Matthew 9:12 kjv
But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
Matthew 9:12 nkjv
When Jesus heard that, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
Matthew 9:12 niv
On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
Matthew 9:12 esv
But when he heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
Matthew 9:12 nlt
When Jesus heard this, he said, "Healthy people don't need a doctor ? sick people do."
Matthew 9 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mk 2:17 | And when Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” | Parallel account. |
| Lk 5:31-32 | And when Jesus heard it, he answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” | Parallel account emphasizing repentance. |
| Matt 9:13 | Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners. | Direct follow-up to this verse. |
| Lk 15:7 | Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. | Joy over repentance of sinners. |
| Lk 15:11-32 | The Parable of the Prodigal Son. | Illustrates God's welcoming of the repentant sinner. |
| Lk 18:9-14 | The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. | Contrasts self-righteousness with humble confession of sin. |
| Is 1:5-6 | The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but only bruises and sores and bleeding wounds... | Describes spiritual sickness of Israel. |
| Jer 8:22 | Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has not the health of the daughter of my people been restored? | Yearning for spiritual healing. |
| Hos 6:1 | “Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.” | God as the healer after wounding for sin. |
| 1 Pet 2:24 | He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree... by his wounds you have been healed. | Christ's sacrifice for spiritual healing. |
| Is 53:4-5 | Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions... and by his stripes we are healed. | Prophecy of Messiah as healer. |
| Acts 3:19 | Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out. | Call to repentance. |
| Acts 2:38 | Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins... | Call to repentance for forgiveness. |
| Mk 1:15 | and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” | Jesus' initial call to repentance. |
| Lk 19:10 | For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. | Jesus' mission to save sinners. |
| 1 Tim 1:15 | The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners... | Christ's purpose: saving sinners. |
| Heb 4:15-16 | For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses... let us with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy... | Jesus' empathy for the spiritually weak. |
| Psa 41:4 | I said, “O LORD, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you!” | Acknowledging sin and seeking divine healing. |
| Prov 28:13 | Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. | Confession leads to mercy/healing. |
| Jer 17:9 | The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? | Recognition of inherent human spiritual sickness. |
| John 3:17 | For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. | God's saving purpose through Jesus. |
Matthew 9 verses
Matthew 9 12 Meaning
Matthew 9:12 conveys Jesus' purpose and identity. He presents Himself as a spiritual Physician who has come not for those who believe themselves righteous and in no need of divine intervention, but for those who recognize their spiritual sickness, acknowledging their sin and need for forgiveness and healing. It asserts that true spiritual health begins with the humble admission of one's unworthiness and reliance on God's grace, rather than self-righteousness.
Matthew 9 12 Context
Matthew 9:12 directly follows Jesus' call of Matthew (Levi) to be a disciple and the subsequent feast Matthew holds, where many tax collectors and "sinners" recline at table with Jesus and His disciples (Matt 9:9-10). The Pharisees, observing this, question Jesus' disciples about why their teacher eats with such people (Matt 9:11). Jesus overhears or is informed of their question, and verse 12 is His profound response to their implicit criticism and their self-righteous worldview. This incident, along with the subsequent teaching on new wine and old wineskins (Matt 9:14-17), marks Jesus' intentional breaking with conventional religious segregation and His establishment of a new ministry centered on inclusion and spiritual transformation. It challenges the legalistic and exclusive piety prevalent among certain Jewish religious leaders, highlighting God's priority for mercy over rigid adherence to social separation.
Matthew 9 12 Word analysis
- But: Denotes a shift or a contrast, introducing Jesus' counter-argument to the Pharisees' implied accusation.
- when Jesus: Emphasizes His active awareness and authoritative response.
- heard it: Signifies His knowledge of their thoughts or words, indicating divine insight.
- He said: An authoritative declaration, presenting a core principle of His ministry.
- "Those who are well: (Greek: ischyontes - ἰσχύοντες) Lit. "those who are strong, able, healthy." In this spiritual context, it refers to those who perceive themselves as morally and spiritually sound, self-righteous, or without need of repentance or God's mercy. This includes the Pharisees who believed they fulfilled the law.
- have no need: (Greek: ou chreian echousin - οὐ χρείαν ἔχουσιν) Indicates a lack of felt necessity or desire for help. Spiritually, they do not acknowledge their sinful condition or their dependence on God.
- of a physician: (Greek: iatrou - ἰατροῦ) A healer, one who cures illness. Jesus here metaphorically identifies Himself as the divine Physician, capable of healing spiritual sickness (sin).
- but: Introduces the contrasting group, emphasizing Jesus' primary focus.
- those who are sick:" (Greek: ton kakos echonton - τῶν κακῶς ἐχόντων) Lit. "those who have it badly, who are ill." Spiritually, this refers to those who recognize their sinfulness, moral failings, and spiritual brokenness, thereby understanding their desperate need for God's forgiveness and healing. This includes the "tax collectors and sinners."
Words-group analysis:
- "Those who are well have no need of a physician": This phrase captures the self-deception and spiritual pride of those who deem themselves righteous. They deny their inherent sinfulness and thus refuse the spiritual healing offered by Christ. Their perceived 'wellness' prevents them from accessing true spiritual health.
- "but those who are sick": This contrasting phrase identifies the target of Jesus' ministry. It points to individuals who, acknowledging their spiritual illness (sin), are humble enough to seek the "Physician" for healing and forgiveness. Their recognition of sickness is the first step toward genuine repentance and restoration.
Matthew 9 12 Bonus section
This verse encapsulates a crucial paradox of the Gospel: spiritual healing is only extended to those who admit their spiritual illness. The truly "well" (in God's eyes) are those who humble themselves and recognize their dire need for salvation. Conversely, those who think they are "well" (like the self-righteous Pharisees) are ironically the most spiritually sick because their pride prevents them from seeking the only remedy. This also prefigures Jesus' emphasis on humility, where the first are last and the last are first.
Matthew 9 12 Commentary
Matthew 9:12 is a foundational declaration of Jesus' mission, rooted in His divine compassion for the lost. It is a sharp retort to the judgmentalism of the Pharisees, who clung to external religious observances and ritual purity, leading them to isolate themselves from and condemn those considered "sinners." Jesus fundamentally challenges this worldview, revealing that His coming is not for the 'religiously respectable' who falsely believe they are well, but for the morally and spiritually diseased who acknowledge their plight.
Jesus casts Himself as the divine "Physician" whose expertise is healing the pervasive spiritual sickness of sin. Just as a physical doctor treats the ill, not the healthy, so Jesus offers salvation to those aware of their need for it. This isn't a dismissal of the "well" but an observation of their tragic blindness – their self-sufficiency makes them inaccessible to the cure. Only when one admits the pervasive disease of sin can true spiritual healing begin. This verse thus clarifies that God's grace is for the humble and penitent, not for the proud and self-satisfied. It emphasizes God's desire for mercy and reconciliation over ritualistic purity and social exclusion, beckoning all to acknowledge their spiritual need and turn to Christ for wholeness.