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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 9:19 mean?

Explanation

The verse Matthew 9:19 belong to the Gospel of Matthew and depicts a moment when Jesus responds to a request for help.

The context is that a synagogue leader, named Jairus in other Gospels, comes to Jesus, imploring him to heal his daughter who is at the point of death.

Jesus' immediate reaction is to arise, indicating he stops what he is doing and prepares to follow Jairus to his home.

His disciples, those who are learning from him and follow him in his ministry, accompany him.

The verse captures an instance of Jesus' compassion and readiness to assist those in need. It also reflects the response of the disciples, who do not question but follow their teacher's lead.

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Historical Context

The Gospel of Matthew is believed to have been written between 70 and 110 AD.

It was a time when the early Christian community was defining itself and spreading its teachings within a largely Jewish population.

Jesu's movement within Galilee and into Judea is set against the backdrop of Roman occupation, with cultural tensions between the occupying Romans, the Jewish populace, and emerging Christian sects.

Synagogue leaders like Jairus were respected figures within Jewish society, so his plea to Jesus indicates a significant level of desperation and acknowledges Jesus' healing authority.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse reveals several facets of Jesus' ministry.

First, it exemplifies Jesus' accessibility and willingness to serve all, including a synagogue leader who, despite his status, humbles himself before Jesus.

Second, there is an element of faith at play here; the act of arising and following suggests a trust in Jesus' power to heal.

Third, the verse mirrors Christian virtues of compassion and early church practices of following Christ’s teachings, particularly the aspect of being in service to others.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, Matthew 9:19 can inspire individuals to act with compassion and readiness to help those in need, often without hesitation.

It's about being vigilant to the needs of others and responding to them with empathy.

In community settings, the verse can encourage people to follow positive leadership and join collective actions that aim to provide aid or comfort to individuals who are in a dire situation.

Cross-References

Mark 5:22-24: "And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.

And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him."

Luke 8:41-42: "And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house: For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying."

Language Study

The key words in this verse in the original Greek can provide additional insights:

"Arose" (ἀναστὰς) can signify not only physical standing but also a readiness to take action.
"Followed" (ἠκολούθει) indicates a journeying with or being a companion to someone, suggesting commitment and support.
"Disciples" (μαθητὰς) refers to learners or students, emphasizing that those following Jesus were there to learn from his teachings and actions.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In Jewish tradition, religious leaders like synagogue rulers held significant authority and influence.

For a leader to seek out Jesus, especially in the context of a potential miracle, is indicative of Jesus' growing reputation as a healer.

Comparatively, in other ancient religions and myths, seeking help from a deity or demigod for healing was common, but here the approach is more personal and direct, with the divine figure of Jesus walking among the people and accessible to them.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern science looks at the healing narratives in the Bible from psychological and sociological perspectives. The power of belief and community support can have measurable impacts on health and recovery.

While the scientific method doesn't substantiate miraculous healings, the importance of social bonds and faith in promoting well-being is recognized in various studies.

Commentaries

Various commentaries on Matthew 9:19 focus on Jesus' immediate response.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges notes that Jesus' actions show his "readiness to help those in trouble" and his recognition of great faith in the individuals who came to him.

The Pulpit Commentary emphasizes the significance of the ruler of a synagogue, a person of status, seeking Jesus' aid, showcasing the draw of Jesus' spiritual authority across different societal strata.

Commentators also discuss the role of the disciples in following Jesus, underscoring the importance of discipleship in witnessing and participating in Jesus' ministry.

Matthew 9

Matthew 9

What does Matthew 9:19 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 9:19 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?