Matthew 9 summary meaning ai explained commentary

Matthew 9 meaning explained in AI Summary

Calling Matthew and Healing the Sick

Jesus calls Matthew, a tax collector, to be His disciple.
Pharisees criticize Jesus for eating with sinners.
Jesus heals a paralytic, forgiving his sins, causing controversy.
He calls twelve disciples to be with Him and to send them out to preach.

Chapter 9 of Matthew showcases Jesus' authority and power in various ways, focusing on both physical and spiritual healing.

1. Healing the Paralytic (9:1-8): Jesus forgives a paralyzed man's sins before healing him, demonstrating his authority to forgive sins and sparking controversy among the religious leaders.

2. Calling Matthew and Dining with Tax Collectors (9:9-13): Jesus calls Matthew, a tax collector, to be his disciple. He then dines with Matthew and other tax collectors and sinners, emphasizing his mission to seek and save the lost. This again upsets the Pharisees.

3. Questions about Fasting (9:14-17): John the Baptist's disciples question Jesus about fasting, as his disciples don't fast like they do. Jesus uses the analogy of a wedding feast to explain that his presence brings joy and newness, not a time for mourning and fasting.

4. The Woman with the Issue of Blood and Jairus' Daughter (9:18-26): Two healings are intertwined: a woman with a chronic bleeding issue is healed by touching Jesus' garment, and Jairus' daughter is raised from the dead. These miracles highlight Jesus' compassion and power over sickness and death.

5. Healing the Blind and the Mute (9:27-34): Jesus heals two blind men who believe in his power. He also heals a demon-possessed man who is mute, demonstrating his authority over demonic forces. The Pharisees, however, attribute his power to Beelzebul, the prince of demons.

6. Compassion for the Lost (9:35-38): Jesus travels and teaches, witnessing the crowds' desperate need for spiritual guidance. He compares them to sheep without a shepherd and urges his disciples to pray for more laborers to join the harvest.

Key Themes:

Jesus' Authority: He forgives sins, heals the sick, casts out demons, and challenges religious traditions.
Compassion for the Lost: Jesus reaches out to the marginalized, the sick, and the sinners, offering them hope and healing.
Kingdom Opposition: Jesus' ministry faces opposition from the religious leaders who refuse to acknowledge his authority and teachings.

Matthew Chapter 9 serves as a turning point in Jesus' ministry, showcasing his power and setting the stage for increasing conflict with the religious establishment.

Matthew 9 bible study ai commentary

Matthew 9 presents a powerful collection of Jesus' miracles, demonstrating His supreme authority (exousia) over sin, social barriers, chronic illness, demonic powers, and even death itself. Each encounter escalates the demonstration of His divine power, which serves both to evoke faith in the humble and to provoke hardening opposition from the established religious leaders. This chapter functions as the credentialing of the King, proving His right and power to enact the compassion that culminates in the chapter's closing call for laborers to join His messianic mission.

Matthew 9 context

To understand this chapter, one must grasp the 1st-century Jewish context. Society was strictly governed by laws of ritual purity. Sickness was often linked to sin. Tax collectors were despised as traitors working for Rome and were deemed ritually "unclean," as were "sinners" (those who did not follow rabbinic law). Contact with a corpse or a person with a bodily discharge (like the bleeding woman) also rendered one unclean. The Pharisees were a dominant religious party focused on meticulous observance of the Law, both written and oral, creating a rigid system Jesus challenged with his focus on mercy and grace. The expectation of a Messiah, the "Son of David," was high, though most anticipated a political-military savior, not a healer who forgave sins.

Matthew 9:1-8

And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. 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.” And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 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.” And he rose and went home. When the crowd saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

In-depth-analysis

v. 1, His own city: This refers to Capernaum, Jesus' ministry headquarters.
v. 2, their faith: The faith of the friends who brought the man is commended. It highlights the power of intercessory faith.
v. 2, sins are forgiven: Jesus addresses the man's deepest, spiritual need first, subverting the common belief that his sickness was a direct punishment for a specific sin. This is a claim of divine prerogative.
v. 3, blaspheming: The scribes correctly understood that only God can forgive sins. His claim was, in their view, an usurpation of God's role.
v. 4, knowing their thoughts: Jesus demonstrates another divine quality—omniscience—by perceiving their internal accusations.
v. 5-6, easier, to say...: Jesus poses a critical question. Saying "your sins are forgiven" is easy because it is empirically unprovable. However, by performing the verifiable miracle ("Rise and walk"), He provides visible, undeniable proof of His invisible, divine authority to forgive. The physical healing serves as the evidence for His spiritual authority.
v. 6, Son of Man: A key messianic title from Daniel 7, signifying a figure with divine authority and universal dominion.
v. 8, authority to men: The crowd is amazed but does not yet grasp Jesus' full divinity. They perceive this power as an authority given by God to a human, a great prophet, rather than authority inherent in God Himself standing before them.

Bible references

Mark 2:5-12: "...the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins..." (Parallel account).
Isaiah 43:25: "I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake..." (Only God forgives).
Daniel 7:13-14: "...one like a son of man... And to him was given dominion..." (Source of "Son of Man" title).
Psalm 103:3: "...who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases." (Links forgiveness and healing).

Cross references

Psa 32:1-5 (Blessing of forgiveness); Isa 38:17 (Hezekiah’s healing & forgiveness); Luk 5:18-26 (Parallel account); Joh 5:14 (Jesus connects sin and sickness); Acts 5:31 (God exalted Jesus to give forgiveness).

Polemics: This event is a direct polemic against a form of religious legalism that externalized righteousness and created a quid pro quo system with God. Jesus shows that mercy and grace are proactive, initiated by God, and address the root (sin) before the symptom (sickness). He claims for Himself an authority the religious leaders believed was reserved for God alone, in the Temple sacrificial system.

Matthew 9:9-13

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. And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

In-depth-analysis

v. 9, Matthew sitting at the tax booth: Matthew (also called Levi) was a publican, a Jew collecting taxes for the Romans. This made him a religious outcast and a social pariah, viewed as a greedy traitor.
v. 9, Follow me: The call is simple, direct, and authoritative. Matthew's immediate response demonstrates the profound power of Jesus' call.
v. 10, reclining with... sinners: Table fellowship signified acceptance and intimacy. For Jesus to eat with such people was a scandalous violation of pharisaical purity laws and social norms. He was willingly making Himself "unclean" in their eyes.
v. 12, need of a physician: Jesus defines His own mission with this analogy. He is the spiritual physician who has come to heal those who are spiritually sick (sinners).
v. 13, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice: Jesus quotes Hosea 6:6, delivering a stunning rebuke. He accuses the Pharisees of focusing on the external rituals ("sacrifice") of religion while neglecting the heart of God's law—compassion and love ("mercy").
v. 13, not to call the righteous: This is ironic. The "righteous" (the self-righteous Pharisees) do not recognize their own sickness and thus see no need for the physician. Jesus' mission is to those who know they are sinners and need help.

Bible references

Hosea 6:6: "For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice..." (Jesus' direct quotation).
Luke 19:10: "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." (Defines His mission).
1 Samuel 15:22: "...Has the LORD as great delight in... sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD?" (Primacy of heart-obedience over ritual).
1 Timothy 1:15: "...Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost." (Paul echoes this theme).

Cross references

Isa 1:11-17 (Worthless sacrifices); Pro 21:3 (Righteousness better than sacrifice); Mic 6:6-8 (What the Lord requires); Luk 15:1-2 (Parable of lost sheep in response to same criticism); Mar 2:14-17 (Parallel).

Matthew 9:14-17

Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?” 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. 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. 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.”

In-depth-analysis

v. 14, Why... fast?: A legitimate question from followers of John the Baptist. Fasting was a pious practice associated with mourning, repentance, or intense spiritual seeking.
v. 15, the bridegroom: Jesus identifies Himself as the bridegroom—a messianic and even divine title, as God is the bridegroom of Israel in the Old Testament. His presence is a time of joy and fulfillment, like a wedding feast, making fasting inappropriate.
v. 15, days will come: A foreshadowing of His crucifixion. He predicts a time when mourning (and thus fasting) will be appropriate.
v. 16-17, new cloth... new wine: These two parables teach the same powerful truth. The Gospel of the Kingdom is not merely a patch-up job for the old system of Judaism. It is something radically new. It cannot be contained within or mixed with the old structures (old garments, old wineskins). It demands a completely new framework—a new heart, a New Covenant.

Bible references

Isaiah 62:5: "As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you." (God as Bridegroom).
John 3:29: "The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom... rejoices..." (John the Baptist identifies Jesus as the bridegroom).
Jeremiah 31:31: "Behold, the days are coming... when I will make a new covenant..." (The new reality that cannot be contained by the old).
2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation..." (The "newness" Christ brings).

Cross references

Isa 61:10 (Robe of righteousness, garment of salvation); Luk 5:33-39 (Parallel account); Eph 5:25-27 (Christ as the church's bridegroom); Heb 8:13 (New covenant makes first obsolete).

Matthew 9:18-26

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.”... a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.”... And when Jesus came to the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose.

In-depth-analysis

Story within a story: This technique (intercalation) creates dramatic tension. The delay in getting to the ruler's daughter serves to test his faith and to highlight Jesus' unhurried authority.
v. 18, ruler... knelt: This synagogue ruler, a man of status, humbles himself completely before Jesus. His faith is remarkable: he believes Jesus can reverse death itself.
v. 20, woman... twelve years: She was perpetually ceremonially unclean, cutting her off from temple worship and social life. Her condition was physically, financially, and spiritually devastating. The 12-year duration matches the girl's age in other gospels, a poignant literary link.
v. 20, fringe of his garment: She touched the tzitzit (tassels), which were meant to remind Jews of God's commands (Num 15:38). Her faith was not magical, but a desperate reach toward the holy power embodied in Jesus.
v. 22, your faith has made you well: "Made you well" is the Greek sōzō, which means "to save," "to heal," or "to make whole." The healing is both physical and spiritual. Jesus affirms her, calls her "daughter," and restores her to the community.
v. 24, not dead but sleeping: The professional mourners' laughter highlights their worldly perspective. For Jesus, the master of death, physical death is as temporary as sleep for those He can awaken.
v. 25, took her by the hand: By touching a corpse, Jesus would have become ritually unclean under Jewish law. Instead of becoming unclean, His perfect holiness overcomes the uncleanness of death itself and brings life.

Bible references

Mark 5:22-43: "...my little daughter is at the point of death..." (A more detailed parallel account).
Leviticus 15:25-27: "If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days... all the days... she shall be unclean." (The law defining her condition).
1 Kings 17:21-22: "...O LORD my God, let this child's life come into him again... and he revived." (Elijah raising the dead).
John 11:11, 25: "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep... I am the resurrection and the life." (Jesus speaks of death as sleep).

Cross references

Num 19:11 (Uncleanness from a dead body); 2 Kgs 4:32-35 (Elisha raising the dead); Luk 7:11-17 (Raising widow's son); Acts 9:40 (Peter raises Dorcas).

Matthew 9:27-31

And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” When he had gone indoors, 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.” Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it.” But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.

In-depth-analysis

v. 27, Son of David: This is a powerful and specific Messianic title. They are not just asking a healer for help; they are confessing Him as the promised royal descendant of David who was prophesied to bring restoration to Israel.
v. 28, Do you believe?: Jesus does not heal them immediately. He first draws out their confession of faith, making it the central condition of the miracle.
v. 29, According to your faith: He explicitly connects the result directly to their belief. This is a principle seen throughout his ministry: faith is the channel through which God's power flows.
v. 30, sternly warned them: The "Messianic Secret." Jesus consistently tries to manage the publicity around His miracles. He wanted people to come to faith in Him as a spiritual savior, not just a miracle-worker, and to avoid premature conflict with authorities or being forced into the role of a political-military Messiah.
v. 31, they went away and spread his fame: Their overjoyed disobedience is understandable, but it demonstrates the difficulty Jesus had in controlling the narrative about Himself.

Bible references

Isaiah 35:5: "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened..." (A key messianic prophecy).
Isaiah 29:18: "In that day the deaf shall hear... and the eyes of the blind shall see..." (Messianic expectation of healing).
Matthew 12:23: "...Can this be the Son of David?" (This title is repeatedly used to question His messianic identity).
Matthew 20:30-34: (Another account of two blind men healed, using the same title).

Cross references

Isa 42:7 (Opening eyes that are blind); Psa 146:8 (The LORD opens the eyes of the blind); Mat 15:22 (Canaanite woman calls Him Son of David).

Matthew 9:32-34

As they were going away, behold, a demon-oppressed man who was mute was brought to him. 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.” But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.”

In-depth-analysis

v. 32-33, Mute man spoke: This is the climax of the healing sequence in this chapter. It directly links a physical ailment (muteness) to a spiritual cause (demonic oppression), showing Jesus' authority over both realms simultaneously.
v. 33, Never... seen in Israel: The crowd's reaction recognizes the unprecedented nature and scale of Jesus' power. They distinguish Him from all previous prophets and miracle workers.
v. 34, by the prince of demons: The Pharisees' climactic rebuttal. Unable to deny the reality of the power, they attribute it to an evil source. This is a grave and deliberate spiritual accusation. They claim He is in league with Beelzebul (Satan). This charge will be more fully developed and answered by Jesus in Matthew 12.

Bible references

Matthew 12:22-24: "Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute... Pharisees heard it, they said, 'It is only by Beelzebul...'" (The same accusation is repeated and addressed).
Mark 3:22: "And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, 'He is possessed by Beelzebul,' and 'by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.'" (Parallel accusation).
Isaiah 35:6: "...then shall the tongue of the mute sing for joy." (Another fulfilled messianic prophecy).
Luke 11:14-15: (Parallel account of the mute demoniac and the accusation).

Cross references

Exo 4:11 (Who makes man mute?); Psa 51:15 (O Lord, open my lips); Mat 10:25 (They called master Beelzebul); Joh 7:20 (You have a demon!).

Matthew 9:35-38

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. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

In-depth-analysis

v. 35, Teaching, proclaiming, healing: A summary of Jesus' threefold ministry model, which will be passed on to His disciples in chapter 10.
v. 36, had compassion: The Greek word is splagchnizomai, meaning to be moved from the bowels or guts. It signifies a deep, visceral compassion that is the motivation for all His work.
v. 36, sheep without a shepherd: This powerful image is a direct indictment of Israel's religious leaders (the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes). They were meant to be the shepherds, but they failed to care for the people, leaving them spiritually "harassed and helpless."
v. 37, The harvest is plentiful: A metaphor for the vast number of people ready to hear the good news and receive spiritual life. The need is overwhelming.
v. 38, pray earnestly: The solution is not a human program, but divine intervention. Jesus commands His followers to pray to God ("the Lord of the harvest") to call and send workers. This verse serves as a direct bridge to Matthew 10, where Jesus sends out the twelve disciples as the first laborers.

Bible references

Numbers 27:17: "...that the congregation of the LORD may not be as sheep that have no shepherd." (Moses' prayer for a successor).
Ezekiel 34:5: "So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd..." (God's indictment of Israel's failed leaders).
John 4:35: "...lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest." (Jesus uses the same harvest metaphor).
Luke 10:2: "And he said to them, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few...'" (Jesus gives the same instruction to the seventy-two).

Cross references

1 Kgs 22:17 (Israel scattered like sheep without a shepherd); Mic 5:4 (He shall stand and shepherd His flock); Mat 4:23 (Earlier summary of Jesus' ministry); Acts 13:2-4 (Holy Spirit sending out laborers).

Matthew chapter 9 analysis

The Structure of Authority: The chapter is deliberately structured to show Jesus' authority in ever-widening circles: 1) Over Sin (the ultimate problem). 2) Over Social/Religious Norms (calling Matthew, eating with sinners). 3) Over Ritual Practice (the fasting question). 4) Over Chronic Disease and Death. 5) Over Demonic Power.
Rising Conflict: The chapter methodically tracks the two responses to Jesus' authority. Faith from the outcasts, the desperate, and the humble (the friends, Matthew, the woman, the ruler, the blind men). In stark contrast, suspicion escalating to open hostility from the established religious leaders (scribes accuse of blasphemy, Pharisees challenge his associations, and finally, they attribute his power to Satan).
Faith as the Requisite: A clear theme is that faith is the vehicle for receiving Christ's power. He sees "their faith" (v. 2), heals the woman whose "faith has made [her] well" (v. 22), and heals the blind men "according to [their] faith" (v. 29). He elicits faith before acting.
Biblical Completion (Pharisees' Accusation): The accusation in v. 34, "He casts out demons by the prince of demons," is the seed form of the unpardonable sin. The religious leaders see the undeniable work of the Holy Spirit through Jesus and maliciously attribute it to Satan. Jesus will later address this fully in Matthew 12:31-32, warning that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit—this willful, knowledgeable rejection and slander of God's Spirit—will not be forgiven. This chapter plants the seed for that crucial teaching.

Matthew 9 summary

Jesus demonstrates His messianic authority by performing a series of powerful miracles: forgiving and healing a paralytic, calling an outcast tax collector, and defending His association with sinners. He overcomes chronic illness, demonic oppression, and death itself, asserting that His new kingdom of mercy cannot be contained by old religious structures. These acts of divine compassion provoke both growing faith among the common people and hardening opposition from the Pharisees, culminating in His call for disciples to join in the great spiritual harvest.

Matthew 8 AI Matthew 10 AI

Matthew 9 AI Image Audio and Video

Matthew chapter 9 kjv

¹ And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
² And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
³ And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
⁴ And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
⁵ For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
⁶ But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
⁷ And he arose, and departed to his house.
⁸ But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.
⁹ And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
¹⁰ And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
¹¹ And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
¹² But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
¹³ But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
¹⁴ Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
¹⁵ And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
¹⁶ No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.
¹⁷ Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.
¹⁸ While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.
¹⁹ And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.
²⁰ And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:
²¹ For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.
²² But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
²³ And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,
²⁴ He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.
²⁵ But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.
²⁶ And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.
²⁷ And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us.
²⁸ And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
²⁹ Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
³⁰ And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.
³¹ But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.
³² As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.
³³ And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.
³⁴ But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.
³⁵ And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
³⁶ But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
³⁷ Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
³⁸ Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

Matthew chapter 9 nkjv

¹ So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city.
² Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you."
³ And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, "This Man blasphemes!"
⁴ But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?
⁵ For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise and walk'?
⁶ But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"?then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."
⁷ And he arose and departed to his house.
⁸ Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.
⁹ As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." So he arose and followed Him.
¹⁰ Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.
¹¹ And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
¹² When Jesus heard that, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
¹³ But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."
¹⁴ Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?"
¹⁵ And 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 pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse.
¹⁷ Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."
¹⁸ While He spoke 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 So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples.
²⁰ And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment.
²¹ For she said to herself, "If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well."
²² But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, "Be of good cheer, daughter; 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 noisy crowd wailing,
²⁴ He said to them, "Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping." And they ridiculed Him.
²⁵ But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose.
²⁶ And the report of this went out into all that land.
²⁷ When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, "Son of David, have mercy on us!"
²⁸ And when He had come into 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 let it be to you."
³⁰ And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, "See that no one knows it."
³¹ But when they had departed, they spread the news about Him in all that country.
³² As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed.
³³ And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying, "It was never seen like this in Israel!"
³⁴ But the Pharisees said, "He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons."
³⁵ Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
³⁶ But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
³⁷ Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
³⁸ Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."

Matthew chapter 9 niv

¹ Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town.
² Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven."
³ At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, "This fellow is blaspheming!"
⁴ Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?
⁵ Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'?
⁶ But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." So he said to the paralyzed man, "Get up, take your mat and go home."
⁷ Then the man got up and went home.
⁸ When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.
⁹ As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
¹⁰ While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples.
¹¹ When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
¹² On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
¹³ But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
¹⁴ Then John's disciples came and asked him, "How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?"
¹⁵ Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
¹⁶ "No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse.
¹⁷ Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."
¹⁸ While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, "My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live."
¹⁹ Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.
²⁰ Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.
²¹ She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed."
²² Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed at that moment.
²³ When Jesus entered the synagogue leader's house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes,
²⁴ he said, "Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep." But they laughed at him.
²⁵ After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.
²⁶ News of this spread through all that region.
²⁷ As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!"
²⁸ When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" "Yes, Lord," they replied.
²⁹ Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith let it be done to you";
³⁰ and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, "See that no one knows about this."
³¹ But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.
³² While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus.
³³ And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel."
³⁴ But the Pharisees said, "It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons."
³⁵ Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.
³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on 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 workers are few.
³⁸ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

Matthew chapter 9 esv

¹ 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 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.
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 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."
¹⁴ Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, 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."
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 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.
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.
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."
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."

Matthew chapter 9 nlt

¹ Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town.
² Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven."
³ But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, "That's blasphemy! Does he think he's God?"
⁴ Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, "Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts?
⁵ Is it easier to say 'Your sins are forgiven,' or 'Stand up and walk'?
⁶ So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins." Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, "Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!"
⁷ And the man jumped up and went home!
⁸ Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen. And they praised God for giving humans such authority.
⁹ As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector's booth. "Follow me and be my disciple," Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.
¹⁰ Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners.
¹¹ But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with such scum? "
¹² When Jesus heard this, he said, "Healthy people don't need a doctor ? sick people do."
¹³ Then he added, "Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: 'I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.' For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners."
¹⁴ One day the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked him, "Why don't your disciples fast like we do and the Pharisees do?"
¹⁵ Jesus replied, "Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.
¹⁶ "Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before.
¹⁷ "And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved."
¹⁸ As Jesus was saying this, the leader of a synagogue came and knelt before him. "My daughter has just died," he said, "but you can bring her back to life again if you just come and lay your hand on her."
¹⁹ So Jesus and his disciples got up and went with him.
²⁰ Just then a woman who had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding came up behind him. She touched the fringe of his robe,
²¹ for she thought, "If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed."
²² Jesus turned around, and when he saw her he said, "Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well." And the woman was healed at that moment.
²³ When Jesus arrived at the official's home, he saw the noisy crowd and heard the funeral music.
²⁴ "Get out!" he told them. "The girl isn't dead; she's only asleep." But the crowd laughed at him.
²⁵ After the crowd was put outside, however, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up!
²⁶ The report of this miracle swept through the entire countryside.
²⁷ After Jesus left the girl's home, two blind men followed along behind him, shouting, "Son of David, have mercy on us!"
²⁸ They went right into the house where he was staying, and Jesus asked them, "Do you believe I can make you see?" "Yes, Lord," they told him, "we do."
²⁹ Then he touched their eyes and said, "Because of your faith, it will happen."
³⁰ Then their eyes were opened, and they could see! Jesus sternly warned them, "Don't tell anyone about this."
³¹ But instead, they went out and spread his fame all over the region.
³² When they left, a demon-possessed man who couldn't speak was brought to Jesus.
³³ So Jesus cast out the demon, and then the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed. "Nothing like this has ever happened in Israel!" they exclaimed.
³⁴ But the Pharisees said, "He can cast out demons because he is empowered by the prince of demons."
³⁵ Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness.
³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
³⁷ He said to his disciples, "The harvest is great, but the workers are few.
³⁸ So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields."