Matthew 9: The Compassion and Power of Jesus
Jesus Heals a Paralytic
Chapter with Audio
9 And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. 2 And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” 3 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” 4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” 7 And he rose and went home. 8 When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
Jesus Calls Matthew
9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.
10 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
A Question About Fasting
14 Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 15 And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. 17 Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.”
A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed
18 While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. 20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, 21 for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” 22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. 23 And when Jesus came to the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, 24 he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. 25 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26 And the report of this went through all that district.
Jesus Heals Two Blind Men
27 And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” 28 When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” 29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be done to you.” 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it.” 31 But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.
Jesus Heals a Man Unable to Speak
32 As they were going away, behold, a demon-oppressed man who was mute was brought to him. 33 And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.” 34 But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.”
The Harvest Is Plentiful, the Laborers Few
35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Chapter Analysis
Matthew 9: Jesus Forgives, Heals, And Calls Sinners
Jesus Forgives And Heals A Paralytic
📖 Matthew 9:1–8
¹ Jesus got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city.
² Some people brought Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”
³ Some of the scribes said within themselves that Jesus was blaspheming.
⁴ Jesus knew their thoughts and asked why they were thinking evil in their hearts.
⁵ He asked which was easier to say: “Your sins are forgiven,” or “Arise and walk.”
⁶ But so they would know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins, He told the paralytic to arise, take up his bed, and go to his house.
⁷ The man arose and departed to his house.
⁸ When the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
🔹 The Truth
Jesus has authority to forgive sins.
He knew the thoughts of the scribes.
The healing proved His authority as the Son of Man.
🔹 The Promise
Those who come to Jesus in faith can receive forgiveness of sins.
✅ Conclusion
The paralytic needed healing, but his greatest need was forgiveness. Jesus has authority to give both.
Jesus Calls Matthew
📖 Matthew 9:9–13
⁹ As Jesus passed on, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. He said to him, “Follow Me,” and Matthew arose and followed Him.
¹⁰ As Jesus sat at the table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.
¹¹ When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples why their Teacher ate with tax collectors and sinners.
¹² Jesus heard them and said that those who are well do not need a physician, but those who are sick.
¹³ He told them to go and learn what this means: “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” He did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
🔹 The Truth
Jesus calls sinners to follow Him.
Religious pride looks down on the needy, but Jesus comes near to save them.
Jesus desires mercy, not empty religious performance.
🔹 The Promise
Jesus came to call sinners to repentance.
✅ Conclusion
Matthew’s calling shows that no sinner is beyond the reach of Christ’s mercy.
Questions About Fasting
📖 Matthew 9:14–17
¹⁴ The disciples of John came to Jesus and asked why they and the Pharisees fasted often, but His disciples did not fast.
¹⁵ Jesus answered that the friends of the bridegroom do not mourn while the bridegroom is with them. But days would come when the bridegroom would be taken away, and then they would fast.
¹⁶ No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, because the patch pulls away and makes the tear worse.
¹⁷ Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins, or the wineskins burst, the wine spills out, and the wineskins are ruined. New wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved.
🔹 The Truth
Jesus is the Bridegroom.
His presence brought joy, not mourning.
The new work of Christ cannot be contained by old religious forms.
🔹 The Promise
Jesus brings something new and greater than outward religious routine.
✅ Conclusion
Jesus was not merely adding Himself to old patterns. His coming brought a new reality centered in Himself.
A Dead Girl And A Sick Woman
📖 Matthew 9:18–26
¹⁸ A ruler came and worshiped Jesus, saying his daughter had just died, but if Jesus would come and lay His hand on her, she would live.
¹⁹ Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples.
²⁰ A woman who had suffered a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment.
²¹ She said within herself that if she only touched His garment, she would be made well.
²² Jesus turned and saw her. He told her to be of good cheer, because her faith had made her well. The woman was made well from that hour.
²³ When Jesus came into the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd,
²⁴ He told them to make room, because the girl was not dead but sleeping. They ridiculed Him.
²⁵ When the crowd was put outside, Jesus went in, took the girl by the hand, and she arose.
²⁶ The report of this went out into all that land.
🔹 The Truth
Jesus has authority over long-term sickness and death.
Faith reaches out to Him in need.
The crowd mocked, but Jesus raised the dead.
🔹 The Promise
Jesus is able to restore what no human strength can fix.
✅ Conclusion
The sick woman and the dead girl show that Christ’s power reaches both hidden suffering and hopeless loss.
Jesus Heals The Blind And Mute
📖 Matthew 9:27–34
²⁷ As Jesus departed, two blind men followed Him, crying out, “Son of David, have mercy on us.”
²⁸ When He came into the house, Jesus asked if they believed He was able to do this. They said yes, Lord.
²⁹ He touched their eyes and said it would be done according to their faith.
³⁰ Their eyes were opened. Jesus sternly warned them that no one should know it.
³¹ But they went out and spread the news about Him in all that country.
³² As they went out, a demon-possessed man who was mute was brought to Jesus.
³³ When the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke. The crowds marveled, saying nothing like this had ever been seen in Israel.
³⁴ But the Pharisees said He cast out demons by the ruler of the demons.
🔹 The Truth
Jesus is the Son of David, the promised Messiah.
He opened blind eyes and loosed a mute tongue.
The Pharisees hardened their hearts and accused His work falsely.
🔹 The Promise
Jesus is merciful to those who cry out to Him in faith.
✅ Conclusion
The miracles reveal Jesus’ Messiahship, but hardened hearts still reject the truth.
The Harvest Is Plentiful
📖 Matthew 9:35–38
³⁵ Jesus went through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
³⁶ When He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd.
³⁷ He told His disciples that the harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
³⁸ Therefore they should pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
🔹 The Truth
Jesus saw the multitudes with compassion.
People were weary and scattered like sheep without a shepherd.
The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
🔹 The Promise
The Lord of the harvest can send laborers into His harvest.
✅ Conclusion
Matthew 9 ends with Jesus’ compassion and His call to pray for laborers. The need is great, and the harvest belongs to the Lord.
Summary Conclusion
Matthew 9 reveals Jesus as the One who forgives sins, heals sickness, raises the dead, opens blind eyes, casts out demons, and calls sinners to repentance. It also shows the hardness of religious opposition and the deep compassion of Christ for weary and scattered people. The chapter ends with a call to pray for laborers in the Lord’s harvest.
Final Questions For You
- Why is forgiveness of sins the paralytic’s greatest need?
- What does Jesus’ call of Matthew teach about His mercy toward sinners?
- How should Jesus’ compassion for the weary and scattered shape our prayers and service?