Matthew 9

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

And he arose, and departed to his house.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

What does Matthew 9:1 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 9:1 depicts a transitional moment in the narrative of Jesus' ministry.

The verse captures Jesus' movement from one place to another, specifically from the region of the Gerasenes, where He had performed miracles, to His own city, which is Capernaum.

The phrase "entered into a ship, and passed over" suggests that Jesus was crossing the Sea of Galilee.

The term "his own city" implies Capernaum has become His base of operations during His Galilean ministry. This passage sets the stage for the series of events that follow, which include teachings, healings, and confrontations with religious leaders.

The verse itself denotes the continuance of Jesus' mission and His acceptance in Capernaum, seen as "His own city," in contrast with places where He faced rejection.

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Historical Context

Matthew 9:1 is situated within a period of intense itinerant ministry by Jesus in the Galilean region.

Capernaum was a significant Galilean city located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee.

It served as a fishing village and was a central hub in the network of trade routes.

The historical Jesus is understood to have selected Capernaum as a home base, in part due to its location and accessibility.

During this period, sea travel was common for moving quickly between locales around the Sea of Galilee, hence Jesus using a ship for transit.

The historical context also would have had Roman occupation influencing the societal structures and religious tensions of the time.

Theological Insights

Theologically, Matthew 9:1 can be seen as a prelude to the authority and divinity of Jesus.

By calling Capernaum "His own city," there is a subtle emphasis on Jesus' acceptance and claim over the area, underscoring Jesus' role as a central figure in God's redemptive plan.

The transition from the predominantly Gentile region of the Gerasenes to the Jewish setting of Capernaum also illustrates Jesus' ministry to all people.

Additionally, the act of crossing over on a ship could be interpreted symbolically to represent transitions, and deliverance, linking to Jesus' role as the one who delivers humanity from sin.

Practical Applications

The significance of Jesus' movement in Matthew 9:1 can teach modern believers about mission and flexibility.

Just as Jesus was willing to travel and reach out to people wherever they were, individuals can learn about the importance of stepping out of one’s comfort zone to spread kindness, support, and the message of the gospel.

With Capernaum being referred to as "His own city," believers are also reminded that they have a place where they belong, which provides them with a firm foundation in their service and life mission.

Cross-References

Matthew 4:13: "And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:"
Mark 5:21: "And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea."
Luke 8:37: "Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again."

Language Study

A key word in Matthew 9:1 is the Greek term "πλοῖον" (ploion), translated as "ship" or "boat," which reflects the common mode of transportation across the Sea of Galilee.

The term suggests a vessel large enough to carry Jesus and His disciples, underscoring the itinerant nature of His ministry. Another term is "διαπεράω" (diaperao), meaning "passed over," conveys the action of traversing or crossing over the sea, connecting two distinct areas of Jesus' ministry.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient cultures, water often symbolized chaos or transition, such as in Ancient Greek mythology where bodies of water were ruled by gods and were venues for epic journeys.

Comparatively, Jesus' voyage speaks to a sense of divine control over nature and the use of the sea for purposeful movement.

Within Jewish religious traditions, the sea could represent potential danger, but here the focus is on the movement from one mission field to another, signifying divine guidance and purpose rather than chaotic or threatening undertones.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific standpoint, the mention of "ship" and "passed over" corresponds well with what we understand about first-century fishing vessels and the geography of the Sea of Galilee.

Archaeological findings, such as the "Jesus Boat" discovered near the shores of the Sea of Galilee, give insights into the type of boats that were used during the time of Jesus, supporting the historical veracity of the narrative.

Commentaries

Commentaries on Matthew 9:1 often highlight the significance of Jesus' movements and the centrality of Capernaum in His ministry.

This verse serves as a narrative link between Jesus' miraculous works among the Gerasenes and the series of events about to unfold in Capernaum.

Scholars discuss the strategic importance of Capernaum for Jesus' ministry through its location and populace.

Commentators also point out the transition from rejection by the Gerasenes to acceptance in Capernaum, framing the context for Jesus’ upcoming actions and teachings.

Matthew 9

Matthew 9

What does Matthew 9:1 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 9:1 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?