ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Matthew 9

Matt. 9:1 his own city. Capernaum, the home base of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee.

Matt. 9:2 your sins are forgiven. Though individual sin is not always the direct cause of illness (John 9:2–3), ultimately all sickness and death result from sin’s entrance into the world (see Gen. 2:17; 3:16–19).

Matt. 9:3 blaspheming. The scribes believed Jesus was dishonoring God by claiming the power to forgive sins, which only God can do (see Mark 2:7; Luke 5:21).

Matt. 9:5 which is easier? The implied answer is that it is easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” for there is no way to verify whether or not this has happened.

Matt. 9:6–7 Son of Man. See note on 8:20. Jesus’ authority on earth to forgive sins is clear evidence of his divinity, since only God can forgive sin.

Matt. 9:9 Matthew. See Introduction: Author, Date, and Recipients. rose and followed him. Matthew had likely witnessed Jesus’ public teaching and healings and was now ready to join him.

Matt. 9:10 tax collectors. See note on 5:46–47.

Matt. 9:11 Pharisees. See note on 3:7.

Matt. 9:12 Those who are well . . . those who are sick. Only those who realize their need come to Jesus for help.

Matt. 9:13 I desire mercy, and not sacrifice is a quotation from Hos. 6:6 (see note). “Sacrifice” here refers to keeping religious rituals. “Mercy” translates the idea of covenant faithfulness, which should have led the Pharisees to care for these sinners as Jesus did.

Matt. 9:14 fast. See note on 6:16–18.

Matt. 9:15 The bridegroom in the OT was Yahweh (see Hos. 2:19–20).

Matt. 9:16–17 unshrunk cloth on an old garment. . . . new wine is put into fresh wineskins. See note on Luke 5:36–39.

Matt. 9:18 ruler. Compare Mark 5:22 and Luke 8:41.

Matt. 9:20 discharge of blood. Her difficulty has lasted twelve years. She is in a weakened condition. Her bleeding would have made her ceremonially unclean, excluding her from normal social and religious life.

Matt. 9:22 your faith has made you well. God is the one who heals. The woman’s faith was the divinely appointed means for her bodily healing and for her spiritual salvation.

Matt. 9:23 flute players and the crowd. Professional mourners and flutists were often hired to attend funerals.

Matt. 9:24–26 Jesus brings the girl to life, anticipating his later raising of Lazarus and his own resurrection (28:1–10; John 10:17–18; 11:25–26).

Matt. 9:27 Son of David. A reference to the promised Messiah from David’s family, whose kingdom will continue forever (2 Sam. 7:12–16; Matt. 12:23; 15:22; 20:30; 31; 21:9; 15; 22:42; see 1:1). The messianic age was to bring healing to the blind (Isa. 35:5).

Matt. 9:30 See that no one knows about it. See note on 8:4. See 12:16; 16:20; 17:9.

Matt. 9:34 He casts out demons by the prince of demons. The Pharisees could not deny the reality of the miraculous works Jesus had done, so they attributed his powers to Satan (compare 7:16; John 3:2; 9:31–33).

Matt. 9:36–38 Jesus’ compassion is a regular theme in Matthew (14:14; 15:32). like sheep without a shepherd. The leaders have failed in their responsibility, but Mic. 5:4 predicted that the Messiah would “shepherd” his people.