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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 9:35 mean?

Explanation

This verse from the Gospel of Matthew describes the ministry of Jesus Christ, focusing on three core activities: teaching, preaching, and healing.

When the verse mentions "all the cities and villages," it emphasizes the extensive reach of Jesus's ministry, showing no preference for one locale over another and highlighting his commitment to reach a diverse audience.

The reference to teaching "in their synagogues" points to Jesus's Jewish identity and authority to teach within these religious spaces.

"Preaching the gospel of the kingdom" indicates that a central theme of Jesus's message was the coming Kingdom of God, a concept with both present and future dimensions for his listeners.

Lastly, the mention of healing "every sickness and every disease" underscores not only Jesus's miraculous power but his compassion for the afflicted.

Throughout the verse, there is a holistic approach to ministry that addresses both spiritual and physical needs.

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Historical Context

Matthew was written in the late first century AD for a primarily Jewish-Christian audience.

This verse reflects the social and religious context of Palestinian Judaism, reflecting a period marked by Roman occupation and the diverse responses of the Jewish people, from cooperation to outright rebellion.

Synagogues at that time served as centers of teaching, worship, and community discussion, where rabbis and teachers could interact with the local population.

The backdrop of expectation for a Messiah who would restore Israel and usher in God's kingdom was prevalent, and Jesus's message and activities are situated within this matrix of hope and longing for deliverance.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse illustrates several key doctrines:

Incarnational Theology: Jesus physically moves among people, emphasizing the incarnation's physicality, God entering the world in human form.
Missiology: It suggests an expansive mission reflecting God's love for all people, not limited by geographical or social boundaries.
Kingdom Theology: The gospel of the kingdom provides a vision where God reigns, and this reign has begun with Jesus's ministry, continuing in the present and fully realized in the future.
Salvation and Healing: The healing acts of Jesus signal the in-breaking of God's kingdom where not just spiritual, but also physical, restoration is a reality.

From a more critical standpoint, scholars might consider this verse as a reflection of the community's belief system that produced the Gospel of Matthew rather than literal historical accounts.

Practical Applications

The practical applications derived from this verse include:

Embracing a holistic approach to ministry that addresses both spiritual teaching and the practical needs of others. 2.

The importance of community engagement and taking initiatives to different groups without discrimination. 3.

Motivating believers to share their faith actively and demonstrate compassion in tangible ways. 4.

Encouraging a sense of movement and action in one's faith journey, not just in spiritual terms but in contributing to the well-being of society.

Cross-References

Luke 4:43 - "And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent."
Matthew 4:23 - "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people."
Mark 1:38-39 - "And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.

And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils."

Luke 9:6 - "And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where."

Language Study

Key words in the original Greek and their meanings include:

Teaching (διδάσκων, didaskōn): Implies systematic instruction and the imparting of knowledge or doctrine.
Preaching (κηρύσσων, kērussōn): To herald or proclaim, often used to describe publicly announcing the good news.
Gospel (εὐαγγέλιον, euangelion): Meaning "good news," often associated with the proclamation of the kingdom of God.
Kingdom (βασιλεία, basileia): Denotes the reign or rule of God, an important concept in Jesus's teachings.
Healing (θεραπεύων, therapeuōn): To cure, restore to health, or serve, reflecting the compassionate aspect of Jesus's ministry.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparing Matthew 9:35 to other ancient myths and religious texts, one might find parallels in the depiction of figures endowed with the ability to heal and teach, such as the Greek god Asclepius or the healing miracles attributed to pagan philosophers like Pythagoras.

Unlike these figures who often served more elite or restricted groups, Jesus is depicted as reaching common folk and stressing a universal availability of God's kingdom.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern scientific understanding of disease differs significantly from that of the first century, where illness was often attributed to spiritual causes.

From a scientific perspective, the healing miracles of Jesus are often explained away as psychosomatic cures or misdiagnosed ailments.

However, for believers, these healings signify the intersection of faith and the physical world, where divine intervention supersedes natural law.

Commentaries

Scholarly commentaries on this verse offer a range of interpretations.

Some emphasize Jesus's role as a teacher and healer aligning with Jewish prophetic traditions.

Others might discuss how the verse serves to underpin the authority of Jesus among early Christian communities or interpret the "gospel of the kingdom" as a counter-narrative to the Roman imperial order.

There's also interest in how the Gospel of Matthew positions Jesus as the fulfillment of Jewish messianic expectations while simultaneously reaching out to a broader audience beyond the Jewish community.

Matthew 9

Matthew 9

What does Matthew 9:35 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 9:35 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?