Webster Bible (1833) - with Strong’s numbers (EN)

1AndG2532 he enteredG1684 intoG1519 a boatG4143, and passed overG1276, andG2532 cameG2064 intoG1519 his ownG2398 cityG4172. 2AndG2532, beholdG2400, they broughtG4374 to himG846 a man sick with the palsyG3885, lyingG906 onG1909 a bedG2825: andG2532 JesusG2424 seeingG1492 theirG846 faithG4102 saidG2036 to the sick with the palsyG3885; SonG5043, be of good cheerG2293; thyG4675 sinsG266 are forgivenG863 theeG4671. 3AndG2532, beholdG2400, certainG5100 of the scribesG1122 saidG2036 withinG1722 themselvesG1438, ThisG3778 man blasphemethG987. 4AndG2532 JesusG2424 knowingG1492 theirG846 thoughtsG1761 saidG2036, WhyG2444 thinkG1760 yeG5210 evilG4190 inG1722 yourG5216 heartsG2588? 5ForG1063 whichG5101 isG2076 easierG2123, to sayG2036, Thy sinsG266 are forgivenG863 theeG4671; orG2228 to sayG2036, AriseG1453, andG2532 walkG4043? 6ButG1161 thatG2443 ye may knowG1492 thatG3754 the SonG5207 of manG444 hathG2192 powerG1849 onG1909 earthG1093 to forgiveG863 sinsG266, (thenG5119 saith heG3004 to the sick with the palsyG3885,) AriseG1453, take upG142 thyG4675 bedG2825, andG2532 goG5217 toG1519 thyG4675 houseG3624. 7AndG2532 he aroseG1453, and departedG565 toG1519 hisG846 houseG3624. 8ButG1161 when the multitudesG3793 sawG1492 it, they marvelledG2296, andG2532 glorifiedG1392 GodG2316, whoG3588 had givenG1325 suchG5108 powerG1849 to menG444. 9And asG2532 JesusG2424 passed onG3855 from thereG1564, he sawG1492 a manG444, namedG3004 MatthewG3156, sittingG2521 atG1909 the tax officeG5058: andG2532 he saithG3004 to himG846, FollowG190 meG3427. AndG2532 he aroseG450, and followedG190 himG846. 10AndG2532 it came to passG1096, as JesusG2424 sat eatingG345inG1722 the houseG2532 G3614, beholdG2400, manyG4183 tax collectorsG5057 andG2532 sinnersG268 cameG2064 and sat downG4873 with himG846 andG2532 hisG846 disciplesG3101. 11AndG2532 when the PhariseesG5330 sawG1492 it, they saidG2036 to hisG846 disciplesG3101, WhyG1302 eatethG2068 yourG5216 MasterG1320 withG3326 tax collectorsG5057 andG2532 sinnersG268? 12ButG1161 when JesusG2424 heardG191 that, he saidG2036 to themG846, They that areG2192 wellG2480 needG5532 notG3756 a physicianG2395, butG235 they that areG2192 sickG2560. 13ButG1161 go yeG4198 and learnG3129 whatG5101 that meanethG2076, I willG2309 have mercyG1656, andG2532 notG3756 sacrificeG2378: forG1063 I amG2064 notG3756 comeG2064 to callG2564 the righteousG1342, butG235 sinnersG268 toG1519 repentanceG3341. 14ThenG5119 cameG4334 to himG846 the disciplesG3101 of JohnG2491, sayingG3004, WhyG1302 do weG2249 andG2532 the PhariseesG5330 fastG3522 oftenG4183, butG1161 thyG4675 disciplesG3101 fastG3522 notG3756? 15AndG2532 JesusG2424 saidG2036 to themG846, CanG3361 G1410 the childrenG5207 of the bridechamberG3567 mournG3996, as long asG1909 G3745 the bridegroomG3566 isG2076 withG3326 themG846? butG1161 the daysG2250 will comeG2064, whenG3752 the bridegroomG3566 shall be takenG522 fromG575 themG846, andG2532 thenG5119 they shall fastG3522. 16 No manG3762 puttethG1911 a pieceG1915 of newG46 clothG4470 toG1909 an oldG3820 garmentG2440, forG1063 that which is put in to fill it upG4138 takethG142 G846 fromG575 the garmentG2440, andG2532 the tearG4978 is madeG1096 worseG5501. 17NeitherG3761 do men putG906 newG3501 wineG3631 intoG1519 oldG3820 bottlesG779: elseG1490 the bottlesG779 breakG4486, andG2532 the wineG3631 runneth outG1632, andG2532 the bottlesG779 perishG622: butG235 they putG906 newG3501 wineG3631 intoG1519 newG2537 bottlesG779, andG2532 bothG297 are preservedG4933. 18While heG846 was speakingG2980 these thingsG5023 to themG846, beholdG2400, there cameG2064 a certainG1520 rulerG758, and worshippedG4352 himG846, sayingG3004 G3754, MyG3450 daughterG2364 is even nowG737 deadG5053: butG235 comeG2064 and layG2007 thyG4675 handG5495 uponG1909 herG846, andG2532 she shall liveG2198. 19AndG2532 JesusG2424 aroseG1453, and followedG190 himG846, andG2532 so did hisG846 disciplesG3101. 20AndG2532, beholdG2400, a womanG1135, who was diseased with an issue of bloodG131 twelveG1427 yearsG2094, cameG4334 behindG3693 him, and touchedG680 the hemG2899 of hisG846 garmentG2440: 21ForG1063 she saidG3004 withinG1722 herselfG1438, IfG1437 I mayG680 butG3440 touchG680 hisG846 garmentG2440, I shall be healedG4982. 22ButG1161 JesusG2424 turned himself aboutG1994, andG2532 when he sawG1492 herG846, he saidG2036, DaughterG2364, be of good comfortG2293; thyG4675 faithG4102 hath madeG4982 theeG4571 wellG4982. AndG2532 the womanG1135 was healedG4982 fromG575 thatG1565 hourG5610. 23AndG2532 when JesusG2424 cameG2064 intoG1519 the ruler’sG758 houseG3614, andG2532 sawG1492 the minstrelsG834 andG2532 the peopleG3793 making a noiseG2350, 24He saidG3004 to themG846, Give placeG402: forG1063 the maidG2877 isG599 notG3756 deadG599, butG235 sleepethG2518. AndG2532 they laughedG2606 at himG846. 25ButG1161 whenG3753 the peopleG3793 were put forthG1544, he went inG1525, and tookG2902 herG846 by the handG5495, andG2532 the maidG2877 aroseG1453. 26AndG2532 the fameG5345 of thisG3778 went abroadG1831 intoG1519 allG3650 thatG1565 landG1093. 27AndG2532 when JesusG2424 departedG3855 from thereG1564, twoG1417 blind menG5185 followedG190 himG846, cryingG2896, andG2532 sayingG3004, Thou SonG5207 of DavidG1138, have mercyG1653 on usG2248. 28AndG1161 when he had comeG2064 intoG1519 the houseG3614, the blind menG5185 cameG4334 to himG846: andG2532 JesusG2424 saithG3004 to themG846, Believe yeG4100 thatG3754 I am ableG1410 to doG4160 thisG5124? They saidG3004 to himG846, YeaG3483, LordG2962. 29ThenG5119 he touchedG680 theirG846 eyesG3788, sayingG3004, AccordingG2596 to yourG5216 faithG4102 be itG1096 to youG5213. 30AndG2532 theirG846 eyesG3788 were openedG455; andG2532 JesusG2424 sternly chargedG1690 themG846, sayingG3004, SeeG3708 that no manG3367 knowG1097 it. 31ButG1161 they, when they had departedG1831, spread abroadG1310 hisG846 fameG1310 inG1722 allG3650 thatG1565 countryG1093. 32AsG1161 theyG846 went outG1831, beholdG2400, they broughtG4374 to himG846 a dumbG2974 manG444 possessed with a demonG1139. 33AndG2532 when the demonG1140 was cast outG1544, the dumbG2974 spokeG2980: andG2532 the multitudesG3793 marvelledG2296, sayingG3004 G3754, It was neverG3763 soG3779 seenG5316 inG1722 IsraelG2474. 34ButG1161 the PhariseesG5330 saidG3004, He casteth outG1544 demonsG1140 throughG1722 the princeG758 of the demonsG1140. 35AndG2532 JesusG2424 went aboutG4013 allG3956 the citiesG4172 andG2532 villagesG2968, teachingG1321 inG1722 theirG846 synagoguesG4864, andG2532 preachingG2784 the gospelG2098 of the kingdomG932, andG2532 healingG2323 everyG3956 sicknessG3554 andG2532 everyG3956 diseaseG3119 amongG1722 the peopleG2992. 36ButG1161 when he sawG1492 the multitudesG3793, he was moved with compassionG4697 onG4012 themG846, becauseG3754 they wereG2258 faintG1590, andG2532 were scattered abroadG4496, asG5616 sheepG4263 havingG2192 noG3361 shepherdG4166. 37ThenG5119 saithG3004 he to hisG846 disciplesG3101, The harvestG2326 trulyG3303 is plentifulG4183, butG1161 the labourersG2040 are fewG3641; 38Pray yeG1189 thereforeG3767 the LordG2962 of the harvestG2326, thatG3704 he will send forthG1544 labourersG2040 intoG1519 hisG846 harvestG2326.


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.