MATTHEW 9 The Lord Jesus Christ is no “respecter of persons.” And deliberately made connections with marginalized people who are despised by others. There is grace and mercy demonstrated in the kingdom of heaven. It is our privilege to meet needs and communicate with those who know their need and want more understanding of what it means to be a Christian. Our Lord had compassion on the needy and spiritually hungry people and expects us to labor in His harvest field and bring people to Him. We are to follow His steps with faith and boldness in spite of opposition. He will not ask us to go anyplace where He would not go with us, and He will give us the needed strength and courage.
Authority over the power of sin, 9:1-8 Returning to the place where God has used us is important; not just because of what was done previously, but because of what remains to do. Four men who knew who Jesus was and what He could do, brought their paralyzed friend to Jesus. For some reason, they hadn’t brought him the first time Jesus was preaching and healing in Capernaum, but the second time He was there, they took action in faith and brought him to Jesus. The Lord Jesus saw the reality of their faith and because of that, forgave his sins which was the basis of his problem. His spiritual condition had to be dealt with first and then came the proof of Jesus’ authority by the act of physical healing.
To the Pharisees, to consider He had authority over sin was blasphemy. It is easy to say, “Thy sins be forgiven.” Anyone can say that, and many do today, but that doesn’t make it true. The healing miracle was obvious to all. Still, in spite of that, the people of Capernaum as well as the Pharisees only saw Jesus as a man, not God. They knew He was a man of authority, but didn’t acknowledge Jesus as God. Consequently, at a later time, woe was pronounced upon the people of Capernaum [Mat. 11:23].
Authority over the power of success, v.9-13 The call of Matthew to be a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ would have caused a real stir in Capernaum. He was a tax collector; likely a despised customs officer of Rome, who would collect duties on goods being shipped from the Mediterranean Sea to places east on the road that passed through Capernaum. As Jesus passed by on the road, all He said was “Follow Me.” That was enough for Matthew/Levi to make a complete break from his sinful past as a tax collector. There was no going back for disciples of Christ then or now. Another person would take his place and he would not likely be able to get another job in that whole area. A higher calling supersedes any other consideration. To be a disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ is the highest calling one can have.
Matthew seemed to understand that privilege when he made the feast for the publicans and sinners, along with the Lord Jesus and his disciples. Not only did the Lord eat with publicans and sinners which brought criticism from the Pharisees, but they would hear His words of teaching. By eating with them didn’t mean that He condoned their sin, but He was extending His welcome into the kingdom of heaven to those who knew they didn’t deserve it. Those who consider themselves righteous and good enough the way they are, are made to face themselves and the fact that He doesn’t help them. He came to save sinners who know their need. The Lord quoted a verse from Hosea as an answer to the objections of the Pharisees. Mercy shown to the needy is more valuable than sacrifices and religious formalities that have no answer or concern for others.
Authority over the power of society, v.14-17 A discussion with the disciples of John the Baptist may have happened because of the feast at Matthew’s house. The Pharisees made it a point of making it known that they fasted often. Jesus’ reply to them was to remind them of John’s message concerning the coming of the bridegroom. The “friend of the bridegroom” rejoices when the bridegroom’s voice is heard. Fasting is done when the bridegroom is not there. Fasting is linked with sorrow and need; not ritual and self- righteousness. The message of the Lord was not a makeover of Judaism, but a new and fresh view of the kingdom of heaven. Something new had come and there was no reason to seek to put kingdom blessings into the framework of the old rigid system of seeking to keep the law to please God. A new spiritual rebirth is necessary to enter the kingdom of God.
Authority over the power of suffering, v.18-26 There are three more miracles that testify to the power and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Jewish and Gentile believers who read Matthew’s account of these events and acts of the Lord Jesus; would have been strengthened and made bolder in their testimony in the areas where the assemblies of God’s people were being gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. He could raise the dead, give sight to the blind and make a mute speak who had been kept silent by a demon. This gave a powerful background to the power He would give to the disciples and the message John’s disciples would take back to him.
The healing of the woman with an issue of blood and the raising of Jarius’ daughter, are both testimonies of faith and how it is seen in different people. Jarius was a ruler of the Jews but powerless to do what was needed for his daughter. It is a wise person who knows their limitations and whom to go to for help. Jarius had faith in the Lord Jesus’ authority over sickness and death, to heal his daughter who was at death’s door. His faith was in the touch of Jesus more than in His word. His faith was different from that of the centurion whose faith was stronger than the Lord had found in all of Israel. But even though it was different, and maybe less; Jarius’ faith was in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The woman who touched the hem of His garment had faith in Him but felt the need of doing something herself to make her healing happen. She had endured her desperate condition for the same length of time Jarius’ daughter had been alive. Both needed the help that only faith in Christ can give. The Lord Jesus made it plain to her that it was her faith in Him, not her touch, that made her well. The mourners that gathered at Jarius’ house for the funeral didn’t have faith in Him at all. When He made it plain what He was going to do, they laughed and mocked Him. Touching a dead body was ceremonially forbidden, but by taking her hand and giving her life, He superseded the law by His authority. The Lord was concerned about the message of the kingdom to which people must respond by faith, rather than healing which was under His authority alone. The choice of faith is up to each individual. God can do what is impossible with man. He can bring change where it seems impossible and can give hope to the hopeless.
Authority over the power of sightlessness, v.27-31 The two blind men knew who Jesus was. “Thou Son of David,” was their statement of faith testifying publicly that He was the promised Messiah. But the Lord waited to see the real evidence of their spoken words of faith. So, He took them into the house before responding to the title that would have a political impact if He acknowledged that title publicly. The two men knew the Lord could heal them and testified to their faith in spoken words. He healed them in private and told them explicitly not to make it known that He was the Messiah, but in their excitement and gratitude, they didn’t keep silent.
Authority over the power of Satan, v.32-34 He healed the blind men in private because it was not yet time for Him to take the public place as the Messiah of Israel. Just outside the door of the house was a mute man who was possessed by a demon. There is very little said about this miracle; except Matthew made it plain that the multitudes knew the demon had been cast out of the man by the authority of the Lord Jesus. The charge against Him by the Pharisees was not made to Him personally, and He waited until a later time in Matthew’s account to deal with that charge publicly.
The casting out of the demon in public, was because it was in public the Pharisees accused Him of blasphemy, of associating with sinners, of impiety, and of being a servant of Satan. The Pharisees saw their religious control over the people being bypassed, and they knew their control over people was weakened. Their ritual beliefs and practices were being challenged and their insincerity, was put right out in the open in public display.
Delegated authority to responsive disciples, v.35-38 The harvest of souls in the world then as well as today; is waiting for those who will respond to the need of lost men and women. Compassion for the lost was always evident in the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. He came to seek and to save the lost. He cares for people, no matter how far astray they may have gone. His call to the lost is real, but the response is up to the ones who hear the call of the Gospel and choose. Laborers in the harvest are called for, but we do not know who is willing to go. We are to pray that the Lord will send out those He calls to take the Gospel message and preach it under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who hear the Gospel, are urged to come to Christ now, because the harvest of souls is being gathered in now. When the harvest is past, and the summer is ended, all opportunity for salvation will be gone.