← All Chapters The Book of Matthew · Chapter 9

Matthew 9: Authority to Forgive and Heal

Jesus forgives sins, calls a tax collector, and heals the sick because he came for sinners.

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Matthew 9 (WEB)

1 He entered into a boat, and crossed over, and came into his own city.

2 Behold, they brought to him a man who was paralyzed, lying on a bed. Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, cheer up! Your sins are forgiven you.”

3 Behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man blasphemes.”

4 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?

5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk?’

6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...” (then he said to the paralytic), “Get up, and take up your mat, and go up to your house.”

7 He arose and departed to his house.

8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

9 As Jesus passed by from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax collection office. He said to him, “Follow me.” He got up and followed him.

10 As he sat in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples.

11 When the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

12 When Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do.

13 But you go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

14 Then John’s disciples came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don’t fast?”

15 Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

16 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch would tear away from the garment, and a worse hole is made.

17 Neither do people put new wine into old wine skins, or else the skins would burst, and the wine be spilled, and the skins ruined. No, they put new wine into fresh wine skins, and both are preserved.”

18 While he told these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.”

19 Jesus got up and followed him, as did his disciples.

20 Behold, a woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years came behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment;

21 for she said within herself, “If I just touch his garment, I will be made well.”

22 But Jesus, turning around and seeing her, said, “Daughter, cheer up! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.

23 When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players, and the crowd in noisy disorder,

24 he said to them, “Make room, because the girl isn’t dead, but sleeping.” They were ridiculing him.

25 But when the crowd was put out, he entered in, took her by the hand, and the girl arose.

26 The report of this went out into all that land.

27 As Jesus passed by from there, two blind men followed him, calling out and saying, “Have mercy on us, son of David!”

28 When he had come into the house, the blind men came to him. Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They told him, “Yes, Lord.”

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

30 Their eyes were opened. Jesus strictly commanded them, saying, “See that no one knows about this.”

31 But they went out and spread abroad his fame in all that land.

32 As they went out, behold, a mute man who was demon possessed was brought to him.

33 When the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke. The multitudes marveled, saying, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!”

34 But the Pharisees said, “By the prince of the demons, he casts out demons.”

35 Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.

36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd.

37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the laborers are few.

38 Pray therefore that the Lord of the harvest will send out laborers into his harvest.”

Summary

Jesus crosses back to his own city, where a paralyzed man is brought to him. Seeing the faith of those who carry him, Jesus forgives the man's sins, and when scribes accuse him of blasphemy, he heals the man to show that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. He then calls Matthew from the tax office and eats with tax collectors and sinners, declaring that he came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. He answers a question about fasting with the picture of the bridegroom and new wineskins. A ruler's daughter is raised, a woman with a long illness is healed by touching his garment, blind men receive sight, and a mute man speaks. Moved with compassion for the harassed crowds, Jesus calls his disciples to pray for laborers for the plentiful harvest.

Main Characters

  • Jesus — The Son of Man who forgives sins, heals every disease, and shows compassion to harassed crowds.
  • Matthew — A tax collector who rises and follows Jesus at his call from the tax office.
  • The ruler — A man who worships Jesus and pleads for his dead daughter, who is then raised.
  • The woman with the issue of blood — A sufferer of twelve years made well when she touches the fringe of Jesus' garment in faith.
  • The Pharisees — Religious leaders who question why Jesus eats with sinners and charge that he casts out demons by their prince.

Key Verse

Matthew 9:13 (WEB)

But you go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Lessons Learned

  • Jesus has authority not only to heal bodies but to forgive sins, the deeper need of every person.
  • Christ welcomes sinners and outcasts; no one is too far gone to be called and changed.
  • God desires mercy more than mere outward religion, and faith reaches out to touch him even in weakness.
  • Jesus looks on the lost with compassion and calls his people to pray for more laborers.
  • Jesus heals the soul before the body. To the paralytic Jesus first says his sins are forgiven, then commands him to walk, showing that forgiveness is the greater miracle (Matthew 9:2, WEB).
  • Christ calls sinners, not the self-righteous. Jesus came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance, so the door stands open to all who know they are sick (Matthew 9:13, WEB).
  • God desires mercy, not mere sacrifice. Jesus sends the Pharisees back to Scripture to learn that God prizes mercy above outward religious performance (Matthew 9:13, WEB).
  • Faith reaches out to touch Jesus. The woman is made well because she believes that even touching his garment will heal her, and Jesus credits her faith (Matthew 9:22, WEB).
  • Compassion moves us to pray for workers. Seeing the crowds as sheep without a shepherd, Jesus tells his disciples to pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers (Matthew 9:37-38, WEB).
  1. What does Jesus say and do to prove that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins (Matthew 9:5-7)?
  2. Why does Jesus eat with tax collectors and sinners, and how does he answer the Pharisees' objection (Matthew 9:11-13)?
  3. How do the paralytic's friends and the woman with the issue of blood each show faith, and what do their stories teach you about coming to Jesus?
  4. Where in your own life do you most need to hear Jesus say, 'Cheer up,' whether for forgiveness or for healing of a long burden?
  5. Jesus is moved with compassion for the harassed and scattered crowds; who are the 'sheep without a shepherd' around you, and how might you pray and labor for them?
  1. Jesus asks which is easier, to forgive or to heal, then heals the paralytic so the crowd may know the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins (Matthew 9:5-7). The visible healing confirms the invisible forgiveness, and the multitudes glorify God.
  2. Jesus answers that the healthy need no physician but the sick do; he came for sinners (Matthew 9:12-13). He quotes 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' showing the Pharisees that loving the lost is the heart of God, not a compromise of holiness.
  3. The friends carry the paralytic and Jesus sees their faith (Matthew 9:2); the woman believes one touch will heal her (Matthew 9:21). Both teach that faith brings the needy to Jesus in whatever way it can, and he honors it.
  4. This is a personal question. Invite group members to name a specific area, whether guilt that needs forgiveness or a long-standing burden. Encourage honesty without pressure to share, and close by praying Jesus' words of comfort over one another.
  5. This is a personal-application question. Encourage members to name actual people or groups who feel shepherdless, then move from discussion to action: pray together for laborers, and ask how each person might be an answer to that prayer this week.

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB), the King James Version (KJV), and the American Standard Version (ASV), all of which are in the public domain.