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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 9:27 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 9:27 recounts an event where two blind men seek out Jesus Christ for healing.

Their approach to Jesus is significant, they address Him as the "Son of David," which is a messianic title that acknowledges Jesus as the rightful heir to the throne of King David, an important figure in Jewish history.

Their plea for mercy indicates that they are asking for healing as an act of compassion from someone they believe has the authority and power to perform such miracles.

The verse emphasizes both the faith of the individuals seeking out Jesus and the recognition of Jesus's messianic status.

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Historical Context

This event occurs in the context of Jesus's ministry in Galilee.

During this time, Jesus was traveling, teaching, preaching, and performing miracles.

The use of the term "Son of David" by the blind men reflects the Messianic expectations prevalent among the Jews of the era.

They expected the Messiah to come from the line of King David and to be a political and spiritual savior.

Theological Insights

Different theological interpretations have arisen from this verse.

From a Christian perspective, the faith of the blind men is pivotal; they believe that Jesus can heal them, which can be seen as a prerequisite for receiving healing from God.

Additionally, the cry for mercy shows the men's understanding of their own vulnerability and their dependence on divine power.

Practical Applications

This verse can inspire individuals to seek Jesus in times of need, recognizing Him as a source of mercy and healing.

It encourages believers to have faith and to openly express their needs to God.

It also demonstrates the importance of recognizing Jesus's authority and approaching Him with respect and acknowledgement of His divine status.

Cross-References

Matthew 15:22: "And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil."
Matthew 20:30-31: "And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David."
Luke 18:38-39: "And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the key words include "ἐκραύγασαν" (ekraugasan) meaning "cried out" which shows the intensity of their plea, and "Ἐλέησον" (eleēson), meaning "have mercy," indicating a deep plea for compassion and assistance.

The title "Υἱὸς Δαυὶδ" (Huios David), or "Son of David," is a direct reference to the expectation of a Davidic Messiah.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The appeal to a figure of authority for mercy and healing can be found across various cultures and religions.

For example, in ancient myths, heroes and gods were often approached by mortals seeking help.

In the context of other Abrahamic faiths, such as Judaism, the term "Son of David" conveys a sense of long-awaited fulfillment of prophecy pertaining to the lineage of King David.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, blindness in the time of Jesus could have been caused by various conditions that may not have been treatable with the medical knowledge of the time.

The narrative of miraculous healing challenges the bounds of scientific understanding by invoking divine intervention as the source of healing.

Commentaries

Various experts have interpreted this verse with a focus on the faith of the blind men as an example for believers.

Some commentaries emphasize the messianic title "Son of David" as a recognition of Jesus fulfilling Old Testament prophecy.

Others highlight the importance of persistent faith, as the blind men did not merely call out to Jesus once but followed Him until they were heard.

The passage has often been used to discuss the nature of Jesus's miracles and their role in his ministry.

Matthew 9

Matthew 9

What does Matthew 9:27 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 9:27 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?