Matthew 9:18-26

A girl restored to life and a healed woman.
For parallels see Mk 5:21-43 and Lk 8:40-56.
v.18 The synagogue leader was responsible for the administration of the synagogue and its building. The parallels in Mark and Luke name the leader as Jairus. His daughter has just died and he wants Jesus to bring her back to life by the laying on of hands.
v.19-21 Jesus and the disciples go with Jarius as requested. On the way, a woman suffering for twelve years with constant bleeding touch the fringe of his robe in order to receive healing.
v.22 Jesus turning around and seeing the woman tells her that “your faith has made you well.” She was healed at that moment. She wasn't worried about the "correct" way to approach God, but instead just reached out to Jesus in faith. We would do well to do the same. God can change the unchangeable situation and bring healing to our lives.
v.23-24 Arriving at the ruler's house, Jesus tells the crowd to go outside, for the girl is not dead but only asleep. The crowd laughed at Jesus.
v.25-26 After the crowd had been put out of the house, Jesus took the girl by the hand and she got up! The report of this miracle sweep through the area. Jesus can do the impossible. Whatever your situation, emotional pain, addiction, broken relationship, or whatever hopeless situation the plagues your life, come to Jesus.

Read Matthew 9:18-26

Matthew 9:14-17

About Fasting
See parallels at Mk 2:18-22 and Lk 5:33-39.
v.14 The disciples of John the Baptist asked Jesus why his disciples do not fast like the Pharisees and themselves. On fasting, see 6:16-18. Zealous Jews fasted twice a week (Mon. & Thurs.). The OT law required one fast a year on the day of atonement. Fasting was to be accompanied by deep personal reflection, prayer, and sorrow for sin. Jesus himself fasted (4:2) and after his ascension the disciples often fasted (e.g., Acts 13:3 and 14:23).
v.15 Jesus explained that the bridegroom's friends do not fast when he is with them, but rather when he is taken away (Is 53:8). 'Bridegroom' was a Jewish metaphor for God (Hos 2:16-23). The arrival of the kingdom of God was to be a time of celebration like a marriage ceremony. For the disciples to fast when Jesus was with them would be inappropriate.
v.16-17 Jesus gives two examples (parables, Lk 5:36) that showed that the coming kingdom of God cannot be contained within the old religious system. You don't put a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment and you don't put new wine in old wineskins. New wine is put into fresh wineskins that will stretch as the new wine ferments and expands. Jesus' teaching and kingdom must be poured into new forms, the old just won't do.

Read Matthew 9:14-17

Matthew 9:9-13

Jesus calls Matthew the tax collector.
For parallels see Mk 2:14-17 and Lk 5:27-32.
v.9 Jesus called a despised tax collector, named Matthew, to follow him. Matthew got up from his tax collecting booth and followed him. Why did he rise and follow him? Perhaps he had heard Jesus's teaching and wanted to be a disciple. Perhaps Jesus had that effect on people. The Jews wouldn't think of having a tax collector as a disciple. Jesus once again reaches out to social outcasts and accepts them. Matthew appears on the list of twelve disciples (10:1-4) and is the writer of this book of the Bible.
v.10-11 Jesus had dinner at Matthew's house and many tax collectors and "sinners" were in attendance. The Pharisees were indignant at this. How could he eat with such people. Heavy taxes were laid upon the people by the occupying Roman government. Tax collectors were looked upon as traitors. They had a reputation as being dishonest.
v.12-13 Jesus replies “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” We are all sinners, of course, but perhaps he came not for those who thought themselves righteous, but for sinners who believed in him and repented of their sin. He tells the Pharisees to go and learn what this means “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice” (Hos 6:6).

Read Matthew 9:9-13

Matthew 9:1-8

Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man
For parallels see Mk 2:1-12 and Lk 5:17-26.
v.1 Having left the region of the Gadarenes (see Mt 8:28-34), Jesus arrives in his hometown of Capernaum (cf. Mk 2:1).
v.2 Some men bring him a paralytic lying on a mat. Seeing their faith (the paralytic and the men who brought him), he tells the paralytic that his sins are forgiven. The men had faith that Jesus could heal the physical illness. There may have been a connection between the man's sin and his illness. In John 9, Jesus's disciples made such a connection (Jn 9:1-7).
v.3-7 The Jews believed that only God could forgive sins and therefore some scribes took exception to Jesus statement and thought within their hearts "this man is blaspheming." Jesus, knowing their thoughts, proposes a test: they believed that the illness could be a result of sin, so if Jesus could heal the illness then he could forgive the sin. Jesus said “Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” The man jumped to his feet, and Jesus's claim is vindicated.
v.8 At this the crowds were amazed and praised God.

Read Matthew 9:1-8

Matthew 8:23-34

Jesus calms the storm.
For parallels see Mk 4:36-41, Lk 8:22-25, and Jn 6:16-21.
v.23 The disciples followed Jesus into the boat to cross to the other side of the lake. They don't know it yet, but this will be a test of their discipleship. The boat is presumably of sufficient size to fit all of the disciples and Jesus. A Galilean fishing boat from the era could hold 15 men and was about 27 feet long (esvsb).
v.24 While Jesus slept in the boat, the weather started getting rough and there was a great storm on the sea. The boat was being swamped by the waves. Squalls are a common occurrence on the Sea of Galilee. Some may think that having Christ with them they should have very favorable sailing winds. But the storm and their deliverance was for their sake to provide confirmation to them of his glory.
v.25 They woke up Jesus shouting "save us, Lord." Where is their faith? This storm coming right after Jesus said "let the dead bury their own dead" may have shaken them a bit.
v.26 Jesus said "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" He rebuked the wind and sea and there was a great calm.
v.27 The disciples were (rightly) amazed at his authority over even wind and sea. The answer to their rhetorical question (who is this then?) is of course that Jesus is the Son of God.

Jesus heals two men with demons.
For parallels see Mk 5:1-21 and Lk 8:26-40.
v.28 They arrived at the other side of the lake in the region of the Gadarenes. They were approached by two fierce demon-possessed men. "Were fierce, we're demon possessed, and we're in your face." Satan robs a man of his sanity and self-control.
v.29 They recognize Jesus as the Son of God. They also are factually correct that they will be tormented at the appointed time.
v.30-32 The demons beg to be sent into a herd of pigs if they are to be cast out of the men. Jesus grants permission and they leave the men and enter the herd of pigs rushing down a steep bank into the sea where the pigs perish. This is also a factually correct figure of where they are going - into the lake of fire.
v.33-34 The herdsmen flee to the town and tell all the people about the exorcism and what had happened to the pigs (perhaps a source of their food?). The people came out and requested that Jesus leave their region. So he did (9:1).

Read Matthew 8:23-34

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Matthew 8:14-22

Jesus heals many people.
For parallel to v.14-16 see Mk 1:29-34 and Lk 4:38-41.
v.14-15 Jesus entered Simon and Andrews house and found Simon's mother-in-law sick with a fever. He healed her immediately and completely with the touch of his hand; she got up and began serving him.
v.16 Jesus healed many people who were sick or oppressed by demons. They came to him in the evening since it was the sabbath (Mk 1:21) and normal activity could continue.
v.17 Citing Is 53:4, Matthew says this fulfilled prophecy about the Messiah. “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.” This looks forward to the consummation of the kingdom when sickness and death will be banished.

The cost of discipleship.
v.18 Jesus, surrounded by a large crowd, calls on the disciples to cross to the other side (of the sea). In view of v.19-22 below, many interpreters view this call as a call to discipleship.
For parallel to v.19-22 see Lk 9:57-60.
v.19-20 One follower tells Jesus that he will follow wherever he goes. Jesus reply is that he has no place to lay his head. This was to remind the man of the cost of discipleship. True disciples have no place in this world and must be ready for hardship.
v.21-22 Another follower asks Jesus to let him bury his father first. Jesus replied that the man should follow him and let the dead bury their own dead. The priorities of this life must give way to the priorities of discipleship (see Lk 14:25-33).

Read Matthew 8:14-22

Matthew 8:5-13

Jesus heals a centurion's servant.
For parallel see Lk 7:1-10.
v.5-7 Jesus came next to Capernaum, a town on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee. It was a major trade center in the Northern Galilean region. Jesus lived in Capernaum during this time (Mt 4:13-16). A Roman centurion came to him. A centurion was a commander of 100 men and there were 60 centurions in a Roman legion. The centurion's request was that Jesus heal his suffering servant who was lying ill. Jesus agreed to come to his house and heal the servant.
v.8-9 The centurion addressed Jesus as Lord and said he was not worthy to have him come under his roof, but only he should say the word and his servant would be healed. He gives orders to his troops that are obeyed and amazingly believes Jesus has the authority over the illness by just giving the word.
v.10 Jesus was amazed at the centurion's faith and remarked to those following him that he had not seen such faith even in Israel.
v.11-12 Many gentiles will feast with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven (enjoy fellowship with God for eternity), while those from Israel, for whom it was prepared, will be thrown into utter darkness. Those who claim to be Christians but lack faith will also be excluded.
v.13 Jesus heals the servant with the word of his mouth, from a distance (as the centurion believed).

Read Matthew 8:5-13

Matthew 8:1-4

Jesus heals a man with leprosy.
v.1 Jesus has completed the Sermon on the Mount (ch.5-7) and now will demonstrate his messianic mission with deeds. Jesus came down from the mountain (cf. 5:1) and large crowds followed him since they were amazed at his teaching (7:28).
(For v.2-4 see parallels in Mk 1:40-44 and Lk 5:12-14.)
v.2-3 The first miracle in this section is of a leper. The leper shows faith in Jesus and knelt before him calling him Lord. Jesus reaches out to him and heals him immediately. For lepers to be made clean is a mark of the Messiah (11:2-6).
v.4 Jesus implores him to tell no one, but show himself to the priest (Lv 14:1-32), presenting an offering, as a witness to them.

Read Matthew 8:1-4

Matthew 7:24-29

Build on the Rock.
For parallel see Lk 6:47-49.
v.24 The person who listens to Jesus's teaching and follows it is wise; like a man who builds his house on solid rock. It is not enough to simply hear his words, rather we must persevere in obedience. See also Jas 1:22-25.
v.25 When the trials of life (rains, floods, winds) come his house does not fall because it is built on the rock. Judgment day will come like a flood exposing authentic Christian faith (and the fool).
v.26 The person who hears Jesus's words and does not do them is foolish like a man who builds his house on the sand. The words of the Sermon on the Mount are mean to be obeyed.
v.27 When the trials of life (rains, floods, winds) come his house falls (with a great crash) because it is built on the sand. The reality of eternal punishment should sober us all!
v.28-29 The crowds were astonished at Jesus's teaching because he taught with great authority (unlike their religious leaders). This ends the first of five discourses in Matthew.

Read Matthew 7:24-29

Matthew 7:21-23

True and False Disciples.
v.21 Jesus says it is the person who does the will of God that will go to heaven (see also Rom 2:13). An oral confession (Lord, Lord) without a repentant heart will not be enough (but see Rom 10:9-10) to enter the kingdom.
v.22-23 Jesus decides who will enter the kingdom on 'that day' and who will be banned from his presence. The criteria is your relationship with him, i.e. whether he "knew you". Having done works will not save you in the end if you do not know Jesus.

Read Matthew 7:21-23