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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 9:32 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 9:32 describes an event in the ministry of Jesus Christ where a man who was unable to speak and was believed to be possessed by a demon was brought to Jesus.

The term "dumb" in the King James Version refers to the man's inability to speak.

The phrase "possessed with a devil" indicates that the man's muteness was attributed to demonic possession, a common understanding in the ancient world for various ailments.

The deeper meaning of this verse underscores the power and authority of Jesus over the spiritual realm, as well as his compassion for those suffering from physical and spiritual maladies.

It highlights Christ's role as a healer, not just in a physical sense but also in delivering individuals from the influence of evil.

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Historical Context

Matthew 9:32 takes place in the context of Jesus' Galilean ministry.

During this time, Jewish culture had a strong belief in the spirit world, and diseases were often attributed to the work of evil spirits.

The historical setting is significant because it helps demonstrate Jesus' authority and power over both the natural and supernatural realms, and it reveals the expectations and hopes that people of that time had for a Messiah who could overcome such forces.

Theological Insights

Different theological perspectives view this verse through varying lenses:

Traditional Christian View: This view emphasizes Jesus' divine power to heal and cast out demons, confirming his identity as the Son of God and the promised Messiah.
Charismatic/Pentecostal Perspective: Followers might focus on the reality and continued relevance of the spiritual warfare and the belief in the active engagement of believers in casting out demons.
Liberal Theological Approach: Some may interpret the verse symbolically, suggesting that Jesus' healing of the man represents the restoration of a person's ability to communicate and connect with God and others.
Historical-Critical Method: Scholars who use this method might focus on the cultural understanding of demonic possession at the time when the Gospel of Matthew was written and how Jesus' actions align with or differ from other contemporary healers.

Practical Applications

This verse can inspire believers to seek spiritual healing and deliverance through faith in Jesus Christ. It encourages empathy and action towards those who are marginalized or suffering, reminding the faithful to bring such individuals to Christ for restoration.

Additionally, the text calls for spiritually discerning engagement with the world, recognizing the reality of spiritual struggles and the power of Jesus to overcome them.

Cross-References

Mark 1:25-26: "And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.

And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him."

Mark 9:17-29: "One of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;"
Matthew 12:22: "Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw."
Luke 11:14: "And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb.

And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered."

Language Study

The key words in this verse in the original Greek language include:

"Dumb" (κωφὸν - kophos): Literally means “unable to speak,” and by extension can also mean deaf.
"Devil" (δαιμόνιον - daimonion): Translates to a "demon" or "evil spirit," reinforcing the belief in spiritual beings that could inhabit and afflict persons.
"Possessed with" (δαιμονιζόμενον - daimonizomenon): Means "to be under the power of a demon."

Understanding these words in their original context provides clarity on the condition of the man who was brought to Jesus and the type of healing he received.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparisons with other ancient myths and religious interpretations show that many cultures had a belief in spirits and demons that could cause disease or disability.

For example, in ancient Mesopotamian texts, there are references to spirits causing diseases, and rituals are prescribed for their expulsion.

In Greek mythology, afflictions were sometimes believed to be punishments from the gods.

Jewish exorcism practices were integral to their religious rites. Judaism, during Jesus' time, also had recognized procedures for dealing with unclean spirits, reflecting a shared belief in the existence of such entities.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, the conditions described in the New Testament as being demon-possessed might be understood differently today, with symptoms corresponding to various physical or mental health disorders.

For example, the inability to speak could be associated with conditions like aphasia or severe mental trauma.

However, the historical descriptions also consider the cultural interpretations that existed at the time.

While contemporary medicine might provide different explanations for the symptoms, the narrative's focus is on the transformative power of Jesus' intervention, irrespective of the condition's causation.

Commentaries

Various expert commentaries offer differing insights into this verse:

Conservative Commentators: They generally affirm the historical accuracy of the account and recognize it as a literal miracle performed by Jesus, emphasizing his divine authority and power.
Liberal Scholars: This group might propose that the story was shaped by the cultural and religious understandings of the writer and his audience, and consider the possibility of later additions to Jesus' ministry narratives to address the needs of the early Christian communities.
Modern-Day Analysts: Some highlight the inclusiveness of Jesus' healing ministry, as he did not turn away those who were socially ostracized due to their ailments or supposed spiritual afflictions.

They use the passage to discuss the holistic nature of Christ's healing work, addressing both physical and spiritual needs.

Matthew 9

Matthew 9

What does Matthew 9:32 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 9:32 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?