Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Matthew 9:1-38
Arise! Matthew 9:2 The miracle is a parable for the Church in every age. Its teaching is inexhaustible. 1. It should make the heart of the hypocrite, the double-minded man, shrivel. 'Our God is a consuming fire.' Jesus knew their thoughts. 2. It unfolds the Divine power, the personal knowledge of every secret burden of our hearts, the tender individualizing love, of the compassionate Jesus of Nazareth. Eternity would scarcely be long enough to reveal the fullness of that one word, 'Son, be of... read more
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Matthew 9:31
(31) They . . . spread abroad his fame.—As in other cases, so in this, the command was not obeyed. The question has been raised, whether the zeal which thus showed itself was or not praiseworthy; and, curiously enough, has been answered by most patristic and Roman Catholic commentators in the affirmative, some even maintaining that the command was not meant seriously; and by most Protestant commentators in the negative. There can be no doubt that the latter take that which is ethically the... read more