Daily Bible Reading (Thursday, January 11th)
18Matthew 9 (ESV)
Jesus Heals a Paralytic
And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. 2 And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” 3 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” 4 But Jesus, knowing[a] 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, ‘Rise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” 7 And he rose and went home. 8 When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
Jesus Calls Matthew
9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.
10 And as Jesus[b] reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
A Question About Fasting
14 Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast,[c]but your disciples do not fast?” 15 And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is 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 tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made.17 Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.”
A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed
18 While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.”19 And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. 20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, 21 for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” 22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly[d] the woman was made well. 23 And when Jesus came to the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, 24 he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. 25 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose.26 And the report of this went through all that district.
Jesus Heals Two Blind Men
27 And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” 28 When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” 29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.”30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it.” 31 But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.
Jesus Heals a Man Unable to Speak
32 As they were going away, behold, a demon-oppressed man who was mute was brought to him. 33 And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.” 34 But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.”
The Harvest Is Plentiful, the Laborers Few
35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Footnotes:
- Matthew 9:4 Some manuscripts perceiving
- Matthew 9:10 Greek he
- Matthew 9:14 Some manuscripts add much, or often
- Matthew 9:22 Greek from that hour
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18 Comments
Arturo Jan 14, 2018 @ 11:00 pm
Amen pastor
Sam Yates Jan 11, 2018 @ 10:41 am
Also, I should say *sheer*. Must have sheep on the brain.
Sam Yates Jan 11, 2018 @ 10:40 am
The shear power and authority Jesus demonstrates over thy physical and spiritual realms the last couple of chapters is amazing and humbling. It's makes it hard to understand how people can claim to have read the Bible and like Jesus but just don't believe "all that supernatural stuff". But then, you get to the end of chapter 9 and see His compassion for the sheep with no one to show them the way, and realize, yep, that would be me if God hadn't drawn me to him by using some key people in my life. No wonder He wants harvest workers!
Ben Tiemeyer Jan 11, 2018 @ 10:30 am
The discourse between Jesus and the scribes at the beginning of the chapter show clearly the purpose behind Jesus’ miracles. By demonstrating absolute authority over the physical universe as only God could, it is obvious that he also has authority over the spiritual to forgive sins. The harvest is great because unlike physical ailments, those with a spiritual disease includes everybody. Praying that we would all be alert and sober minded, being compelled by sinners’ sick condition, ready to share the hope within us to all.
Chance Hunt Jan 11, 2018 @ 9:36 am
Hey Kelly, I assuming you are referring mainly to the last part of the verse: "who had given such authority to men." After the miracle, the crowds were "afraid" because they realized that what had been done could only have been done by God's divine power. At this realization the were filled with awe and fear and glorified God. We do not know how much the crowds actually knew about Jesus, but they did know that he was obviously a man and that he had been empowered by God. I believe this was the crowds reasoning and hence the statement about God giving this authority to men.
Sarah Birch Jan 11, 2018 @ 9:34 am
"It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means, 'I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners." In order for a person to be saved, they must first recognize that they are truly a sinner and are not capable of being righteous in themselves. Yet after salvation, how often I find myself wanting to focus on the ceremony/ritual of our faith because it makes me 'feel good'. As Christ admonished the Pharisees, I need to focus on the my heart and the moral standard of the law...my self-righteousness is quickly stripped away one I stop focusing on the outward. I pray that my heart will be so consumed with Christ that I will not be tempted to focus on the empty rituals and other such outward things.
Michael Sifuentes Jan 11, 2018 @ 9:25 am
I really need to masticate on the these Scriptures. So much taking place. Christ is so clear that it humbles my heart as to how I am reaching the lost.
Mike and Shauna / Beeville Jan 11, 2018 @ 8:33 am
v35-38 is a great summation to the chapter. the peoples spiritual needs were greater than physical due to what the Pharisees had put on the Jews. The Pharisees added so much more to the law. They suppressed the people in everyway they could. Jesus definitely didn't care for the Pharisees because of how they took the people away from the One True God. That reminds me of all the false shepherds there are today (and has been) that take people away from the One True God. Jesus taught and proclaimed the gospel.
Kelly Pilkinton Jan 11, 2018 @ 8:19 am
I was wondering if someone could expound on this vs 8?
"When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men"
Nina wolff Jan 11, 2018 @ 8:07 am
Jesus ate with the tax collectors! This teaches me that I am to treat everyone like Jesus that maybe the only kindness they see! Thank you Lord!
Kelly Pilkinton Jan 11, 2018 @ 8:07 am
Vs 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Instead of worrying about the state of our nation and world, we are to be praying for those the Lord will rise up and send out for His harvest. To live Christ-like, how encompassing that statement is, and so very convicting. I pray for all of us to be sharing the gospel, planting the seeds for the Lord's harvest.
Tommy Hard Jan 11, 2018 @ 7:59 am
Theme summary: Jesus proclaims the good news of the kingdom throughout Israel, that God the Father desires mercy and has given his son Jesus the authority to forgive sins; and sinners come to him by faith and are received by him while the self-righteous do not see their own need to be forgiven. Jesus proves his authority by mercifully healing the sick and dead and his fame spreads, yet the self-righteous leaders disbelieve his authority. The religious leaders have not lead the crowds to Jesus, and so laborers are needed to spread the gospel of the kingdom.
Kelly Bellinger Jan 11, 2018 @ 7:12 am
36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” - Jesus' response to the lost world, that hates and strives against Him, is one of compassion! I long to have this response to those around me who are lost, especially those who work against me in my daily life! Lord, that you would grow my compassion for the lost and grow in me a burning desire to show them to you, the way to their salvation!
Dee Escobedo Jan 11, 2018 @ 7:08 am
When Jesus healed the paralytic, the crowds were afraid and they glorified God. The paralytic had the faith; Christ had the power! He healed a lame man from within by forgiving his sins!
Bruce Blakey Jan 11, 2018 @ 7:06 am
I am amazed at how Jesus was so personally involved with so many people. But what stuck out was that He told the blind men not to tell anybody about what He did and they went everywhere telling everyone. Today, Jesus tells us to go everywhere and tell everyone but we don't. No wonder He tells us to pray earnestly for workers. That is what I will be doing today.
Jason Adam Jan 11, 2018 @ 6:25 am
After describing miracle after miracle, it is amazing that Matthew tells us that Jesus was moved by the spiritual plight of the crowds and commanded the disciples (and ultimately us) to pray. Proof that our prayers matter, even to an all-powerful and sovereign God. In light of that truth, my prayer life should be much more of a priority than it is.
Colin Bradley Jan 11, 2018 @ 6:16 am
The conviction of Matthew is quite strong when called by Jesus. I can learn much from his simple yet decisive response. In v. 9 we read, “he rose and followed him.” I pray that each day I rise up to follow Christ in all aspects of my life.
Furthermore, please pray for my laboring at work. I see a great need for Jesus and I know the harvest IS plentiful. Pray that I would have opportunity to boldly testify to the redeeming work of Jesus Christ. It can often be tricky in uniform but pray for my wisdom in those situations.
Keagan McLeese Jan 11, 2018 @ 4:31 am
Can you imagine a man walking around his hometown of San Antonio with the power to forgive sins?! And that’s what Jesus was doing in His hometown! But we don’t have to work...we CAN’T work to earn this forgiveness—it’s FAITH! All through this chapter, faith in Christ forgives sins and heals. Oh Father, that Believers Fellowship would have faith in your Son to have their sins forever forgiven!