1Er stieg nun in ein Boot, fuhr über den See zurück und kam wieder in seine Stadt(Kapernaum). 2Dort brachte man ihm einen Gelähmten, der auf einem Tragbett lag. Weil nun Jesus ihren Glauben sah, sagte er zu dem Gelähmten: »Sei getrost, mein Sohn: deine Sünden sind(dir) vergeben!« 3Da dachten einige von den Schriftgelehrten bei sich: »Dieser lästert Gott!« 4Weil nun Jesus ihre Gedanken durchschaute, sagte er: »Warum denkt ihr Böses in euren Herzen? 5Was ist denn leichter, zu sagen: ›Deine Sünden sind(dir) vergeben‹ oder zu sagen: ›Stehe auf und gehe umher!‹? 6Damit ihr aber wißt, daß der Menschensohn die Vollmacht besitzt, Sünden auf der Erde zu vergeben« – hierauf sagte er zu dem Gelähmten: »Stehe auf, nimm dein Bett und gehe heim in dein Haus!« 7Da stand er auf und ging heim in sein Haus. 8Als die Volksmenge das sah, gerieten sie in Furcht und priesen Gott, daß er den Menschen solche Macht gegeben habe. 9Als Jesus dann von dort weiterging, sah er einen Mann namens Matthäus(= Levi) an der Zollstätte sitzen und sagte zu ihm: »Folge mir nach!« Da stand er auf und folgte ihm. 10Als Jesus dann im Hause(des Matthäus) zu Tische saß, kamen viele Zöllner und Sünder und nahmen mit Jesus und seinen Jüngern am Mahle teil. 11Als die Pharisäer das sahen, sagten sie zu seinen Jüngern: »Warum ißt euer Meister mit den Zöllnern und Sündern?« 12Als Jesus es hörte, sagte er: »Die Gesunden haben keinen Arzt nötig, wohl aber die Kranken. 13Geht aber hin und lernt das Wort verstehen(Hos 6,6): ›An Barmherzigkeit habe ich Wohlgefallen, nicht an Schlachtopfern‹(vgl. 12,7); denn ich bin nicht gekommen, um Gerechte zu berufen, sondern Sünder.« 14Damals traten die Jünger des Johannes an ihn heran mit der Frage: »Warum fasten wir und die Pharisäer(zum Zeichen der Frömmigkeit), während deine Jünger es nicht tun?« 15Jesus antwortete ihnen: »Können etwa die Hochzeitsgäste trauern, solange der Bräutigam noch in ihrer Mitte weilt? Es werden aber Tage kommen, wo der Bräutigam ihnen genommen ist: dann werden sie fasten. 16Niemand setzt aber ein Stück ungewalkten Tuches(= neuen Stoff) auf ein altes Kleid; denn der eingesetzte Fleck(= das Flickstück) reißt doch von dem Kleide wieder ab, und es entsteht ein noch schlimmerer Riß. 17Auch füllt man neuen(= jungen) Wein nicht in alte Schläuche; sonst werden die Schläuche gesprengt, und der Wein läuft aus, und auch die Schläuche gehen verloren; nein, man füllt neuen Wein in neue Schläuche: dann bleiben beide erhalten.« 18Während Jesus noch so zu ihnen redete, trat ein Vorsteher(der Synagoge) herzu, warf sich vor ihm nieder und sagte: »Meine Tochter ist soeben gestorben; aber komm und lege ihr deine Hand auf, dann wird sie wieder zum Leben erwachen.« 19Da stand Jesus auf und folgte ihm samt seinen Jüngern. 20Und siehe, eine Frau, die seit zwölf Jahren am Blutfluß litt, trat von hinten an ihn heran und faßte die Quaste(vgl. 4.Mose 15,38-41) seines Rockes(oder: Mantels) an; 21sie dachte nämlich bei sich: »Wenn ich nur seinen Rock(oder: Mantel) anfasse, so wird mir geholfen sein.« 22Jesus aber wandte sich um, und als er sie sah, sagte er: »Sei getrost, meine Tochter, dein Glaube hat dir geholfen!« Und die Frau war von dieser Stunde an gesund. 23Als Jesus dann in das Haus des Vorstehers kam und die Flötenbläser und das Getümmel der Volksmenge sah, 24sagte er: »Entfernt euch! Das Mädchen ist nicht tot, sondern schläft nur.« Da verlachten sie ihn. 25Als man aber die Volksmenge aus dem Hause entfernt hatte, ging er(zu der Toten) hinein und faßte sie bei der Hand: da erwachte das Mädchen(oder: es stand auf). 26Die Kunde hiervon verbreitete sich in der ganzen dortigen Gegend. 27Als Jesus hierauf von dort weiterging, folgten ihm zwei Blinde, die laut riefen: »Sohn Davids, erbarme dich unser!« 28Als er dann in das Haus(= nach Hause) gekommen war, traten die Blinden zu ihm heran, und Jesus fragte sie: »Glaubt ihr, daß ich(euch) dies zu tun vermag?« Sie antworteten ihm: »Ja, Herr!« 29Da rührte er ihre Augen an und sagte: »Nach eurem Glauben geschehe euch!« 30Da taten sich ihre Augen auf; Jesus aber gab ihnen die strenge Weisung: »Hütet euch! Niemand darf etwas davon erfahren!« 31Sobald sie aber hinausgegangen waren, verbreiteten sie die Kunde von ihm in jener ganzen Gegend. 32Während diese hinausgingen, brachte man schon wieder einen stummen Besessenen zu ihm; 33und als der böse Geist ausgetrieben war, konnte der Stumme reden. Da geriet die Volksmenge in Staunen und sagte: »Noch niemals hat man etwas Derartiges in Israel gesehen!« 34Die Pharisäer aber erklärten: »Im Bunde mit dem Obersten(oder: in der Kraft des Beherrschers) der bösen Geister treibt er die Geister aus.« 35So durchwanderte Jesus alle Städte und Dörfer, indem er in ihren(= den dortigen) Synagogen lehrte, die Heilsbotschaft vom Reiche(Gottes) verkündigte und alle Krankheiten und alle Gebrechen heilte(4,23). 36Beim Anblick der Volksscharen aber erfaßte ihn tiefes Mitleid mit ihnen, denn sie waren abgehetzt und verwahrlost wie Schafe, die keinen Hirten haben(4.Mose 27,17; Hes 34,1-6). 37Da sagte er zu seinen Jüngern: »Die Ernte ist groß, aber die Zahl der Arbeiter ist klein; 38bittet daher den Herrn der Ernte, daß er Arbeiter auf sein Erntefeld sende!«
Matthew Henry - Concise Commentary 1 The faith of the friends of the paralytic in bringing him to Christ, was a strong faith; they firmly believed that Jesus Christ both could and would heal him. A strong faith regards no obstacles in pressing after Christ. It was a humble faith; they brought him to attend on Christ. It was an active faith. Sin may be pardoned, yet the sickness not be removed; the sickness may be removed, yet the sin not pardoned: but if we have the comfort of peace with God, with the comfort of recovery from sickness, this makes the healing a mercy indeed. This is no encouragement to sin. If thou bring thy sins to Jesus Christ, as thy malady and misery to be cured of, and delivered from, it is well; but to come with them, as thy darlings and delight, thinking still to retain them and receive him, is a gross mistake, a miserable delusion. The great intention of the blessed Jesus in the redemption he wrought, is to separate our hearts from sin. Our Lord Jesus has perfect knowledge of all that we say within ourselves. There is a great deal of evil in sinful thoughts, which is very offensive to the Lord Jesus. Christ designed to show that his great errand to the world was, to save his people from their sins. He turned from disputing with the scribes, and spake healing to the sick man. Not only he had no more need to be carried upon his bed, but he had strength to carry it. God must be glorified in all the power that is given to do good.
9 Matthew was in his calling, as the rest of those whom Christ called. As Satan comes with his temptations to the idle, so Christ comes with his calls to those who are employed. We are all naturally averse from thee, O God; do thou bid us to follow thee; draw us by thy powerful word, and we shall run after thee. Speak by the word of the Spirit to our hearts, the world cannot hold us down, Satan cannot stop our way, we shall arise and follow thee. A saving change is wrought in the soul, by Christ as the author, and his word as the means. Neither Matthew's place, nor his gains by it, could detain him, when Christ called him. He left it, and though we find the disciples, who were fishers, occasionally fishing again afterwards, we never more find Matthew at his sinful gain.
10 Some time after his call, Matthew sought to bring his old associates to hear Christ. He knew by experience what the grace of Christ could do, and would not despair concerning them. Those who are effectually brought to Christ, cannot but desire that others also may be brought to him. Those who suppose their souls to be without disease will not welcome the spiritual Physician. This was the case with the Pharisees; they despised Christ, because they thought themselves whole; but the poor publicans and sinners felt that they wanted instruction and amendment. It is easy, and too common, to put the worst constructions upon the best words and actions. It may justly be suspected that those have not the grace of God themselves, who are not pleased with others' obtaining it. Christ's conversing with sinners is here called mercy; for to promote the conversion of souls is the greatest act of mercy. The gospel call is a call to repentance; a call to us to change our minds, and to change our ways. If the children of men had not been sinners, there had been no need for Christ to come among them. Let us examine whether we have found out our sickness, and have learned to follow the directions of our great Physician.
14 John was at this time in prison; his circumstances, his character, and the nature of the message he was sent to deliver, led those who were peculiarly attached to him, to keep frequent fasts. Christ referred them to John's testimony of him,
John 3:29. Though there is no doubt that Jesus and his disciples lived in a spare and frugal manner, it would be improper for his disciples to fast while they had the comfort of his presence. When he is with them, all is well. The presence of the sun makes day, and its absence produces night. Our Lord further reminded them of common rules of prudence. It was not usual to take a piece of rough woolen cloth, which had never been prepared, to join to an old garment, for it would not join well with the soft, old garment, but would tear it further, and the rent would be made worse. Nor would men put new wine into old leathern bottles, which were going to decay, and would be liable to burst from the fermenting of the wine; but putting the new wine into strong, new, skin bottles, both would be preserved. Great caution and prudence are necessary, that young converts may not receive gloomy and forbidding ideas of the service of our Lord; but duties are to be urged as they are able to bear them.
18 The death of our relations should drive us to Christ, who is our life. And it is high honour to the greatest rulers to attend on the Lord Jesus; and those who would receive mercy from Christ, must honour him. The variety of methods Christ took in working his miracles, perhaps was because of the different frames and tempers of mind, which those were in who came to him, and which He who searches the heart perfectly knew. A poor woman applied herself to Christ, and received mercy from him by the way. If we do but touch, as it were, the hem of Christ's garment by living faith, our worst evils will be healed; there is no other real cure, nor need we fear his knowing things which are a grief and burden to us, but which we would not tell to any earthly friend. When Christ entered the ruler's house, he said, Give place. Sometimes, when the sorrow of the world prevails, it is difficult for Christ and his comforts to enter. The ruler's daughter was really dead, but not so to Christ. The death of the righteous is in a special manner to be looked on as only a sleep. The words and works of Christ may not at first be understood, yet they are not therefore to be despised. The people were put forth. Scorners who laugh at what they do not understand, are not proper witnesses of the wonderful works of Christ. Dead souls are not raised to spiritual life, unless Christ take them by the hand: it is done in the day of his power. If this single instance of Christ's raising one newly dead so increased his fame, what will be his glory when all that are in their graves shall hear his voice, and come forth; those that have done good to the resurrection of life, and those that have done evil to the resurrection of damnation!
27 At this time the Jews expected Messiah would appear; these blind men knew and proclaimed in the streets of Capernaum that he was come, and that Jesus was he. Those who, by the providence of God, have lost their bodily sight, may, by the grace of God, have the eyes of their understanding fully enlightened. And whatever our wants and burdens are, we need no more for supply and support, than to share in the mercy of our Lord Jesus. In Christ is enough for all. They followed him crying aloud. He would try their faith, and would teach us always to pray, and not to faint, though the answer does not come at once. They followed Christ, and followed him crying; but the great question is, Do ye believe? Nature may make us earnest, but it is only grace that can work faith. Christ touched their eyes. He gives sight to blind souls by the power of his grace going with his word, and he puts the cure upon their faith. Those who apply to Jesus Christ, shall be dealt with, not according to their fancies, nor according to their profession, but according to their faith. Christ sometimes concealed his miracles, because he would not indulge the conceit which prevailed among the Jews, that their Messiah should be a temporal prince, and so give occasion to the people to attempt tumults and seditions.
32 Of the two, better a dumb devil than a blaspheming one. Christ's cures strike at the root, and remove the effect by taking away the cause; they open the lips, by breaking Satan's power in the soul. Nothing can convince those who are under the power of pride. They will believe anything, however false or absurd, rather than the Holy Scriptures; thus they show the enmity of their hearts against a holy God.
35 Jesus visited not only the great and wealthy cities, but the poor, obscure villages; and there he preached, there he healed. The souls of the meanest in the world are as precious to Christ, and should be so to us, as the souls of those who make the greatest figure. There were priests, Levites, and scribes, all over the land; but they were idol shepherds,
Zech 11:17; therefore Christ had compassion on the people as sheep scattered, as men perishing for lack of knowledge. To this day vast multitudes are as sheep not having a shepherd, and we should have compassion and do all we can to help them. The multitudes desirous of spiritual instruction formed a plenteous harvest, needing many active labourers; but few deserved that character. Christ is the Lord of the harvest. Let us pray that many may be raised up and sent forth, who will labour in bringing souls to Christ. It is a sign that God is about to bestow some special mercy upon a people, when he stirs them up to pray for it. And commissions given to labourers in answer to prayer, are most likely to be successful.