Matthew 9

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:2

And, behold, they brought to him ( προσέφερον αὐτῷ ) . Bengel's remark, " Offerebant—Tales oblationes factae sunt Salvatori plurimae, gratae ," though very beautiful, is, from its undue insistence on the sacrificial use of προσφέρω , hardly exegesis. Matthew omits the difficulty that was experienced in bringing him to our Lord (see parallel passages), yet this alone accounts for the special commendation of their faith. A man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed. Probably a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:2

The claim to forgive sin. "Thy sins be forgiven thee." There is an important distinction between the claim to forgive sin, and the claim to declare sins forgiven. The Christian priest does not claim the power to forgive sin; he does claim the authority to declare sins forgiven. Which of these Christ claimed may be disputed, but it is clear that the scribes present understood him to claim "power to forgive;" such a claim alone could be regarded as "blasphemy." But, strictly treated, our... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:2-8

Christ and the forgiveness of sins. After the series of miracles of healing recorded in the previous chapter, the evangelist passes to the more directly spiritual work of Christ, and the transition is marked by an incident which combines both kinds of ministry. I. THE WORLD 'S FIRST NEED IS THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS . The sufferer was in a pitiably helpless condition—so helpless that he had to be carried to Christ. Yet the Saviour saw that his bodily weakness was of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:3

And certain of the scribes . From St. Luke's account (verse 17) we learn that the miracle took place before a large assembly of "Pharisees and teachers of the Law, who had come out of every village of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem." 'Yet even among these there was a division ( τινές ). Said within themselves . So Mark, "reasoning in their hearts." This man ( οὗτος ) . The word seems to convey a notion of contempt and of vindictive joy that they have caught him. Blasphemeth... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:4

And Jesus knowing ; εἰδώς ; parallel passages, ἐπιγνούς . The difference of form with agreement in sense points to varying translations of עדי (so Peshito, in each place). Perhaps the same cause may also account for the difference in the next words, ἐνθυμήσεις ἐνθυμεῖσθε , but in the parallel passages, διαλογίζονται , διαλογισμούς διαλογίζεσθε (cf. also Matthew 9:8 ). (For similar instances of our Lord's knowledge, cf. Matthew 12:25 ; Luke 6:8 ;... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:4

The sin of thinking evil. "Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?" Thought-reading may be made a plaything, and it may be developed into a science. It is a commonplace faculty which every one possesses, in greater or less degree, and which every one more or less efficiently cultivates by the practice and experience of life. The mother reads the thought of her child; the wife the thought of her husband; and the friend often guesses , as we say, the thought of his friend. This ordinary... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:5

For . The expansion of his rebuke of their accusation, by his question and the command connected with it. Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee (Revised Version, are forgiven , omitting "thee"); or to say, Arise, and walk? The former, because the truth or otherwise of the latter is at once visible. Observe that the two alternatives cover the two realms of influence, the spiritual and the physical. Men will not believe profession in the former realm if it be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:6

But that ye may know . From his authority in the physical world they may have direct knowledge ( εἰδῆτε ) of his authority in the spiritual world. Observe that the claim is even in the so-called "Triple Tradition." That the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins ( ὅτι ἐξουσίαν ἔχει ὁυἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἀφιέναι ἁμαρτίας ) . Observe read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:7

And he arose, and departed to his house . Three stages, rising, leaving the crowded court, home-coming. Healed in soul as in body, he is fully obedient. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:8

But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled ; were afraid (Revised Version); ἐφοβήθησαν . A more solely physical effect than the ἐθαύμασαν of the Textus Receptus. Resch's supposition, that the difference of words here and in the parallel passages is due to various translations of the Aramaic, or rather of the Hebrew according to his theory, is in this ease not improbable. And glorified God (cf Matthew 15:31 ), which had given such power ( authority , as Matthew... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:2-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:6

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:7

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:8

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