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Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:1-17

At Capernaum. The choice of Capernaum as suitable centre justified by results. Rapid spread of our Lord's fame. Eager crowds gathering from far and near. Picture scene: Here, father carrying drooping child; there, little girl with blind father; camel bearing woman bowed with infirmity; sick of all kinds brought by friends; crowd ever increasing; silence broken only by occasional yell of a possessed one or moans of sufferers. Crowds waiting before daylight, but Jesus not there—gone to a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:1-26

The Lord of both lives. Notice in introduction one of the simplest instances of the way in which the three very various accounts of our Lord's life and works supply one another, add greatly to our information, and form a network of evidence of the authenticity of the narrative which it would seem impossible to gainsay. Observe— I. THE GRACIOUS ACTION TAKEN BY THE SAVIOUR SO PROMPTLY ON THE FIRST SIGHT OF FAITH . Notice the fact that the forgiveness of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:9

The call of Matthew. Parallel passages: Mark 2:13 , Mark 2:14 ; Luke 5:27 , , Luke 5:28 . All three evangelists connect this with the preceding miracle, but in the parallel passages the name is given as" Levi," St. Mark adding, "the son of Alphaeus." If the First Gospel were not written, in either Greek or Aramaic, by St. Matthew himself, but by a catechist of the Matthean cycle, it is possible that "Levi," as found in the source, may have seemed to the catechist disrespectful,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:9

The sudden but safe call. In introduction show that the three evangelists all place this call of Matthew in the same order, viz. after the healing of the paralytic, but go on at once to the account of the "great feast" which be gave, and which was attended by the "disciples" of Christ. This feast, we learn from the narrative of Mark and Luke, belonged to a little later period, when Jesus had crossed to the other side of the lake. The occasion of it is there identified by the application... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:9

Making surrender for Christ's sake. "And he arose, and followed him." It is necessary to examine the customs of the East in order to estimate fairly the nature of the surrender that Matthew made. We need not set before our minds a call to a man in a modern counting-house or tax-collector's office. Probably the special duty of Matthew (or Levi) was to collect tolls from the fisheries on the lake, and from the merchants travelling southward from Damascus. Very possibly he was one of the higher... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:9-13

The sinner's Friend. In the paragraph preceding we have notable examples of the heart-searching powers of Jesus. These powers he manifested again, when, in going forth, he saw Matthew at the receipt of custom, and called him. The sequel proved the wisdom of his election. I. JESUS , IN HIS CONDUCT , SHOWED HIMSELF THE SINNER 'S FRIEND . 1 . He called a publican into his discipleship. 2 . He ate with publicans and sinners. 3 . He encourages his disciples... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:9-17

3. THE LIBERTY OF THE GOSPEL AS SHOWN BY CHRIST 'S TREATMENT OF THE OUTCAST , AND HIS ANSWER TO THOSE WHO INSISTED ON FASTING . (cf. Matthew 8:1-34 . l, note.) Observe in this section the signs of opposition read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:9-17

St. Matthew. I. HIS CALL . 1 . His occupation. He was a publican, a tax-gatherer. The whole class was hated by the Jews as symbols and instruments of a foreign rule; they returned the hatred and contempt with which they were regarded; they exacted more than was appointed them; they were guilty, most of them perhaps, of oppression, of fraud, of unjust accusation. But if all were hated, Hebrew publicans must have been looked upon with an especial hatred. They had sold themselves for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:10

And it came to pass, as Jesus ( he , Revised Version) sat at meat; "Gr. reclined : and so always"; of. Matthew 26:20 . In the house; Luke, "And Levi made him a great feast in his house." Whether or not this was the same as the τελώνιον , we have no means of knowing, but presumably it was not. Behold, many publicans ( Matthew 5:46 , note) and sinners . The second term seems to include all who openly impugned or neglected the Law. It is, therefore, sometimes... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 9:10-13

The feast with publicans and sinners , and Christ ' s apology. Parallel passages: Mark 2:15-17 ; Luke 5:29-32 . All three evangelists give the essential features of the section, but Mark and Luke show more clearly that the feast was in the house of the new disciple, and Matthew alone gives the reference to Hosea. read more

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