_CRITICAL NOTES_ Matthew 9:1. SHIP.—_Boat_ (R.V.). HIS OWN CITY.—Capernaum (see Matthew 4:13; Mark 2:1). Matthew 9:2. PALSY.—Suffering apparently from a less severe type of paralysis than the centurion’s servant (Matthew 8:6). THEIR FAITH.—The faith of the sick man and of his friends who brought _h... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL NOTES_ Matthew 9:9. RECEIPT OF CUSTOM.—_Place of toll_ (R. V.). See Introduction. Matthew 9:10. JESUS.—_He_ (R. V.), probably Matthew. SAT AT MEAT IN THE HOUSE.—The modesty of our Evangelist signally appears here. Luke says (Luke 5:29) that “Levi made Him a great feast,” or “reception,” w... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL NOTES_ Matthew 9:14. THE DISCIPLES OF JOHN.—The passage is interesting as showing: 1. That the followers of the Baptist continued during our Lord’s ministry to form a separate body (as in Matthew 11:2, Matthew 14:12). 2. That they obeyed rules which he had given them, more or less after... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL NOTES_ Matthew 9:18. A CERTAIN RULER.—The president of a synagogue. His name was Jairus (see Mark 5:22; Luke 8:41). Every synagogue had its president, who superintended and directed the services. The ruler of a synagogue was at the same time president of its college of elders (_Lange_). MY... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL NOTES_ Matthew 9:27. TWO BLIND MEN.—This miracle narrated by St. Matthew only. Blindness is a far more frequent calamity in Palestine and the adjoining countries than with us. Its frequency is attributable to various causes, as, _e.g_. to the flying dust and sand pulverised by the sun’s i... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL NOTES_ Matthew 9:33 MARVELLED.—This miracle produced a great impression. Why so, we may easily understand. The Jewish Rabbis and teachers practised exorcism. They professed to cast out evil spirits. They did, perhaps, produce effects of a noticeable kind on nervously disturbed persons. But... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Matthew 9:36_ Preparing for change.—We seem here to be like men arriving at a new stage on their journey. At such a juncture they naturally ask, on the one hand, how far _they have reached;_ and, on the other, what is _required by them more_. With regard to our S... [ Continue Reading ]