ST MATTHEW
CHAPTER 9
Jesus forgives sins, heals a paralytic, and calls Matthew—He eats with sinners; a woman is healed by touching his garments; and he raises Jairus’ daughter to life—He opens blind eyes, casts out a devil, and preaches the gospel.
1 AND he entered into a ship, and passed over, [ went back to the west side of the sea of Galilee ] and came into his own city. [ Nazareth ]
2 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.
3 And, behold, certain of the scribes [ A scribes responsibility was to write down or copy word for word what was said. It was not their duty or responsibility to change, altar or modify in any way what was written. However; it was the scribes who were the ones who modified the text of the old testament books to remove or alter what the Messiah would do and be. They changed him to become a political figure such that the people would not recognize the Savior when he did come. They removed the ordinances and covenants to their ways, ways in which they could control the people through "the Law". for this reason Jesus holds some of his strongest rebukes for the scribes because these were the very ones who were manipulating the text to have it read the way that they wanted - they were perverting that ways of God. ] said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. [ Why? because to them he was acting with total disrespect to God, as God is the only one that can forgive sins. Blaspheme was punishable by death in Jewish culture. So it is pretty serious. It is interesting that in the Book Of Mormon the word blaspheme only appears 3 times and yet these scribes that have rewritten the Old testament have used it to pervert the law 25 times in the old testament. ]
4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts [ the scribes; the leaders of the Jews, those claiming to have the rights. ] said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
5 For whether [ which ] is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; [ which any one can say; the net result is how do you know that your sins are forgiven; what evidence is there in saying it that a person is really freed from sin? None. which is the point] or to say, Arise, and walk? [ Here there immediate evidence of healing as the person who could not; now can walk. There is proof of power in such. ]
6 But that ye may know that the son of man [ "Man of Holiness" is Heavenly Fathers name; so in reference here Jesus is stating that he is "The son Of The Man Of Holiness" See Moses 6:57 ] 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.
8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.
9 ¶ And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew,
[ Levi according to Mark 2:14, but Matthew according he refers to himself as Matthew. Which means "Gift of God". so did he begin to call himself Matthew at this point when he was called by God. ] sitting at the receipt of custom: [ Matthew was a tax collector by trade. Working for the IRS the Israelite Revenue Service. ] and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. [ He leaves everything immediately and follows. ]
10 ¶ And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, [ Matthews house. ] behold, many publicans [ Jews that worked as tax collectors for the Romans. They were hated by the Jews so bad that when they accepted such employment they were excommunicated. Hence they are grouped here with the sinners. ] and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
[ This question would have been asked with great discust by the scribes and Pharisees. ]
12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, [ The Pharisees and the Scribes. ] They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. [ Jesus could have easily turned to them and said including you who do not think that you belong to that group. ]
13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, [ So what do you think it means when the scripture says... ] I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: [ Quoting Hosea 6:6 - as the Pharisees were very strict when it came to obedience to the letter of the law of moses. Including the sacrifice of animals but not when it came to showing mercy. ] as the Pharisees were very strict for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
14 ¶ Then came to him the disciples of John, [ John The Baptist's followers who was in prison at this time and awaiting his beheading by Herod. ] saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
15 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.
16 No man putteth [ Sews. ] a piece of new cloth [ The true gospel. ] unto an old garment, [ Symbolic of those who are set in their ways of false religion; beliefs, philosophies, and traditions. ] for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent [ Rip or tear. ]is made worse.
17 Neither do men put new wine [ The gospel being preached by the Savior. ] into old bottles: [ Symbolic of people who are set in their ways and traditions and religion. ] else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, [ I am not here to terminate The Law of Moses, Jewism; but to fulfill it to improve it, to add to it. ] and both are preserved.
18 ¶ While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, [ He was a Jewish ruler named Jairus see Luke 8:41. ] and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.
20 ¶ And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, [ She had been hemorrhaging for 12 years. ] came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: [ The fringe of his garment. (See Numbers 15:38-39). Her faith came in contact with his perfect obedience to the law. He was wearing his prayer shawl as he had been commanded, such that it made her whole. ]
21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. [ Cleansed, complete, pure - symbolic of the atonement that makes us complete clean and whole. ]
22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. [ She has not touched his skin but the tassel on his prayer shawl. Jesus is wearing the shawl as he has been commanded to as such he can recognize that faith has touched the shawl and withdrew power from it, as such she is made complete. Her faith and his obedience to the law has made it so. ] And the woman was made whole from that hour.
23 And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, [ Often people would be hired for such a purpose - to mourn. These may have been present along with family and friends who would have been genuinely morning. ]
24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid [ The daughter of Jairus vs 18. ] is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. [ They mocked him that anything could be done since she was dead. It is obvious that they do not share his faith that she can yet still live. Can you image the mockiing words repeated by them "oh she is just asleep". ]
25 But when the people were put forth, [ Everyone except Mom and dad and Peter , James and John (Mark 5:37) were sent from the house. ] he [ Jesus. ] went in, and took her by the hand, [ He lifted up her dead limp hand and spoke to her as though she was live and told her to arise. ] and the maid arose.
27 ¶ And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men
followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son
of David, [ What
is the signifigance of calling Jesus - Thou son of David? It
was the general opinion in Judea at the time of this statement, that
the Messiah should be son of David. (John vii. 42.) And that Jesus Christ
was generally and incontestably acknowledged as coming from this stock.
chap. xii. 23. ] have
mercy on us. [ An acknowledgment that the only thing they were worthy to ask for the Savior was for his mercy - pretty humble plea. They don't ask for justice as we most often cannot. ]
28 And when he was come into the
house, [ The house of Peter at Capernaum, where
he ordinarily lodged. ] the blind men
came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye
that I am able to do this? [ He tests their faith. To which I am sure they would have said something like well yeah we have been trying to get close to you all day, and with everything going on do you think that was easy for a couple of blind men? ] They said unto him, Yea, Lord. [ Why does Jesus wait so long to bless these two. Where he has stopped immediately for others, sometimes without even being asked but these two he makes them follow him even though they are blind, he does not stopp immediately and bless them. Why? Do you think it was to test their faith to see if they would? Did they need to learn something that the others did not? ]
29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. [ What is the signifigance of this question to the blind men? Note this is not a question but a statement, and command based on the faith of the blind men. He has tested them because he did not answer their request right at the beginning as he did others, no in a way he had tested their faith to see if they would follow when they were not blessed right away, he did not make it easy for them. Compare to Luke 18:42. ]
30 And their eyes were opened; [ They were healed - being able to see has both a physcal as well as a spiritual meaning. You cannot see light when you are blind. ] and Jesus straitly charged them, [ From enebrimhsato (en & brimaomai ~ meaning to roar or storm with anger; he charged them, on pain of his displeasure) - not to make it as yet public. Why might the Savior wanted to these thing quiet? He wanted those who were around him to be there for his message, not to see a show so as to speak, miracles bring those just looking to mock or to make trouble... ] saying, See that no man know it.
31 But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.
[ How could they not but share their good fortune. ]
32 ¶ As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man [ Or one who could not speak. ] possessed with a devil.
33 And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.
34 But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils. [ Jesus is starting to undermine their religious power base at this point - so they have to do something. Hey I have an idea let's say that he is using the power of Satan to get some of the evil spirits to leave so that he can persuade the multitudes to his teachings... since we have no other good explaination. Becuse if he is God then we are toast; our profession is over. ]
35 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. [ Teaching, preaching and healing. see Matt 8:17 The atonement does more than just wash away sin. ]
36 ¶ 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. [ Symbolic of sheep being scared, or having lost the trust and confidence of their shepard; hence they dart all over the place running every which way. ]