Matthew 9

Introduction

Matthew wrote his Gospel to show Jewish readers that Jesus is the promised Messiah who fulfills the Old Testament. In chapter 9, we see Jesus continuing His ministry of healing and calling people to follow Him.

In the last chapter, we saw that God works healing in our lives through truth, faith, obedience, submission, and most of all, through Jesus Himself. This passage reminds us that our healing is a gift to be shared. What God does in us is never meant to stay with us—it is meant to flow through us to others. The main point of this series stands: Jesus is the fulfillment of the Word, and our lives can only be fulfilled in Him.

1) Our Faith Helps Others Find Forgiveness (9:1-8)

Jesus sees a paralytic brought to Him on a mat. Seeing the faith of the friends who lowered the man through the roof, Jesus says, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven” (Matthew 9:2). The religious leaders accuse Him of blasphemy, but Jesus proves His authority to forgive sins by healing the man.

Our faith can open the door for others to receive forgiveness. The friends’ bold, persistent faith brought their paralyzed friend into the presence of Jesus. When we believe and act on that belief, God often uses us to bring healing and forgiveness to those who cannot get to Him on their own (James 5:15-16).

2) Our Following Guides Others to Faith (9:9-13)

Jesus calls Matthew the tax collector with two simple words: “Follow me.” Matthew immediately leaves everything and follows. Later, Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners, saying, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick… For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matthew 9:12-13).

Our following guides others to faith. When we leave our old life to follow Jesus, it becomes a testimony. The presence of faith matters more than the amount. “Little faith” in the Gospels often means faith in the wrong thing—what we can do rather than what God can do (Sermon on the Mount, Peter sinking, forgetting bread, failing to cast out demons). True faith looks to Jesus.

3) Our Fellowship with Jesus Fulfills Forever (9:14-17)

John’s disciples ask why Jesus’ disciples do not fast. Jesus replies that the bridegroom is with them—there is a time for feasting. He uses the pictures of new cloth and new wine: the old cannot contain the new.

Our fellowship with Jesus fulfills us forever. If a doctor gives you instructions for healing, you will not be healed unless you follow them. It is easy to believe facts about Jesus; it is hard to have the kind of faith that obeys and enjoys fellowship with Him. New life in Christ cannot be patched onto old religious systems—it requires total transformation.

Application

Our relationship with God is meant to affect the people around us. Jesus ends this section by looking at the crowds with compassion and saying the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few (Matthew 9:35-38).

The problem is not that there are no people ready to put their faith in Jesus—the problem is that those who already have faith are not going out to help them.

Your healing—physical, emotional, or spiritual—is a gift to be shared. Let your faith help others find forgiveness. Let your following guide others to Jesus. Let your fellowship with Christ overflow into a life that points people to the Great Physician.

What needs to be healed in your life today? Will you bring it to Jesus? And once He touches you, will you share that healing with others?

Small Group Questions

· Throughout this story, Jesus brings healing to some unexpected people. What does this say about who we should be sharing the healing power of the Gospel with?

· In what ways does healing relate to obedience? Do you think there’s disobedience in your life which is keeping you from healing?

· What does surrendering our brokenness to God look like and how can that bring about healing?

· Why does it matter that Jesus has authority to heal people, calm storms, and cast out demons?

· What needs to be healed in your life?

For Further Study

• Read Matthew 9 alongside Mark 2:1-12 and Luke 5:17-26 to see the power of friends’ faith.

• Study Hosea 6:6 and Matthew 9:13 (“I desire mercy, not sacrifice”) for God’s heart toward sinners.

• Meditate on 2 Corinthians 5:17 (“the new has come”) and Ephesians 4:22-24 on the new life Jesus brings.