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BOOK 40 OF 66 · GOSPELS · KING JAMES BIBLE

Matthew 9

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REVIEWED OVERVIEW

Matthew 9 Overview

Jesus heals a paralytic and publicly claims authority to forgive sins, calls Matthew from the receipt of custom, eats with publicans and sinners, answers questions about fasting, heals a woman with an issue of blood, raises a ruler’s daughter, restores sight to two blind men, casts out a devil, and looks on the crowds with compassion as sheep without a shepherd.

MatthewBook
9Chapter
38Verses
GospelsDivision

Before you read Matthew 9

Coming from

Matthew 8 established the immediate context: Jesus descends from the mountain and demonstrates royal authority through cleansing a leper, healing a centurion’s servant at a distance, restoring Peter’s mother-in-law, calming a storm, and delivering two demon-possessed men.

In this chapter

The chapter shows Jesus’ authority to forgive and restore while conflict grows over the company He keeps and the shape of His ministry.

Leads into

Matthew 10 continues the account: Jesus commissions the twelve apostles, gives them authority over unclean spirits and disease, and sends them initially to the lost sheep of Israel with the kingdom message.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The paralytic episode deliberately joins an invisible claim and a visible sign: Jesus heals the man so observers may know the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins.

Jesus’ statement about the sick needing a physician explains His table fellowship; He is not approving sin but bringing mercy to people who know they need help.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Jesus has authority to forgive sins

The scribes recognize the magnitude of the claim even though they reject its legitimacy.

Mercy moves toward sinners rather than protecting religious reputation

Jesus calls Matthew and eats with people respectable society despises.

His power reaches chronic suffering and death

The woman and ruler’s daughter show restoration where human resources have failed.

Compassion produces mission

Seeing shepherdless multitudes leads Jesus to speak of the harvest and need for laborers.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Hosea 6:6

Jesus explicitly cites Hosea’s preference for mercy over empty sacrifice.

Daniel 7:13–14

The Son of man title carries royal/heavenly significance beyond a simple reference to humanity.

Ezekiel 34

Sheep without faithful shepherds recalls prophetic condemnation of failed leaders and God’s promise to shepherd His people.

Luke 5:17–32

Luke gives close parallels for the paralytic and call of Levi/Matthew.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not read Jesus eating with sinners as approval of their sin

His own physician analogy explains the purpose as merciful restoration.

Do not make physical healing a condition or proof of eternal salvation

The miracles reveal Jesus’ authority; forgiveness and healing are related in the narrative but not identical experiences.

Do not treat the harvest saying as permission to manipulate people

The emphasis is compassion and prayer for laborers under the Lord of the harvest.

Read Matthew 9 watching for…

The link between forgiveness and the paralytic’s healing.

Who objects to Jesus’ table fellowship.

The bridegroom imagery in the fasting discussion.

The repeated role of faith in approaching Jesus.

The range of needs Jesus addresses.

The compassion-harvest transition at the end.

TWBC REVIEW STANDARD

Plain language. Scripture first. Fact distinguished from inference. No filler. No fake certainty. Designed to help you read the Bible itself.

Chapter outline5 sections
1-8Jesus forgives and heals a man sick of the palsy9-17Jesus calls Matthew and answers questions about eating with sinners and fasting18-26Jesus raises a ruler’s daughter and heals a woman with an issue of blood27-34Jesus heals two blind men and a dumb man possessed with a devil35-38Jesus teaches and heals through the cities and calls for laborers in the harvest
1

And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.

2

And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

3

And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.

4

And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

5

For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?

6

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

7

And he arose, and departed to his house.

8

But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

9

And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

10

And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

11

And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

12

But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

13

But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

14

Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

15

And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

16

No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.

17

Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

18

While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.

19

And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.

20

And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:

21

For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

22

But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

23

And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,

24

He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.

25

But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.

26

And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.

27

And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.

28

And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

29

Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

30

And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

31

But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.

32

As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.

33

And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.

34

But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.

35

And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

36

But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

37

Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

38

Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

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Matthew 9:36

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