Study of Matthew

Matthew Chapter 9

Matthew 9:1 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
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.

Notice here that Jesus doesn't mention the sickness as such but the sins. He says that the man's sins are forgiven even when the man didn't ask to be forgiven. The man was healed of course but the emphasis was upon the sin being forgiven which is the reason Jesus came to earth. He came primarily to die for sin and become the sacrifice for sin thus fulfilling the requirement of the law, "the soul that sin shall die." Sin must be forgiven and forsaken in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus was able to fulfill the law on our behalf, even though most of us have broken that law, because He didn't break any law but fulfilled the law.

This was hard for the Jewish people. They thought since they were the people who had the law, that they had the priests and sacrifices to take care of the fact that they broke the law, and that they didn't see a need for an inner change to be saved from sin. The Gentiles saw this a little easier because they were not part of the covenant and did not have the law of Moses. Most Gentiles knew that they were sinners and when someone told them they were lost sinners, they came to Christ because they knew they were sinners in need of a savior. We have to see a need to be saved from sin and the need to have someone save us before we can see the solution to satisfy that need. That need is fulfilled by coming to Christ for the solution to our sin problem.

The Jews as a nation didn't see this need. Instead they were looking for the other fulfillment of prophecy, the Messiah who would come and save them from the Roman oppressors. This will not happen until the second coming of the Messiah because the first coming was to make an offering for our sins. If Jesus had of set up His kingdom the first time around without dying for sins, all mankind would die in their sins and not inherit eternal life. Salvation from earthy oppressors is only a temporary solution.

Sometimes we only give temporary solutions to the problems in the world. We have many organizations that feed the poor for instance and it should be done. I'm not saying we should neglect that and just concentrate on the spiritual need but the spiritual need is the real underlying reason that there is a need to feed the hungry. If we knew the Lord, the real Lord Jesus Christ, not just a religion that claims to know Him, we would be able to love our neighbor as ourselves and thus there would never be a hunger problem. If we loved the Lord with all our heart as Jesus instructs us to do, there would not be a sin problem. Of course we need the Holy Spirit within us before we can love anyone must less God. That is why we need a savior from sin.

Once the man's sins were forgiven, he was saved from sin and healed of his disease. He was to go and sin no more or else a worst thing would befall him. Why did Jesus save the man when he didn't ask?

The man believed in Him and looked to him for healing. That same faith for healing was faith in Jesus and it was the same faith that would save the soul.

Matthew 9:3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
6 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.
7 And he arose, and departed to his house.

It is a true saying that only God can forgive sins. However, Jesus was God. He was the Son of God but God nevertheless, He had the authority from His Father to forgive sins as well as heal sickness.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit God forgives sins through the message of the gospel. Men by themselves have no authority to decide whether or not someone's sins are forgiven. The Holy Spirit may reveal it to us but we are not the ones to decide this one is forgiven and that one is not.

If man had that power to forgive sins as some believe by the scripture given to the disciples in John 20:23, then all believers could forgive sins and not just a priest or pope. For the words spoken to the disciples were for all those who minister in the gospel. John 20:23 simply means that because of the power of the gospel preached by the unction of the Holy Spirit, the person who believes the gospel is remitted or forgiven of sins. We can't forgive sins of people who do not repent and believe the gospel or even forgive sins of those who do believe the gospel. The gospel we preach though is powerful and the moment one believes his sins are forgiven. If we fail to preach the gospel then the sins are retained or not forgiven since the sinner did not repent and believe. See how important it is for us to preach the gospel without fail.

John 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

People receive the forgiveness of sins from God as vessels filled with the Holy Spirit preach the gospel and a person believes to the salvation of His soul. The messenger of the gospel has no power to forgive sins. He or she merely is presenting the gospel. A person believes and God forgives the sin as they exercise faith in Jesus Christ who was sent to take away our sins. How wonderful and exciting this is. Surely it is good news. We don't have to be lost and without God but have eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Matthew 9:8 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, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

Some hear and respond to the calling of the Lord and others do not. There was something about Jesus that caused James, John, Peter, Andrew and Matthew to leave their occupations and follow Christ.

Matthew 9:10 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.
11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
13 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.

That means that we all are called to repentance for another scripture says:

Romans 3:9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Sometimes it is so easy to get into our little groups and forget our responsibility to the lost souls that surround us. It is easy to do for one reason, and that is that we don't want to lose what we have and we are aware of the influence that the ungodly may have upon our children.

2Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

There is a place for separation but we still have a responsibility to preach the gospel to the lost. So we can follow the example of Jesus. Jesus went to where the sinners were and had a meal with them once in a while so that He could share the gospel and show His compassion to them. Yet, He did not partake of their sins or agree with them in their sins. Instead He wanted to save them from their sins like He does each and every one of us.

One does not send an alcoholic that still is having a problem with resisting the temptation to drink, to a bar and tell him to witness. He would be unequally yoked and surrounded by unbelievers and those that would tempt him back into his old lifestyle.

Instead he could wait until he has complete victory over alcohol and take a stronger brother with him for the sole purpose of witnessing. Notice that Jesus sent His disciples out by twos. He didn't send them out alone. One of the two should be strong in the Lord and more experienced and seasoned as a witness to the lost. After the day of Pentecost when believers were filled with the Holy Spirit, we do see some that went out alone, yet not alone since God was with them but most of the time they went out by twos. Like Paul and Silas. Peter and John.

Children should always be protected against being unequally yoked with unbelievers. That is why I'm a supporter of home schooling if possible. We send kids out unequally yoked all the time and we lose many of them. Once in a while though we see a very strong willed young person that loves that Lord and is not swayed by his peers. That kind of person just may have a calling to be a witness and a soul winner.

The average teen though is constantly unequally yoked and have continual problems in the flesh. "Do I listen to those at school including many of the teachers or do I listen to my church leaders?" This causes constant conflict in teens. They either succumb to the flesh and we lose them or they get a religious spirit, become judgmental and they end up despising the lost instead of witnessing to them. Yet ever once in a while we see a young person who loves the Lord so much that love spills out to his or her friends and they become soul winners among their lost friends. Not all of them are strong enough to do this. This is why it is important to be baptized with the Holy Spirit after one comes to Christ for salvation.

Jesus loved the sinners enough to eat with them and go to where they were but He also loved them enough to tell them the truth and that they needed to repent, the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, and when He healed the sick, He would instruct them to "Go and sin no more."

Matthew 9:14 Then came to him the disciples of John, 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.

Fasting is a type of mourning. We humble ourselves, deny the flesh food for a season in order to pray and seek God specifically for a certain amount of time. We remind ourselves of our need for God's presence and we begin to desire His return. Fasting and prayer is taking time apart from our everyday duties including religious duties and just seeking God alone. It is good for the health of the body as well as the spirit. Fasting though should be done by the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 9:16 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.
17 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.

The old and new religious ways or worship do not mix. In order to bring in the new order through faith in Jesus Christ, the Old has to be fulfilled. Jesus wanted them to learn mercy and not sacrifice. In the Old law of sacrifices and ceremonial cleansing laws were set in place until the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ was fulfilled. Then a new way of mercy and grace would be brought in.

This new and living way would be for both Jews and Gentiles. This new way was faith in Jesus alone for salvation which would result when one was willing to repent or turn away from sin and trust or believe in Jesus to remove and cleanse them from sin. If one tries to keep the whole law and still trust in Christ, it will not mix. We are no longer under the sacrificial law since Jesus became the perfect sacrifice.

The new way teaches us to be more concerned with the spirit of the law which teaches mercy. We care more about seeing one delivered from the bondage of sickness, demon possession or blindness than seeing one keep the letter or the law. Many Pharisees criticized Jesus for healing on the Sabbath day not realizing that Jesus was Lord of the Sabbath. If a little lamb fell into a deep pit on the Sabbath, would they not lift it out or wait until the Sabbath was over and it could die?

Two things hinder and try to destroy the influence of the gospel: One is using the gospel of mercy as a license to sin and the other is legalism. We see both types pictured in the book of Revelation. The Ephesians church had begun to lose its first love. They may be a picture of legalism. They judged false apostles which is good but most probably lacked their first love for the Lord. Many times a church will be strict about following the rules but lose their mercy and compassion for the lost also. On the other hand we have Laodicea, the anything goes church. It was user friendly but about to be spewed out of the Lord's mouth.

Balance is the key. Having brotherly love like the Philadelphia church along with not denying the name of the Lord and keeping the word is best. Alternatives are compromising like the church at Thyatira and Pergamos, dead like the church at Sardis, or lukewarm like the church at Laodicea.

Matthew 9:18 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.
19 And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.
20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:
21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be 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. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

While Jesus was on His way to heal the daughter of the ruler, another healing took place. This woman seemed fearful of being found out for touching Jesus for the law forbid a woman having an issue of blood touching someone holy like the priest. She could have been stoned for this. This again shows a picture of the spirit of the law as opposed to the letter of the law. The spirit says mercy, salvation and and peace where the letter shows all have sinned and deserve the penalty of death. Jesus came to fulfill that part of the law that required death because of our sin. Jesus didn't sin, so the death He suffered could be paid on behalf of any sinner who would simply believe in His sacrifice.

This women of course didn't know that Jesus would not condemn her but only knew that this man was from God and could heal her of her issue of blood. Her faith indeed made her whole. Healing is hard for us to believe for because many of us think we do not deserve healing. It is easier to pray for someone else than to pray for ourselves. Yet this woman risked what she thought would be condemnation in order to try to receive healing. She really showed determination and knew that she too could be healed if she could just touch Jesus. She was granted her desire.

Matthew 9:23 And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,
24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.

It is hard for us to remember that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. To Him, death is just temporary. He does not see death the same as we do but sees the soul entering into another place and only the body resting until the day of the resurrection. Her soul may have not yet departed into hell or Abraham's bosom and was quickly brought back to life at the word of Jesus. I do not know that for sure of course.

Yet this resurrection was only temporary. She was brought back into her natural body. In order to be resurrected into a body that can never die again, Jesus had to make the way first. He was the first fruits of the final resurrection. So those that were raised from death, like Lazarus, this girl and the widow's son would die again when their time came. Those that are raised on the day of resurrection will receive new bodies that cannot die.

Matthew 9:25 But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.
26 And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.

We do not see much of this today, not because it cannot happen but because it is harder to have the type of powerful faith to raise someone from the dead. It might be one thing that requires prayer and fasting. The will of the spirit has to come into play also as it does with all supernatural healings. Just like the Holy Spirit draws a sinner to salvation, the Holy Spirit has to lead when it comes to miracles and such. Still it does no harm to pray for the sick when we see the need for prayer. It could be that the Holy Spirit will prompt someone and give them the gift of faith at the very time healing is required.

Yet I am not an expert on healing. I do wish to knew more about it. I've seen people healed but I've also seen people that I have prayed for die. Not everyone we pray to be saved is saved either. There are some things that require us to seek God for more understanding but to just assume these miracles were only for the days of the apostles is no where taught in scripture.

Matthew 9:27 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.
28 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.
29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
30 And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

We see here more on the subject of healing. We see Jesus say that they would be healed according to their own faith. This too comes into play. Unless a person is unconscious like the young girl in the above scriptures, it takes the faith of the person that is sick for a healing to take place. Yet here again I urge caution, according to the words of Jesus this is a true statement but we can't limit God, there are times when He heals according to the faith of another that is interceding. I have not arrived and the minute I think I have God figured out, I find out that I don't.

It could be that being surrounded by unbelief would hinder anyone from being healed. What do we trust in? If we do not really believe, nothing will be done. Jesus had power to do anything but we can see clearly that he put the people that were laughing and mocking out before the girl was healed. Healing is hindered if there are people present that have unbelief. That may be why it's difficult to just go into hospitals and start praying for people's healing. I've heard of people mocking those that believe in divine healing, asking why they do not go and empty the hospitals out. This is probably the reason. It has to work according to the will of the spirit as well as the faith of those that are seeking the healing. All gifts of the spirit work properly if we get the mind of the spirit before we attempt to do anything in the name of the Lord.

These two blind men must have believed because they were healed. So as faith is required to obtain salvation of the soul, faith is required to receive healing. Some can believe for salvation but not believe for healing. Some believe for healing and refuse the salvation going back into sin. Then a worse thing may come upon them in the flesh.

Matthew 9:31 But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.
32 As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man 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.
Pharisees were jealous of Jesus because His fame was a threat to their livelihood so they found fault with Him.

Mainline established churches will sometimes criticize any new movement and try to destroy it because it threatens their livelihood. I realize some new movements may be teaching heresy or false doctrine but we have to be careful not to be accusers of the brethren and fight against God Himself as many have ignorantly done. The old and new do not mix whether the new is evil or good so we need to examine everything by the scriptures and make sure we are full of the spirit of God and be able to discern good and evil.

Checking our motives is a must. Are we envious or do we care about innocent souls being lost? Sometimes we can think we care but really have a heart that is scared of losing one's place.

Matthew 9:35 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.
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.
37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

Instead of being envious we need to realize that we need all the laborers we can get to help spread the gospel and disciple the believers. Our trouble is that we usually want people to join our little organization or group and mistakenly think we are the only ones that God can use. Our goal should be to bring people to Christ and disciple them in the word, desiring them to be filled with the spirit and be sent forth to the calling God calls them into. Jesus never told us to make one big mega church full of people that stay in one place and pay tithes to one man. We are to spread the gospel into the whole world. As long as we stick to the truth and do not teach heresy, it doesn't matter whether we are Church of God or Baptist for instance. Truth is what counts. Whether we meet in a building or a home is trivial. Truth is what counts.

One thing we must not compromise on is salvation through faith in Christ alone. We cannot accept another way to heaven. Jesus, whether we call Him Yeshua or Jesus, is the only way to be reconciled back to God. There is no other way of salvation. We cannot compromise on that. We may disagree on pre-trib, mid-trib and such but we cannot accept everyone who has another way of salvation other than Jesus. The written word has been given to us to study and understand so that we are not deceived. No other religion will get us into heaven and back to God. We are not saved by faith in Christ only to remain in our sins but faith in Christ to remove our sins and clothe us with His righteousness.

We are not saved by being baptized in water alone, joining a church, taking communion or having a priest pray over our body when we die. We are saved by turning from sin and turning to Christ for salvation. Faith in Christ to deliver us from sin is the only way to be reconciled to God and to have eternal life.

Sin is what has separated us from God. Sin has to be forgiven, removed and replaced with the spirit of God. This is what we call being born again by the Spirit. We then can be completely baptized in the Spirit and receive the gifts of the spirit to help us in whatever calling God calls us into. Usually one will speak in tongues at some point if he or she has been baptized in the Holy Spirit. That is a definite sign. Some may prophesy which is speaking forth by the unction of the Holy Spirit a word of exhortation, comfort or other utterance by the spirit in a language all will understand. So many reject tongues because they do not understand tongues and think it strange. Yet it is a supernatural sign that God is present with us. Let us not reject those things that are spoken of in the word. If it is not in the word, reject it but otherwise accept all that God has for us.

Paul said to not forbid the speaking of tongues and yet we see so many churches forbidding it and limiting the speaking of the word to only clergy. This is not to be. We all are part of the working of the church or community of believers. There is no such thing as clergy and laity. This is not to say that we don't need pastors or leaders. We do. Without godly leadership we will have heretics that will come in a destroy the flock. Yet worship is for everyone, not just the leaders.

We can remind ourselves of the words of Moses when Joshua was jealous for his sake when other ones beside Moses were filled with the spirit and prophesied.

Numbers 11:27 And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp.
28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.
29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD'S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!

This should be our attitude. We want everyone saved, filled with the spirit and prophesying, not just a licensed clergy appointed to do everything. We need godly leadership to keep order and keep out the wolves but we need to encourage everyone to share the gospel and be partaker in the gifts of the spirit working among the church. There should never be only one man shows. DC

Matthew 10