Matthew 9

Christ healeth one that had the palse, or was lame; and shews that he hath power to forgive sins, 1. Calleth Matthew, and eaten with the Publicans, 9 Defendeth his Dsciples, that they did not fast, 14. Healed a woman of her bloody – issue, 20. Raiseth a Ruler little daughter that was dead, 23 Restoreth two blind men to their sight, 27. Casteth a dumb Devil, 32 Preacheth, and healeth many sick persons, 35. Exhorts to pray for labourers to be sent into the Hervest, 36.

1. And being entered into the ship, he passed over, and come into hhis (own) City, [Namely, Capernaum, where he had taken his habitation, see Mattw 4.13. Mark 2:1] And behold, they brought unto him one sick of the palsie, [or, one that was lame, ass Matth.4. 24] lying on a bed.

2. And Jesus seeingtheir faith, [Namely, aswell of the sick of the palse, as of those that brought him] said to the sick of the palse, son, be of good cheart, [or, be confident.] thy sins are forgiven thee.

3. And behold, some of the Scribes said within themselves, This (man) blasphemeth [God] [ascribing to himself, that which belongethh to God alone. See Isa.43. verse 25. and chap 44.22. The Greek word properly signifies to wound, desame, or hurt any one good name.]

4. And Jesus seeing their thoughhts, [That is, descerning the reasoning of their mind] said, Wherefore thhink evil in your hhearts?

5. For which is easier to say, thhe sins are forgiven thee; or, to say, Arise and walk? [for both these are alike difficult, and the proper works of God.]

6. But you the ye may know, that thhe Son of man [So Chhrist names himself, because he being the Son of God, is also true man, of man, and under this title was promised, Dan.7.13. as also, because he was in low estate amongst men, Ezech 1.26. Philippians 2:7, 8.] hath power [namely, because he is also true of God, in one person, Acts 20:28.] on the earth to forgive sins. (Then said he to the sick of the palse) Arise, take up thhy bed, and goe thy way to thine house.

7. And he being risen up, went away to his house . [Namely, having taken up his bed, as is to be seen, Mark 2:21. and Luke 5. verse. 25.]

8. Now the multitudes seeing [that] they marvelled, and glorified God; which had given such power unto men.

9. And Jesus going forth from thence, saw a man sitting in the custome; for he was a Publican, Matth 10.3.] named Matthew, [And was called Levi. see Mark 2:14. and Luke 5:27. and is the same that wrote this Ggospel.] and said unto him, Follow me. And he rising up, followed him.

10. And it come to pass, as he sate at (meat) in the house [of Matthew] [of the manner of sitting down at the Table, see John 13:23.] Behold, many Publicans and sinners [that is to say, companions of the Publicans; which by the Jews were accounted great sinners, or which lived in an open course of sinning] came and sate down together, with Jesus and his Disciples.

11. And the Pharisees seeing [that] said unto hhis Disciples; wherefore eaten your Master with publicans and sinners?

12. But Jesus hearing [this] said unto them, They that are whole [Gr. strong , able] have no need of the Physician, but they that are sick [Gr. they that are ill at ease, or ill – disposed.]

13. But go your way, and learn what that is, i will (have) mercy, and not sacrifice [That is to say, i take more pleasure in the works of mercy, amongst which also the endeavour to convert a man is principally contained, then in sacrifices.] For i am not come to call the righteous, [because there are none such, however the Pharisies had a conceit, that they were such, Luke 18:9.] but sinners to repentance.

14. Then come the Disciples of John unto him, saying, Wherefore do we and the Pharisees fast much, and thy Disciples fast not?

15. And Jesus said unto them, Can (any) children of the wedding [Gr. the Sons; that is, the children of the marriage – chamber, which we call bride -men.See Judg.14.11. These are also called the friends of the Bridegroom, John 3:29.] mourn, as long as the Bridegroom is with them? But the days shall come, when the Bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast.

16. Likewise no man sets a piece [By these similitudes Chhrist would give us to understand, that his Disciples were yet to tender and weak, Acts 2:4] of undrest cloth [that is not made ready, new, not worn, as Luke 5:36.] upon an old garment: for the patch there of that was set [Gr. ye filling – up] rends off from the garment [or, rends somewhat off, as Mark 2:21. namely, the new from the old; that is, rends off the patch that was set on] and there is worse rent made.

17. Neither do men put new wine into old (leather) bottle: otherwise thhe (leather) bottles burst, [or rent] and the wine is spilled, and the (leather) bottles spoil: but men put new wine into new (leather) bottles, and both are preserved together.

18. While he spake these things unto them, Behold a certain Ruler [Namely, of the Synagogue, called Jairus. see Mark 5:22 Luke 8:41.] came and worshiped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead, but come and lay thine hhand on her, and she shall live. [that is, be alive again]

19. And Jesus being risen up, followed him, and his Disciples.

20. And behold a woman, which had had an issue of blood twelve years, coming to him, behind [because she durst not make known her desease] touched the hem of his garment.

21. For she said within her self, if i do only touch his garment[She did not ascribe this vertue of healing to the garment, but to Jesus Christ himself, who was there present, as appeares out of the following verse, and of Mark 5:30. and Luke 8:46. see the like, Mattw 14. 36] i shall be whole [Gr. delivered, or sarved.]

22. And Jesus turning him about, seeing her, said, Be of good chear, daughter, thy faith hath saved thee. (And the women was made whole from that very minute)

23. And when Jesus came into the Rulers house, and saw the pipers, [Who with mournful tones, sought to stir up the people to weeping and lamenting for the dead: which custome the Jews had borrowed of the Heathen] and the confused multitude, (or, tumultuos people.)

24. He said unto them, Depart, for the maid is not dead [Namely, to continue dead, seeing Christ purposed to raise her up. Otherwise, death is said to be no death , but deep a sleep, in respect of the general resurrection, John 11:11.] but sleepeth. And they laughed at him.

25. Now when the company was driven out, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose [Gr. was raised up; namely, from death.]

26. And this same went out through all through all that land.

27. And when Jesus went forth from thence, two binde (ones) following him, crying and saying, (Thou) Son of David [The Messias was acknoledged for a Son of David, because he should proceed from the stock of David, according to the promise made to David. See Matth 1.1.] have mercy on us.

28. And when he was come into the house, the blind came unto him, And Jesus said unto them, Believe ye that i am able to do this? They said unto him, yea, Lord.

29. Then touched he their eyes, saying, Be it done unto you according to your faith.

30. And their eyes were opened. And Jesus very straightly forbid them, [Gr. threatned them with earnest moving of the mind] saying, see that no man know it.

31. But they being gone forth, made him famous through out that whole country.

32. Now as these went out, behold thye brought into the Devil [Whom the Devil, whereof he was possessed, had had made speechless]

33. And when the Devil was cast out, the dumb spake and the multitudes wondered, saying, There was never the like [Gr. thus] seen in Israel.

34. But the Pharisees said, He casteth out Devils through the Chief of the Devils.[Matth 10.25 and 12. 27. called Beelzebul. For even amonst the unclean spirits, there is one that bears rule over the rest. See Matth 25. vers.41.]

35. And Jesus went about all the Cities and Villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdome, and healing all sickness, [That is to say, all manner of sickness and all diseases among the people.

36. And he seeing the multitude, was inwardly moved with compassion on them, [Gr. was moved in his bowels] because they were tired, [Gr. loosened, and dissolved] and scattered sheep like sheep which have no shepherd .

37. The said he to his Disciples, the harvest indeed is great [Gr. much] but the labourers are few.

38. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the Harvest, that he trust forth [Gr. cast out; that is, send forth having by the power of his spirit made them willing and fit for it] labourers into his Harvest.