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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 9:33 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 9:33 describes a miraculous event where Jesus liberates a man from demonic possession, and as a result, the man is able to speak for the first time. This prompts the witnessing crowd to express amazement, acknowledging that such an event was unprecedented in Israel.

The verse not only conveys the physical healing of the man but also signifies spiritual liberation and the restoration of his ability to communicate.

It highlights Jesus's divine power and authority over evil spirits, and it reveals the transformative impact of Jesus's ministry on individuals and communities.

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Historical Context

This verse is situated within the Gospel of Matthew, which was written primarily for a Jewish audience between 70 and 110 A.D.

Israel at this time was under Roman occupation, which brought tension and unease.

The Jewish people were waiting for a messiah who would deliver them from oppression.

Healings and exorcisms were viewed as signs that the messiah had come.

Hence, the miraculous healing in this passage would have been of great significance to the Jewish community, serving as evidence of Jesus's messianic identity and divine authority.

Theological Insights

Theological perspectives of this verse vary across different Christian traditions.

However, most agree on a few key points:

Divine Power: Jesus demonstrates power over evil, which affirms Christian belief in his divine nature.
Kingdom of God: This event is seen as a manifestation of the Kingdom of God "at hand," where restoration and healing prevail.
Faith and Salvation: Some interpret the exorcism as an allegory for spiritual salvation – Jesus frees individuals from the bondage of sin.

Catholic, Orthodox, and some Protestant denominations may also see this as a validation of the practice of exorcism within the church.

Practical Applications

From this verse, individuals can draw practical applications such as:

Compassion: Emulating Jesus's compassion for the oppressed and those struggling with various afflictions.
Hope: Belief in the possibility of positive transformation in seemingly hopeless situations.
Faith: Encouragement to maintain faith in a higher power that can bring healing and restoration.

Cross-References

The theme of Jesus casting out demons and healing the mute is echoed elsewhere in the Gospels:

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

In the original Greek text, the word for "dumb" is κωφόν (kophón), which refers to someone who is unable to speak.

The term for "devil" is δαιμόνιον (daimonion), indicating an evil spirit or demon. The use of "cast out" in Greek is ἐκβληθεῖσα (ekblētheisa), which means to drive or expel out with force. These terms underscore the dramatic and authoritative nature of the exorcism performed by Jesus.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparing this event to other ancient myths and religious practices, exorcisms are not unique to Christianity.

Many ancient cultures had rituals for dealing with evil spirits. For instance, the ancient Babylonians performed elaborate rituals to expel demons.

However, what is distinctive in the context of the New Testament is that Jesus commands the spirits with personal authority, rather than using incantations or relying on an intermediary deity.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific standpoint, explanations for demon possession and mute conditions may involve psychological or neurological disorders.

In contemporary times, conditions like mutism can often be explained by medical science and are treated through various therapies and medications.

Scientific examination might suggest that the individuals in the biblical accounts were experiencing a form of psychosomatic symptoms that responded to the powerful psychological and communal impact of Jesus's healing presence.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians offer diverse perspectives on this verse:

Some see it as a historical account showing the divine nature of Jesus's ministry.
Others consider the event as symbolic of Jesus overcoming the powers of evil and sin in the world.
There are also those who approach the passage from a literary and theological perspective, analyzing the role of miracles in conveying the message of the Gospel.

Commentators often note the significance of the crowd's reaction, illustrating the impact of Jesus's actions on the social and religious context of the time.

Matthew 9

Matthew 9

What does Matthew 9:33 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 9:33 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?