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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 9:30 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 9:30 refers to a miracle performed by Jesus as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew.

The verse immediately follows the account of two blind men who approached Jesus, seeking healing.

They expressed faith in Jesus’ ability to heal them by calling out to Him as the "Son of David," a messianic title.

Jesus asks if they believe that He is able to do this, and upon their affirmative response, He touches their eyes and says, "According to your faith be it unto you." This verse, then, captures the moment after Jesus' healing touch where the blind men's sight is restored.

His command that they tell no one about what has happened is significant as it suggests an intent to keep His miracles somewhat private.

The deeper meaning behind this may involve a call for humility, a desire to avoid sensationalism, or a strategic decision to manage the spread of his reputation in a volatile socio-political environment.

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Historical Context

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

It was a time when Christianity was still defining itself in relation to Judaism and the Roman world.

The Jewish expectation of a Messiah was often associated with political liberation, but Jesus' ministry focused on spiritual transformation and healing.

The charge to silence could reflect the tension between these expectations and Jesus' intent to establish a kingdom not of this world.

Theological Insights

Different theological perspectives offer various interpretations of this verse:

Traditional Orthodox and Catholic viewpoints often see Jesus' command as a form of messianic secret, used to ensure that His mission could continue without premature interference from authorities or misunderstanding among the people.
Reformed theologians might emphasize the sovereignty of God in the healing and Jesus’ authority in determining the spread of knowledge about His works.
Liberation theology could interpret the healing as indicative of God's preferential option for the marginalized but might question the rationale behind keeping such good news a secret.

Practical Applications

This verse can inspire believers to act with humility and discretion in their works, following the example of Jesus.

While modern Christians are generally called to share their faith openly, there can be wisdom in understanding the right time and place to do so.

Cross-References

Matthew 12:16: "And charged them that they should not make him known."
Mark 7:36: "And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it."
Matthew 8:4: "And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them."

Language Study

In the original Greek, key words and phrases include:

"Their eyes were opened" (ἠνεῴχθησαν αὐτῶν οἱ ὀφθαλμοί) with "ἀνοίγω" meaning to open, often used metaphorically as well as literally in Scripture.
"Straitly charged" (ἐνεβριμήσατο) implies a stern or strict command, coming from "ἐμβριμάομαι," which can mean to admonish or to charge sternly.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Jesus healing the blind had parallels in other cultural myths where deities performed miracles, but the context and meaning are distinct in the Christian faith. In Roman and Greek mythology, for example, gods might heal or harm to demonstrate power, often as a display.

In contrast, Jesus heals out of compassion and often ties His miracles to faith.

Scientific Perspectives

While modern medicine seeks to explain and treat blindness through scientific means, the verse recounts a miraculous event that does not align with natural processes as understood by science.

That said, it illuminates the reality of blindness as a significant physical ailment in ancient times, as it is today, and the deep human longing for healing and wholeness.

Commentaries

Various experts have commented on this verse from Matthew:

William Barclay suggests that Jesus wanted to avoid the dangers of a sensationalist approach to His miracles, which could detract from His deeper message.
John Calvin interprets Jesus' charge as an attempt to subdue any uproar that might lead to a misunderstanding of His mission.
Matthew Henry sees in this verse an example of Christ’s modesty and a caution against pride, where Jesus did not seek applause for His miracles but instead sought to quietly go about His Father's work.

Matthew 9

Matthew 9

What does Matthew 9:30 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 9:30 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?