._Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest _As no man will of himself become a sincere and faithful minister of the gospel, and as none discharge in a proper manner the office of teacher but those whom the Lord raises up and endows with the gifts of his Spirit, whenever we observe a scarcity of p... [ Continue Reading ]