Matthew 9

Again the Bible students responsibility in the Gospels especially is to determine the greater theme being present by the combine of smaller anachronistic episodes of the passage.  I believe in this case a new unit began in 8:28 and runs through till 9:8.

In it we see various demonstrations of Jesus’ authority.  In chapter nine however we see more than just power to heal a paralytic but a power to forgive sins which has always been interpreted to be the sole privilege of God Almighty (v2-3).  “Who does he (Jesus) is?! Does he think he is God?” Oh sweet sarcasm! Why yes, the one whom they accuse of blasphemy of being God actually is God, and from God is precisely where such authority comes from to forgive sins.

This is He who made the covenant with Abram in Genesis 15.  The God who appeared in the thick of the darkness and in the form of substitution took Abram’s place in the covenant. Of course He has the authority to forgive sins, because in a little while He will be found again in the thick of the darkness of calvary in the form of a substitution take on Abram’s curse.  He had this authority to look over sins in the beginning, but through calvary, He will prove his forgiveness is not arbitrary, but just and built on a legal case.  I am not saying that Matthew 9 holds an allusion to Genesis 15, but being as foundational as it is to the whole of the Bible, the strands of Genesis 15 also move excitedly when the themes of Matthew 9 is given a tug.

As I mentioned earlier the miracles are signs that should prompt genuine belief in the person of Jesus Christ. Verses 4-8 clarify this point.  What is easier to say, “son your sins are forgiven!” or telling a crippled man “get up and walk.”  One would think it would be easier to say your sins are forgiven, seeing that the forgiving of sins is invisible apart from the display of the cross.  But no one can deny the power being demonstrated when a crippled mans bones straighten before their eyes. Then point then Jesus is making is not “Oh, Look at me I can do magic!” but the miracles prompt a greater understanding of who Jesus is. The miracles point to the cross and the reason why Jesus became a human being.  There are some present who partially see this truth when they see His authority (v8).

A new unit begins the calling of Matthew and ends with the dinner party he gives for Jesus.  Being convinced by Jesus’ authority although it is very unlikely that he fully understands who Jesus is at this point become His disciples.  What are the conditions of disciples with Jesus?  You got to be all in.  For Matthew in order to follow Jesus he could not be sitting at the tax collecting table any longer (v9), Jesus became first priority.  The request is not unreasonable,  Jesus has already demonstrated His authority convincingly.  Matthew is not making an uninformed decision, and at the same time sets precedence for all Christians who are going to follow Christ to give Jesus the same priority in their lives.

The following description of the party ends the unit by suggesting the kind of attitude one must have in order to be Jesus’ disciple.  The dinner part is full of Matthew’s friends who like him are labeled sinners (v10). These people usually have less objection to admitting their sinful state and need for forgiveness.  This is precisely the attitude that all disciples must adopt.  If one thinks he is clean and needs no intervention, then the prerequisites for believe in Christ will never be met, that is humility and repentance.  If one sees no reason for change, then there will be no reason to repent, and all who come to Jesus will come by way of repentance. The ones who repent are the ones who can admit they are sick with sin (v12).

v14-38