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Matthew 9 Explained — The Paralytic Healed And Matthew Called

Jesus first speaks forgiveness over a man borne on a bed, then proves His authority by making him walk before his friends. A publican leaves his table to follow, and miracles fill the streets, which signals a kingdom that heals bodies and restores lives.

Summary

Matthew 9:1–8 – Healing the Paralytic

What happens:
Jesus enters a boat, crosses to his town, and seeing a paralyzed man brought to him, he says, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” Some scribes accuse him of blasphemy. Jesus perceives their thoughts and asks whether it is easier to say “Your sins are forgiven” or “Get up and walk.” He then tells the paralytic to rise, take his mat, and go home. The man does so, and the crowd marvels, praising God for giving such authority to a man.

What it means:
Jesus demonstrates authority to forgive sins—a divine prerogative—and confirms it by healing. His power addresses both spiritual need and physical brokenness, inviting faith that embraces forgiveness and restoration.

Matthew 9:9–13 – Calling of Matthew and Eating with Sinners

What happens:
As Jesus passes by, he sees a tax collector named Matthew sitting at his booth and says, “Follow me.” Matthew rises and follows. Later, Jesus reclines at table with tax collectors and sinners. Pharisees ask his disciples why he eats with such people. Jesus replies, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

What it means:
Jesus extends grace to those marginalized by religious standards. His mission is to call sinners to repentance, showing that God’s mercy must take precedence over ritual observance.

Matthew 9:14–17 – Question About Fasting

What happens:
John’s disciples and Pharisees ask why Jesus’ disciples do not fast. Jesus answers that wedding guests do not mourn while the bridegroom is with them but will fast when he is taken away. He adds that one does not patch old garments with unshrunk cloth or pour new wine into old wineskins, for the patch or skins will burst.

What it means:
Jesus introduces a new era that cannot be confined by old religious forms. His presence brings fresh life, requiring new structures to contain the vitality of the kingdom.

Matthew 9:18–26 – Jairus’ Daughter and the Woman with a Hemorrhage

What happens:
A synagogue leader pleads for Jesus to heal his dying daughter. As Jesus goes with him, a woman suffering hemorrhage for twelve years touches the fringe of his garment and is healed. Jesus stops and tells her faith has made her well. He then arrives at the leader’s house where mourners wail. He says the girl is not dead but asleep, takes her by the hand, and she rises. The report spreads throughout the district.

What it means:
Individual faith in Jesus’ power brings healing even amid hopeless circumstances. His compassion honors both private faith and public need, showing that his authority over life transcends death.

Matthew 9:27–31 – Healing Two Blind Men

What happens:
Two blind men follow Jesus, crying for mercy. He asks if they believe he can heal them; they answer yes. He touches their eyes saying, “According to your faith let it be done to you.” Their sight is restored. Jesus warns them to tell no one, but they spread the news of him throughout the region.

What it means:
Faith is the channel of Jesus’ restorative power. Even when secrecy is requested, witnessing to his mercy often becomes our natural response.

Matthew 9:32–34 – Healing a Mute Demon-Possessed Man

What happens:
After the two blind men leave, a demon-possessed man who was mute is brought to Jesus. The demon is cast out, and the man speaks. The crowds marvel, but Pharisees claim he drives out demons by the prince of demons.

What it means:
Jesus’ authority over demons validates his identity and mission. Skeptical leaders misattribute God’s work to evil, revealing spiritual blindness.

Matthew 9:35–38 – Compassion and the Harvest

What happens:
Jesus goes through all the towns and villages, teaching in synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease. Seeing the crowds, he has compassion for them because they are harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. He tells his disciples to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

What it means:
Jesus combines teaching, proclamation, and healing to reveal God’s kingdom. His compassion compels action, and he invites his followers to pray for and participate in the mission of reaching those in need.

Application

Approach Jesus with faith, trusting his authority to forgive and heal both spiritual and physical wounds
Embrace God’s mercy over religious judgment by extending compassion to those considered outcasts
Recognize that Jesus’ presence inaugurates a new era, requiring fresh expressions of devotion and community
Cultivate personal faith that reaches out in hope even amid despair, believing in Jesus’ restorative power
Bear witness to Jesus’ mercy, letting gratitude propel you to share his goodness with others
Pray for laborers and engage in God’s harvest by bringing his truth and compassion to those who need it

Bible

¹And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.

²And, 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.

³And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.

⁴And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

⁵For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?

⁶But 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.

⁷And he arose, and departed to his house.

⁸But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

⁹And 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.

¹⁰And 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.

¹¹And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

¹²But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

¹³But 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.

¹⁴Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

¹⁵And 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 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.

¹⁷Neither 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.

¹⁸While 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.

¹⁹And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.

²⁰And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:

²¹For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

²²But 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.

²³And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,

²⁴He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.

²⁵But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.

²⁶And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.

²⁷And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.

²⁸And 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.

²⁹Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

³⁰And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

³¹But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.

³²As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.

³³And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.

³⁴But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.

³⁵And 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.

³⁶But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

³⁷Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

³⁸Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

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