Matthew 9:1
HIS OWN CITY (την ιδιαν πολιν). Capernaum (Mark 2:1; Matthew 4:13).... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS OWN CITY (την ιδιαν πολιν). Capernaum (Mark 2:1; Matthew 4:13).... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY BROUGHT (προσεφερον). Imperfect, "were bringing," graphic picture made very vivid by the details in Mark 2:1-4 and Luke 5:17. " LYING ON A BED " (stretched on a couch), perfect passive participle, a little bed or couch (κλινιδιον) in Luke 5:19, "a pallet" (κραβατος) in Mark 2:4; Mark 2:9; Ma... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS MAN BLASPHEMETH (ουτος βλασφημε). See the sneer in "this fellow." "The prophet always is a scandalous, irreverent blasphemer from the conventional point of view" (Bruce).... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT YE MAY KNOW (ινα ειδητε). Jesus accepts the challenge in the thoughts of the scribes and performs the miracle of healing the paralytic, who so far only had his sins forgiven, to prove his Messianic power on earth to forgive sins even as God does. The word εξουσια may mean either power or aut... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THE PLACE OF TOLL (επ το τελωνιον). The tax-office or custom-house of Capernaum placed here to collect taxes from the boats going across the lake outside of Herod's territory or from people going from Damascus to the coast, a regular caravan route. " CALLED MATTHEW " (Μαθθαιον λεγομενον) and in... [ Continue Reading ]
PUBLICANS AND SINNERS (τελωνα κα αμαρτωλο). Often coupled together in common scorn and in contrast with the righteous (δικαιο in Matthew 9:13). It was a strange medley at Levi's feast (Jesus and the four fisher disciples, Nathanael and Philip; Matthew Levi and his former companions, publicans and... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THEY THAT ARE SICK (αλλα ο κακως εχοντες). Probably a current proverb about the physician. As a physician of body and soul Jesus was bound to come in close touch with the social outcasts.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT GO YE AND LEARN (πορευθεντες δε μαθετε). With biting sarcasm Jesus bids these preachers to learn the meaning of Hosea 6:6. It is repeated in Matthew 12:7. Ingressive aorist imperative (μαθετε).... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DISCIPLES OF JOHN (ο μαθητα Ιωανου). One is surprised to find disciples of the Baptist in the role of critics of Christ along with the Pharisees. But John was languishing in prison and they perhaps were blaming Jesus for doing nothing about it. At any rate John would not have gone to Levi's f... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SONS OF THE BRIDE-CHAMBER (ο υιο του νυμφωνος). It is a late Hebrew idiom for the wedding guests, "the friends of the bridegroom and all the sons of the bride-chamber" (_Tos. Berak._ ii. 10). Cf. John 2:29.... [ Continue Reading ]
UNDRESSED CLOTH (ρακους αγναφου). An unfulled, raw piece of woollen cloth that will shrink when wet and tear a bigger hole than ever.A WORSE RENT (χειρον σχισμα). Our word "schism." The " PATCH " (πληρωμα, filling up) thus does more harm than good.... [ Continue Reading ]
OLD WINESKINS (ασκους παλαιους). Not glass " BOTTLES " but wineskins used as bottles as is true in Palestine yet, goatskins with the rough part inside. "Our word _bottle_ originally carried the true meaning, being a bottle of leather. In Spanish _bota_ means a _leather bottle_, a _boot_, and a _b... [ Continue Reading ]
IS EVEN NOW DEAD (αρτ ετελευτησεν). Aorist tense with αρτ and so better, "just now died," "just dead" (Moffatt). Mark (Mark 5:23) has it "at the point of death," Luke (Luke 8:42) "lay a dying." It is not always easy even for physicians to tell when actual death has come. Jesus in Matthew 9:24 poi... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BORDER OF HIS GARMENT (του κρασπεδου του ιματιου). The hem or fringe of a garment, a tassel or tuft hanging from the edge of the outer garment according to Numbers 15:38. It was made of twisted wool. Jesus wore the dress of other people with these fringes at the four corners of the outer garm... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FLUTE-PLAYERS (τους αυλητας). The girl was just dead, but already a crowd "making a tumult" (θορυβουμενον) with wild wailing and screaming had gathered in the outer court, "brought together by various motives, sympathy, money, desire to share in the meat and drink going at such a time" (Bruce... [ Continue Reading ]
AS JESUS PASSED BY (παραγοντ Ιησου). Associative instrumental case with ηκολουθησαν. It was the supreme opportunity of these two blind men. Note two demoniacs in Matthew 8:28 and two blind men in Matthew 20:30. See the same word παραγων used of Jesus in Matthew 9:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
TOUCHED THEIR EYES (ηψατο των οφθαλμων). The men had faith (Matthew 9:28) and Jesus rewards their faith and yet he touched their eyes as he sometimes did with kindly sympathy.... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE OPENED (ηνεωιχθησαν). Triple augment (on οι=ωι, ε and then on preposition αν = ην).STRICTLY CHARGED THEM (ενεβριμηθη αυτοις). A difficult word, compound of εν and βριμαομα (to be moved with anger). It is used of horses snorting (Aeschylus, _Theb_. 461), of men fretting or being angry (Danie... [ Continue Reading ]
A DUMB MAN (κωφον). Literally blunted in tongue as here and so dumb, in ear as in Matthew 11:5 and so deaf. Homer used it of a blunted dart (_Iliad_ xi. 390). Others applied it to mental dulness.... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THE PRINCE OF THE DEVILS (εν τω αρχοντ των δαιμονιων). Demons, not devils. The codex Bezae omits this verse, but it is probably genuine. The Pharisees are becoming desperate and, unable to deny the reality of the miracles, they seek to discredit them by trying to connect Jesus with the devil h... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JESUS WENT ABOUT (κα περιηγεν ο Ιησους). Imperfect tense descriptive of this third tour of all Galilee.... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE DISTRESSED AND SCATTERED (ησαν εσκυλμενο κα εριμμενο). Periphrastic past perfect indicative passive. A sad and pitiful state the crowds were in. Rent or mangled as if by wild beasts. Σκυλλω occurs in the papyri in sense of plunder, concern, vexation. "Used here of the common people, it descri... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT HE SEND FORTH LABOURERS (οπως εκβαλη εργατας). Jesus turns from the figure of the shepherdless sheep to the harvest field ripe and ready for the reapers. The verb εκβαλλω really means to drive out, to push out, to draw out with violence or without. Prayer is the remedy offered by Jesus in th... [ Continue Reading ]