CHAPTER IX. _Christ heals a paralytic person at Capernaum_, 1-8. _Calls Matthew_, 9-10. _Eats with publicans and sinners, at which the Pharisees are_ _offended, and he vindicates his conduct_, 11, 12. _The disciples of John come to him and inquire about fasting_, 14-17. _A ruler requests him... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 9:2. _SICK OF THE PALSY_] See Matthew 4:24. _LYING ON A BED_] κλινης, a _couch_ or _sofa_, such as they _reclined_ on at meals. _SEEING THEIR FAITH_] The faith of the paralytic person, and the faith of those who brought him; Mark 2:4. _BE OF GOOD CHEER_] θαρσει τεκνον, _Son, take co... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 9:3. _THIS_ MAN _BLASPHEMETH._] βλασφημεω comes either from βλαπτειν την φημην, _to hurt_ or _blast the reputation_ or _credit_ of another, or from βαλλειν ταις φημαις, _to smite with reports_. Whenever it is used in reference to GOD, it simply signifies, _to_ _speak impiously_ of his... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 9:4. _JESUS KNOWING_ (ιδων _seeing_) _THEIR THOUGHTS_] In telling them what the thoughts of their hearts were, (for they had expressed nothing publicly,) he gave them the fullest proof of his power to forgive sins; because God only can forgive sins, and God only can _search_ and _know_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 9:5. _FOR WHETHER IS EASIER_, TO SAY, _THY SINS BE FORGIVEN_ _THEE;_ OR TO SAY, _ARISE, AND WALK?_] Both are _equally easy_, and _equally difficult_; for both require _unlimited_ power to produce them. And every thing is equally easy to that power which is unlimited. A universe can be... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 9:6. _BUT THAT YE MAY KNOW, C._] _External_ miracles are the proofs of _internal ones_. _Three_ miracles are wrought in this case. (I mean, by miracle, something _produced_ or _known_ that no power is capable of but that which is _omnipotent_, and no _knowledge_ adequate to but that wh... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 9:8. _WHEN THE MULTITUDES SAW_ IT, _THEY MARVELLED_] Instead of εθαυμασαν, _wondered_, the Codex _Vatic_. and Cod. _Bezae_, with several other MSS. and versions, have εφοβηθησαν, _feared_. In the _Gothic_, and one copy of the _Itala_, both readings are conjoined, thus: _And the multitu... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 9:9. _NAMED MATTHEW_] Generally supposed to be the same who wrote this history of our blessed Lord. _Mathai_ signifies a _gift_ in Syriac; probably so named by his parents as implying a _gift_ _from God_. _THE RECEIPT OF CUSTOM_] The custom-house, τελωνιον - the place where the taxes... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 9:10. _SAT AT MEAT IN THE HOUSE_] Viz. of Matthew, who it appears, from Luke 5:29, made a great feast on the occasion, thus testifying his gratitude for the honour done him; and that his friends and acquaintances might profit by the teaching of his new master, he invites them to the e... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 9:11. _WHEN THE PHARISEES SAW IT_] He who, like a Pharisee, never felt himself indebted to infinite mercy for his own salvation, is rarely solicitous about the salvation of others. The grace of Christ alone inspires the soul with true benevolence. The self-righteous Pharisees considere... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 9:12. _THEY THAT BE WHOLE NEED NOT A PHYSICIAN_] A common proverb, which none could either misunderstand or misapply. Of it the reader may make the following use:- 1. Jesus Christ represents himself here as the sovereign Physician of souls. 2. That all stand in need of his healing po... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 9:13. _I WILL HAVE MERCY, AND NOT SACRIFICE_] Quoted from 1 Samuel 15:22. These are remarkable words. We may understand them as implying, 1st. That God prefers an act of mercy, shown to the necessitous, to any act of religious worship to which the person might be called at that time.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 9:14. _THY DISCIPLES FAST NOT?_] Probably meaning that they did not fast so _frequently_ as the others did, or for the same purposes, which is very likely, for the Pharisees had many superstitious fasts. They fasted in order to have lucky _dreams_, to obtain the interpretation of a dre... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 9:15. _CAN THE CHILDREN OF THE BRIDE-CHAMBER_] νυμφωνος. Or, νυμφιου, _bridegroom_, as the _Cod. Bezae_ and several _versions_ have it. These persons were the companions of the bridegroom, who accompanied him to the house of his father-in-law when he went to bring the bride to his own... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 9:16. _NO MAN PUTTETH A PIECE OF NEW CLOTH_] Ουδεις δε επιβαλλει επιβλημα ρακους αγναφου επι ιματιω παλαιω. _No man_ _putteth a patch of unscoured cloth upon an old garment_. This is the most literal translation I can give of this verse, to convey its meaning to those who cannot consul... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 9:17. _NEW WINE INTO OLD BOTTLES_] It is still the custom, in the eastern countries, to make their bottles of _goat skins_: if these happened to be old, and new wine were put into them, the violence of the _fermentation_ must necessarily burst them; and therefore newly made bottles wer... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 9:18. _A CERTAIN RULER_] There were two officers in the synagogue, חזן הכנסת _chazan ha-ceneseth_, the bishop or overseer of the congregation; and ראש הכנסת _rosh ha-ceneseth_, the head or ruler of the congregation. The _chazan_ takes the book of the Law, and gives it to the _rosh_, or... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 9:19. _JESUS AROSE, AND FOLLOWED HIM_] Our blessed Lord could have acted as well at a _distance_ as _present_; but he goes to the place, to teach his ministers not to spare either their steps or their pains when the salvation of a soul is in question. Let them not think it sufficient t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 9:20. _A WOMAN WHICH WAS DISEASED WITH AN ISSUE OF BLOOD_] γυνη αιμορρουσα. _Mulier sanguinis profluvio laborans._ _Significatur hoc loco, fluxus muliebris, in_ SANIS, _menstruus; in_ HAC _perpetuus_. It would be easy to explain the nature and properties of the disease here mentioned;... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 9:21. _SHE SAID WITHIN HERSELF, IF I MAY BUT TOUCH HIS_ _GARMENT_] Her disorder was of that delicate nature that modesty forbade her to make any public acknowledgment of it; and therefore she endeavoured to transact the whole business in private. Besides, the touch of such a person was... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 9:22. _DAUGHTER, BE OF GOOD COMFORT_] θαρσει θυγατερ, _Take_ _courage, daughter_. Matthew 9:2. The reason of this kind speech was-Jesus, finding that virtue had proceeded from him; made inquiry who had touched him. The woman, finding that she could not be hid, came _fearing_ and _tremb... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 9:23. _SAW THE MINSTRELS AND THE PEOPLE MAKING A NOISE_] αυλητας, _pipers_; Anglo-Saxon, [Anglo-Saxon] _the whistlers_; Gothic, _haurngans haurngandans_, the _horn-blowers blowing with_ _their horns_. Nearly the same as the _pipublasara_, pipe-blowers of the _Islandic_: for among all... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 9:24. _THE MAID IS NOT DEAD, BUT SLEEPETH_] That is, she is not dead so as to _continue_ under the power of death; but shall be raised from it as a, person is from natural sleep. _THEY LAUGHED HIM TO SCORN._] κατεγελων αυτον, _they ridiculed_ _him_; from κατα, _intensive_, and γελαω,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 9:25. _HE - TOOK HER BY THE HAND, AND THE MAID AROSE._] The fountain of life thus communicating its vital energy to the dead body. Where death has already taken place, no power but that of the great God can restore to life; in such a case, vain is the help of man. So the soul that is d... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 9:26. _AND THE FAME HEREOF WENT ABROAD_] In this business Jesus himself scarcely appears, but the _work_ effected by his sovereign power is _fully manifested_; to teach us that it is the business of a successful preacher of the Gospel to conceal _himself_ as much as possible, that God... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 9:27. _SON OF DAVID_] This was the same as if they had called him _Messiah_. Two things here are worthy of remark: 1st. That it was a generally received opinion at this time in Judea, that the Messiah should be son of David. (John 7:42.) 2dly. That Jesus Christ was generally and inco... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 9:28. _WHEN HE WAS COME UNTO THE HOUSE_] That is, the house of Peter at Capernaum, where he ordinarily lodged. _BELIEVE YE THAT I AM ABLE TO DO THIS?_] Without _faith_ Jesus does nothing to men's souls _now_, no more than he did to their bodies in the days of his flesh. _THEY SAID UN... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 29. _ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH_] Matthew 8:13, Matthew 8:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 30. _STRAITLY CHARGED THEM_] _He charged them severely_, from ενεβριμησατο, from εν, and βριμαομαι, to _roar_ or _storm_ _with anger_; he charged them, on pain of his _displeasure_, not to make it as yet public. _See the reasons, Clarke "_Matthew 8:4_"_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 31. _BUT THEY - SPREAD ABROAD HIS FAME_] They should have held their peace; for to _obey_ is better than _sacrifice_, 1 Samuel 15:22; but man must always be wiser than God, however, it may be profitable to remark, 1st. That honour pursues those who fly from it. 2dly. He who is thoroughly sen... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 32. _A DUMB MAN POSSESSED WITH A DEVIL._] Some demons rendered the persons they possessed _paralytic_, some _blind_, others _dumb_, c. It was the interest of Satan to hide his influences under the appearance of _natural_ disorders. A man who does _not_ _acknowledge_ his sin to God, who _prays... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 33. _AND WHEN THE DEVIL WAS CAST OUT, THE DUMB SPAKE_] The very miracle which was now wrought was to be the demonstrative proof of the Messiah's being manifested in the flesh. See Isaiah 35:5. _IT WAS NEVER SO SEEN IN ISRAEL._] The greatest of the prophets has never been able to do such mirac... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 34. _HE CASTETH OUT DEVILS THROUGH THE PRINCE OF THE_ _DEVILS._] This verse is wanting in both the Greek and Latin of the _C. Bezae_, in another copy of the _Itala_, and in _Hilary_ and _Juvencus_. But Matthew 12:24. It is a consummate piece of _malice_ to attribute the _works of God_ to the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 35. _JESUS WENT ABOUT ALL THE CITIES AND VILLAGES_] Of Galilee. See on Matthew 4:23; Matthew 4:24. A real minister of Jesus Christ, after his example, is neither detained in one place by a comfortable provision made by some, nor discouraged from pursuing his work by the calumny and persecution... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 9:36. _MOVED WITH COMPASSION_] εσπλαγχνισθη, from σπλαγχνον _a bowel_. The Jews esteemed _the bowels_ to be the seat of sympathy and the tender passions, and so applied the _organ_ to the _sense_. επλαγχνιζομαι signifies, says _Mintert_, "to be moved with pity from the very inmost bo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 9:37. _THE HARVEST_] The souls who are ready to receive the truth are very numerous; _but the labourers are few_. There are _multitudes_ of scribes, Pharisees, and priests, of _reverend_ and _right reverend_ men; but there are few that _work_. Jesus wishes for _labourers_, not _gentlem... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 9:38. _THAT HE WILL SEND FORTH LABOURERS_] οπως εκβαλλη εργατας, _that he would thrust forth labourers_. Those who are fittest for the work are generally most backward to the employment. The man who is forward to become a preacher knows little of God, of human nature, or of his own he... [ Continue Reading ]