Jesus declares "your sins are forgiven" before healing the paralytic, making forgiveness the primary miracle and physical healing merely its visible proof.
Matthew 9
Jesus Heals a Paralytic
1He entered into a boat and crossed over, and came into his own city.
2Behold, they brought to him a man who was paralyzed, lying on a bed. Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, cheer up! Your sins are forgiven you.”
3Behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man blasphemes.”
4Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?
5For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk’?
6But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins—” (then he said to the paralytic), “Get up, and take up your mat, and go to your house.”
7He arose and departed to his house.
8But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
The Call of Matthew
9As Jesus passed by from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax collection office. He said to him, “Follow me.” He got up and followed him.
10As he sat in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples.
11When the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
12When Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do.
13But you go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
A Question About Fasting
14Then John’s disciples came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don’t fast?”
15Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.
16No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch would tear away from the garment, and a worse hole is made.
17Neither do people put new wine into old wineskins, or else the skins would burst, and the wine be spilled, and the skins ruined. No, they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”
A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed
18While he told these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.”
19Jesus got up and followed him, as did his disciples.
20Behold, a woman who had a discharge of blood for twelve years came behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment;
21for she said within herself, “If I just touch his garment, I will be made well.”
22But Jesus, turning around and seeing her, said, “Daughter, cheer up! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.
23When Jesus came into the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd in noisy disorder,
24he said to them, “Make room, because the girl isn’t dead, but sleeping.” They were ridiculing him.
25But when the crowd was sent out, he entered in, took her by the hand, and the girl arose.
26The report of this went out into all that land.
Jesus Heals Two Blind Men
27As Jesus passed by from there, two blind men followed him, calling out and saying, “Have mercy on us, son of David!”
28When he had come into the house, the blind men came to him. Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They told him, “Yes, Lord.”
29Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.”
30Then their eyes were opened. Jesus strictly commanded them, saying, “See that no one knows about this.”
31But they went out and spread abroad his fame in all that land.
Jesus Heals a Man Unable to Speak
32As they went out, behold, a mute man who was demon possessed was brought to him.
33When the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke. The multitudes marveled, saying, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!”
34But the Pharisees said, “By the prince of the demons, he casts out demons.”
The Harvest Is Plentiful
35Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.
36But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them because they were harassed and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd.
37Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
38Pray therefore that the Lord of the harvest will send out laborers into his harvest.”
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Theme
Matthew 9 presents a series of miraculous healings and teachings that demonstrate Jesus' divine authority and mission to the marginalized. The chapter begins with Jesus healing a paralytic and forgiving his sins, establishing his authority over both physical and spiritual ailments. Through his call of Matthew the tax collector, meals with sinners, and various healings, Jesus reveals that his ministry brings renewal and hope to those whom religious leaders had rejected, culminating in his compassion for the crowds who were like sheep without a shepherd.
Context
This chapter follows Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and his earlier healings, building momentum toward his commissioning of the twelve disciples in chapter 10.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-8 Jesus Heals a Paralytic Jesus demonstrates his authority to forgive sins by healing a paralyzed man, causing the crowds to glorify God.
- 9-13 The Call of Matthew Jesus calls the tax collector Matthew and defends eating with sinners, explaining he came to call sinners to repentance.
- 14-17 A Question About Fasting Jesus explains why his disciples don't fast, using metaphors of bridegroom, cloth, and wineskins to illustrate the newness of his ministry.
- 18-26 A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed Jesus raises a ruler's daughter from death and heals a woman with chronic bleeding, both demonstrating the power of faith.
- 27-31 Jesus Heals Two Blind Men Two blind men receive sight after declaring their faith in Jesus' ability to heal them.
- 32-34 Jesus Heals a Man Unable to Speak Jesus casts out a demon from a mute man, causing amazement among crowds but accusations from Pharisees.
- 35-38 The Harvest Is Plentiful Jesus surveys the crowds with compassion and calls for workers to be sent into the abundant spiritual harvest.
Jesus Heals a Paralytic
9:1–9:8 gospel narration triumphant
Jesus heals a paralytic and forgives his sins, demonstrating his divine authority to forgive sins and causing the crowds to glorify God.
person_contrast
Jesus declares "your sins are forgiven" before healing the paralytic, making forgiveness the primary miracle and physical healing merely its visible proof.
The Call of Matthew
9:9–9:13 gospel narration contemplative
Jesus calls Matthew the tax collector to follow him and defends eating with sinners, explaining he came to call sinners to repentance. This passage emphasizes God's mercy over ritual sacrifice and Jesus's mission to the marginalized.
quotation_chain
Matthew's immediate response to Jesus's call mirrors the instantaneous obedience of the first disciples, yet uniquely occurs at a tax booth—the symbol of Roman collaboration and social ostracism.
A Question About Fasting
9:14–9:17 gospel dialogue contemplative
Jesus responds to questions about fasting by explaining that his presence brings joy like a wedding celebration. He uses parables of cloth and wineskins to illustrate that his new teaching requires new forms of practice.
person_contrast
Jesus uniquely combines wedding imagery with fasting discourse, creating the only Gospel passage where "bridegroom" and "fast" appear together to explain ritual transformation.
A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed
9:18–9:26 gospel narration triumphant
Jesus demonstrates his power over death and disease by raising a ruler's daughter and healing a woman with chronic bleeding. Both miracles highlight the role of faith in receiving God's healing power.
person_contrast
Jesus, who typically appears in contexts of authority and judgment throughout Matthew, here demonstrates divine power through intimate healing touch—raising the dead and stopping chronic bleeding through faith alone.
Jesus Heals Two Blind Men
9:27–9:31 gospel narration hopeful
Jesus heals two blind men who call him 'son of David,' emphasizing faith as the basis for the miracle. Despite Jesus's command for secrecy, the men spread news of his healing power throughout the region.
person_contrast
Jesus's question "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" appears only here in Matthew's Gospel, making faith the explicit prerequisite for miraculous healing rather than compassion alone.
Jesus Heals a Man Unable to Speak
9:32–9:34 gospel narration defiant
Jesus casts out a demon from a mute man, restoring his speech and amazing the crowds. The Pharisees respond by accusing Jesus of using demonic power, revealing the growing opposition to his ministry.
person_contrast
Matthew uniquely juxtaposes the crowds' declaration "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel" with the Pharisees' immediate demonic accusation, creating the Gospel's starkest interpretive divide.
The Harvest Is Plentiful
9:35–9:38 gospel narration contemplative
Jesus travels teaching and healing, then expresses compassion for the crowds who are like sheep without a shepherd. He tells his disciples to pray for more laborers to be sent into the plentiful harvest.
person_contrast
Jesus's agricultural metaphor of "harvest" and "laborers" uniquely transforms the typical shepherd-sheep imagery, shifting from protective care to active mission work requiring human participation.
Insights
Matthew's immediate response to Jesus's call mirrors the instantaneous obedience of the first disciples, yet uniquely occurs at a tax booth—the symbol of Roman collaboration and social ostracism.
Jesus uniquely combines wedding imagery with fasting discourse, creating the only Gospel passage where "bridegroom" and "fast" appear together to explain ritual transformation.
Jesus, who typically appears in contexts of authority and judgment throughout Matthew, here demonstrates divine power through intimate healing touch—raising the dead and stopping chronic bleeding through faith alone.
Jesus's question "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" appears only here in Matthew's Gospel, making faith the explicit prerequisite for miraculous healing rather than compassion alone.
Matthew uniquely juxtaposes the crowds' declaration "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel" with the Pharisees' immediate demonic accusation, creating the Gospel's starkest interpretive divide.
Jesus's agricultural metaphor of "harvest" and "laborers" uniquely transforms the typical shepherd-sheep imagery, shifting from protective care to active mission work requiring human participation.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Matthew 9:1 1 reference
Matthew 9:2 3 references
Lexicals 3
Mark 2:5 Lexical
Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
Revelation 2:22 Lexical
Behold, I will throw her and those who commit adultery with her into a bed of great oppression, unless they repent of he…
Luke 2:48 Lexical
When they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, you…
Matthew 9:5 2 references
Matthew 9:6 5 references
Lexicals 5
Luke 5:24 Lexical
But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell…
Mark 2:10 Lexical
But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic—
Mark 2:9 Lexical
Which is easier, to tell the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Arise, and take up your bed, and walk’?
Mark 2:11 Lexical
“I tell you, arise, take up your mat, and go to your house.”
Mark 5:19 Lexical
He didn’t allow him, but said to him, “Go to your house, to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has d…
Matthew 9:8 2 references
Matthew 9:9 4 references
Lexicals 4
Mark 2:14 Lexical
As he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he arose an…
Luke 5:27 Lexical
After these things he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and said to him, “Follow me…
Matthew 26:58 Lexical
But Peter followed him from a distance to the court of the high priest, and entered in and sat with the officers, to see…
John 11:31 Lexical
Then the Jews who were with her in the house and were consoling her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up quickly and we…
Matthew 9:10 5 references
Lexicals 5
Mark 2:15 Lexical
He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners sat down with Jesus and his disciples, f…
Luke 7:34 Lexical
The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors…
Matthew 11:19 Lexical
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collect…
Mark 2:16 Lexical
The scribes and the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, said to his discipl…
Luke 5:30 Lexical
Their scribes and the Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collector…
Matthew 9:11 5 references
Lexicals 5
Luke 5:30 Lexical
Their scribes and the Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collector…
Mark 2:16 Lexical
The scribes and the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, said to his discipl…
Matthew 11:19 Lexical
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collect…
Luke 7:34 Lexical
The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors…
Mark 2:15 Lexical
He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners sat down with Jesus and his disciples, f…
Matthew 9:12 2 references
Matthew 9:13 4 references
Quotations 1
Lexicals 3
Luke 5:32 Lexical
I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
Mark 2:17 Lexical
When Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick. I cam…
1 Corinthians 10:27 Lexical
But if one of those who don’t believe invites you to a meal, and you are inclined to go, eat whatever is set before you,…
Matthew 9:14 5 references
Lexicals 5
Mark 2:18 Lexical
John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, and they came and asked him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples…
Luke 5:33 Lexical
They said to him, “Why do John’s disciples often fast and pray, likewise also the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours…
Matthew 15:12 Lexical
Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”
Matthew 15:1 Lexical
Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying,
John 4:1 Lexical
Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John
Matthew 9:15 5 references
Lexicals 5
Mark 2:19 Lexical
Jesus said to them, “Can the groomsmen fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with…
Luke 5:35 Lexical
But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them. Then they will fast in those days.”
Mark 2:20 Lexical
But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.
Luke 5:34 Lexical
He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them?
Matthew 25:31 Lexical
“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glo…
Matthew 9:16 2 references
Matthew 9:17 4 references
Lexicals 4
Luke 5:37 Lexical
No one puts new wine into old wineskins, or else the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled and the skins…
Mark 2:22 Lexical
No one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the skins, and the wine pours out, and the skin…
Luke 5:38 Lexical
But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.
Luke 5:36 Lexical
He also told a parable to them. “No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old garment, or else he will tear the new,…
Matthew 9:18 4 references
Parallels 2
Matthew 9:20 5 references
Lexicals 5
Luke 8:44 Lexical
came behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak. Immediately the flow of her blood stopped.
Mark 6:56 Lexical
Wherever he entered—into villages, or into cities, or into the country—they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged…
Matthew 14:36 Lexical
and they begged him that they might just touch the fringe of his garment. As many as touched it were made whole.
Mark 5:27 Lexical
having heard the things concerning Jesus, came up behind him in the crowd and touched his clothes.
Luke 8:43 Lexical
A woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her living on physicians and could not be healed by…
Matthew 9:21 4 references
Lexicals 4
Mark 5:28 Lexical
For she said, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be made well.”
Mark 6:56 Lexical
Wherever he entered—into villages, or into cities, or into the country—they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged…
Matthew 14:36 Lexical
and they begged him that they might just touch the fringe of his garment. As many as touched it were made whole.
Mark 5:30 Lexical
Immediately Jesus, perceiving in himself that the power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Wh…
Matthew 9:22 3 references
Lexicals 3
Matthew 15:28 Lexical
Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Be it done to you even as you desire.” And her daughter was healed…
Matthew 15:22 Lexical
Behold, a Canaanite woman came out from those borders and cried, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, you son of David! My d…
Luke 7:50 Lexical
He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
Matthew 9:25 5 references
Lexicals 5
Mark 5:41 Lexical
Taking the child by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha cumi!” which means, being interpreted, “Girl, I tell you, get up!…
Mark 1:31 Lexical
He came and took her by the hand and raised her up. The fever left her immediately, and she served them.
Mark 9:27 Lexical
But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him up; and he arose.
John 12:17 Lexical
The multitude therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead was testif…
Mark 7:17 Lexical
When he had entered into a house away from the multitude, his disciples asked him about the parable.
Matthew 9:26 1 reference
Matthew 9:27 5 references
Lexicals 5
Matthew 20:30 Lexical
Behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us…
Mark 10:47 Lexical
When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!”
Luke 18:39 Lexical
Those who led the way rebuked him, that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “You son of David, have mercy…
Mark 10:48 Lexical
Many rebuked him, that he should be quiet, but he cried out much more, “You son of David, have mercy on me!”
Matthew 21:9 Lexical
The multitudes who went in front of him, and those who followed, kept shouting, “Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is…
Matthew 9:32 1 reference
Matthew 9:33 5 references
Lexicals 5
Luke 11:14 Lexical
He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke; and the multitudes marvele…
Matthew 15:31 Lexical
so that the multitude wondered when they saw the mute speaking, the injured healed, the lame walking, and the blind seei…
Luke 7:9 Lexical
When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned and said to the multitude who followed him, “I tell you, I…
John 7:46 Lexical
The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this man!”
Mark 1:34 Lexical
He healed many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons. He didn’t allow the demons to speak, becaus…
Matthew 9:34 3 references
Lexicals 3
Matthew 12:24 Lexical
But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “This man does not cast out demons except by Beelzebul, the prince of the de…
Luke 11:15 Lexical
But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons.”
Mark 3:22 Lexical
The scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul,” and, “By the prince of the demons he casts out the de…
Matthew 9:35 5 references
Lexicals 5
Matthew 4:23 Lexical
Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every…
Matthew 10:1 Lexical
He called to himself his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal e…
Luke 8:1 Lexical
Soon afterwards, he went about through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of God’s Kingdom. With…
Mark 6:6 Lexical
He marveled because of their unbelief. He went around the villages teaching.
Luke 13:22 Lexical
He went on his way through cities and villages, teaching, and traveling on to Jerusalem.
Matthew 9:36 2 references
Matthew 9:37 2 references
Matthew 9:38 1 reference
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Lemma
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