Matthew 9:1-26 More healings

9:1-8

A paralysed man was brought to Jesus. The man had an obvious need, to be healed of his paralysis, but Jesus’ first words were to pronounce his forgiveness. Why did He do this? The obvious answer is that forgiveness was actually his greater need, but may be because the man may have thought his condition was a result of his sin. Whatever the case, the teachers of the Law were offended, convinced that Jesus was blaspheming, assuming the right to do what only God could do.

Jesus knew what they were thinking. Note that he says they were having evil thoughts. Jesus then demonstrated the extent of His authority by healing the man. He also proclaimed that He had the right to forgive sins, and referred to Himself as “the Son of Man”. The crowd were amazed and praised God. The teachers of the Law were probably not as impressed.  The crowd had a better idea of the significance of Jesus’ actions than the religious types.

9:9-13

Jesus was prepared to affront the sensibilities of the religious leaders, he was also ready to offend the general populace as well. For we now read of the calling of Matthew, now Matthew was a tax collector so would not be popular, Tax collectors worked on behalf of the hated Romans, and also were not averse to taking a slice for themselves as well. The Pharisees were also offended, for Jesus was happy to meet with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus announced that it was the ill who needed a doctor, not the healthy. The gospel is for sinners, and God is in the business of healing sinners.

9:14-17

Disciples of John the Baptist were confused, for Jesus’ disciples seemed to act differently than they did, in  particular they did not fast often. The root of the problem was a lack of understanding of who Jesus is. Indeed, most errors are rooted in failing to appreciate who Jesus is, this is why it is so important that we know who Jesus is. New thinking was required, for Jesus was not like anyone else who had appeared, He was the Son of God, the One through whom the whole of creation was made.

9:18-26

The miracles continue, the next one concerns a synagogue leader’s daughter. Jesus is perfectly willing to heal her, despite the general opposition to Him from the religious leaders. At the same time the woman with bleeding is healed. This is yet another truncated version of an incident, this time the healing of the woman with the issue of blood. Matthew just tells us that she had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She believed that if she just touched Jesus’ cloak she would be healed. So the reputation of Jesus had obviously got around. There may well have been more to touching Jesus’ cloak than just touching the “cloak of a healer”. With her condition she would not be allowed to touch people, for it would make them unclean. Jesus turned and saw her and assured her that “her faith has healed you”. He also addresses her as daughter. She would have very much been a second class citizen with the condition. So Jesus is affirming her in two ways. First, He calls her daughter, assuring her that she belongs to Israel, belongs to God. Then He says that her faith has contributed to the healing.

Jesus then arrived at Jairus’ house. Mourning was in full flow with people playing pipes and making a noise, as was the custom in middle eastern funerals. Jesus is having nothing to do with this, announcing that the girl is “not dead, but asleep”. Presumably this means that He was going to bring her back to life, rather than being a more accurate medical diagnosis. The crowd laughed at Him. We should note that people in those days were much more familiar with death than we are. Jesus had the crowd put outside, He took the girl by the hand and she got up. Not surprisingly, news of this event spread throughout the region.