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| 1 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. |
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| 2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
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Brought to him a man – The chief business of every Christian, besides that of his own development, is to help others to the Redeemer. R3315:4
Seeing their faith – The faith of the sick man and those who brought him. R1921:2
Said – Acting as the special agent, the representative of the Father. R3729:2
Be of good cheer – Possibly the palsied man and his friends felt disappointed, not appreciating his work as Sin-Bearer. R4587:1
Thy sins be forgiven – The Lord placed the most important matter first. R3729:1
The Lord was teaching a lesson of the relationship between sin and sickness, and his power to deliver from both. R4587:1
The ransom-price for the sins of the whole world was already on the altar. R1921:3
Similar declarations of forgiveness of sins may be made by members of the body of Christ to all who come unto God by Christ. R3315:2
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| 3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. |
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| 4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
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| 5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
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Thy sins be forgiven – Transgression of the divine law could not be forgiven except by the satisfaction of that law. R4587:2[R4587:2]
The forgiveness of sins with the Jews would imply proportionate release from sin's infirmities. R4587:4[R4587:4]
Arise and walk – If sickness is a judgment or discipline for sin, we should expect that when sin has been confessed and repented of, the Lord would remove the chastisement and raise up the penitent from his affliction, either partially or wholly. R2008:4[R2008:4]
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| 6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins,
(then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
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That ye may know – That he could heal diseases he urged as proof that he had power to forgive sins. R144:5*[R144:12]*
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| 7 And he arose, and departed to his house. |
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| 8 But when the multitude saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men. |
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| 9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. |
Named Matthew – Elsewhere styled "Levi." R4587:4
Meaning "the gift of God"; the name given to Levi by our Lord. R2260:3
He had undoubtedly been acquainted with the Lord and his work and the Lord acquainted with him prior to his call. R2260:1
Receipt of custom – A collector of taxes for the Roman government. R4587:4, 2260:2
An occupation despised by the average Jew as being unpatriotic. R2591:1
Despised because it was considered disreputable to assist a foreign government and because many of the publicans took advantage of their position to make themselves wealthy through bribes and over-collections. R4587:4, 2260:2
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| 10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. |
Sat at meat – Matthew at once made a supper for his friends, that these might have the opportunity for acquaintance with the Lord, who was also a guest. R4587:5[R4587:5]
In the house – In the home of those who have consecrated themselves to the Lord, the first consideration should be the service of the Master. R2591:3
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| 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? |
Why eateth – Thereby implying social equality. R2591:5
He was not descending to sin in any form, but seeking to lift up sinners. R4587:5[R4587:5]
It was the loving kindness of Jesus that disturbed their pharisaical nature and called forth their opposition. R539:1*
With publicans – Tax collectors. R2591:1
Despised for two reasons: (1) it was considered disreputable to assist a foreign government from one's friends; and (2) many publicans made themselves wealthy by bribes and over-collections. R4587:4[R4587:4]
And sinners – Those not professing holiness. R2591:3[R2591:3]
The Master did not hold himself aloof from people, but was warm, glowing, sympathetic, helpful, intensive, whole-souled. R4967:3[R4967:3]
He was fellowshipping with sinners that he might do them good. R4587:5[R4587:5]
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| 12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
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They that be whole – He had come as a physician to the sin-sick, and they did not realize themselves as sin-sick, and hence had little interest in the physician. Our Lord's words were uttered in sarcasm. NS410:4
A physician – A physician has a right to mingle with those whom he seeks to relieve. R2591:6
Physicians and medicine were not condemned by the Lord. He and his disciples spent considerable money for bread, which is the medicine needed when hungry. R2009:4
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| 13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
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I will have mercy – They should have had the yearning compassion which would have delighted to have lifted them out of sin and brought them nearer to the Lord and to righteous influences. R2592:1
Quoted from Hosea 6:6. R4587:5, 2591:6
And not sacrifice – God's work in Christ was not to sacrifice the world, but to save it. R539:1*
The righteous – Those who think of themselves as righteous. R2260:5
The sinners – Those who realized themselves to be imperfect. R2260:5
To repentance – But we are to recognize a great difference between calling men to repentance and calling them to the high calling. F87[F86:2]
He was not descending to sin in any form, but seeking to lift up sinners. R4587:5
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| 14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? |
Why do we – Fasts were intended for one of two purposes: a manifestation of repentance, or with a view to bringing the heart into closer communion with the Lord. NS153:1
From earliest times fasting has been recognized as a valuable adjunct to piety. NS453:1
Fast oft – Does not signify total abstinence from food, but a measure of abstinence and self-restraint as respects the condiments and delicacies. NS454:6
The more intelligent people of the world practice a kind of fasting or self-denial every day they live. They have an aim in life and eat and drink in harmony therewith. NS453:4
We recognize that the Lenten custom, while not instituted by the Lord, has probably been a beneficial one physically, sometimes spiritually. NS453:5
Fasting, like baptism, may be either a mere form, injurious rather than beneficial, or it may be observed with spiritual profit. NS153:4
But thy disciples – Expressing surprise that fasting was not enjoined by our Master's teachings as a law. NS453:1
The highest form of fasting, self-denial, is represented in our Lord; but, since he was perfect, it is perhaps better illustrated by the Apostle Paul. NS454:2
Fast not – Showing that our Lord did not impose literal fasting upon his disciples. R2260:5, 4987:2; NS154:4
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| 15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
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Can the children – Why should they fast? Their sins had been forgiven, they had been accepted of the Lord and taught to call the Almighty "our Father in heaven." NS154:5
Bridegroom – Jesus, personally, is the Bridegroom, and not Jesus and the overcomers. R398:4
Jesus is pictured as a Bridegroom, and his followers as a bride company. R5178:2
Shall be taken – Implying that, with his return, the fasting will cease and a great feast of joy ushered in. NS155:1
And then – When the Bridegroom would be away, there would be abundance of perplexity and sorrow, and then fasting would be in order, throughout the Gospel age. R2592:2, 4987:4
Shall they fast – Waiting for his return. NS155:1
All through the Gospel age it has been appropriate that the Lord's followers fast with the true fasting of self-denial, hungering and thirsting after righteousness. NS155:1
We may safely conclude that all "abstaining from fleshly lusts" or desires is real fasting, the kind most approved in the Lord's sight. NS153:5
"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself [fast in the true sense]." (Matt. 16:24) NS154:1
In the Dark Ages the food supply was made more and more unnutritious, forcing a fast, which ultimately amounted almost to a "famine for the hearing of the words of the Lord." (Amos 8:11) NS155:2
We have good New Testament precedent for the observance of literal fasts. R2022:5; NS153:3
Discipline the body by abstaining from delicacies and relishes. R3659:5
Very plain diet or total abstinence from food is occasionally desirable to many of the Lord's people who are full-blooded and impulsive. R2260:5
Fasting is proper when done from a right motive, but worse than useless when done as a formality, to be seen of men, that they might think us holy. R2260:5
Typically means self-denial. R2592:2
None will be admitted to Kingdom glories except those who practice fasting, self-denial. Without self-denial no one will ever attain to eternal life, neither in the present age nor in the age to come. NS455:4-6
Let us continue the fasting of self-denial, but let us seek more and more to appreciate and to digest the spiritual food he now is supplying through his faithful ones. NS156:1
A concomitant of mourning and sorrow. R2260:5
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| 16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.
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Piece of new cloth – The fuller light of truth due at the first and second advents of our Lord; the Gospel message. C160; R4987:5
Unto an old garment – Old sects and organizations. C160
It is of no use to patch the sects with the doctrines of the new dispensation. R1084:4*
Perhaps the first intimation our Lord had given of the fact that Israel as a nation would not be found worthy of the Kingdom and would be rejected. R2260:6
The Gospel teaching is not a patch upon the Jewish law, but a new proposition. R4987:5
From the garment – Would tear it to shreds. C160; R4987:5
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| 17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.
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Neither do – These two parables were given to emphasize that before the blessing could come to natural Israel, Spiritual Israel must be selected. R4987:5
Men put new wine – New doctrines, truths; the Gospel message. C160; R4987:5
New principles of justice and equality among men, now stretching the old system of things, which ultimately will burst and destroy the present social order. R1143:3
Into old bottles – Literally, old wineskins, out of which all the elasticity has gone; symbolically, old systems. C160; R4987:5
The bottles break – Rent asunder by the new truths which are out of harmony with the sectarian pride, errors, superstitions and traditions of these systems. C160
And the wine – The new doctrines. C160
The Gospel message, committed to a special class. R4987:5
Runneth out – Are left stranded, hampered by all the old errors of the sect and held responsible for its past record by the world. C160
Into new bottles – New wineskins, "new creatures in Christ," who will be able to stand the stress of the fermentation of trials, disciplines and testings. R4987:5
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| 18 While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daugther is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. |
While he spake – While Jesus was at the house of Matthew, probably at the conclusion of the banquet, Jairus arrived. R2617:1
A certain ruler – Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue in Capernaum, our Lord's home city. R4588:3
He knew Jesus well. He sometimes called upon him to read the Sabbath lesson (Luke 4:16). Once he entreated the Lord on behalf of the centurion's servant (Luke 7:4). R4588:3
Properly given audience first because of his prominence as a representative man. R4588:5
The four miracles of verses 18 to 34 illustrate faith from four different standpoints: (1) the faith of Jairus on behalf of his daughter; (2) the faith of the woman on her own account; (3) the faith of the two blind men encouraging each other; and (4) the faith of the friends of the deaf and dumb man possessed with a demon. R4588:3
Worshipped him – Manifested his faith by his conduct, expressing his homage, obedience and faith. R4588:5
My daughter – His only daughter, twelve years old. R4588:3
Is even now dead – Was at the point of death when I left home, and is no doubt dead by now. R2617:2
If, according to some theories, having died she paid her own penalty, she should be free from death after Jesus restored life to her. But she died again. R392:1
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| 19 And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples. |
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| 20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: |
Touched the hem – The strength immediately came into her body, just as the touching of a storage battery with a wire would draw the electric current. R4588:6
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| 21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. |
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| 22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daugther, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole.
And the woman was made whole from that hour. |
Jesus turned – Imagine the feelings of Jairus in consequence of this delay; while it added to his faith in the power of Jesus, it at the same time tested his faith in respect to the recovery of his child. R2617:2
Thy faith – Faith does not spurn reason, but uses it with certain prescribed and rational lines. R4588:2
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| 23 And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, |
The minstrels – The hired mourners, some playing doleful tunes on flutes. R2617:4, 4588:5
The people – Neighbors had gathered, in harmony with Jewish custom. R4588:5
Making a noise – Shrieking and murmuring. R4588:5
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| 24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth.
And they laughed him to scorn. |
But sleepeth – A synonym for death, but only in view of the hoped-for-awakening, the resurrection. R2959:2
It is not extinct, has a hope of a resurrection. R2959:2; PD61/72
Death is a condition of rest, of quiet, of peaceful unconsciousness. E329; R5059:6, 4794:2, 4588:5
She was dead, according to the usual human expression, but asleep from the divine standpoint. R4588:5
Because of Christ's redemptive work, death no longer should be regarded as a perished condition, but as a "sleep." R1126:2; HG293:5
If they sleep, it can not also be true that they enjoy immediate communion with God and the visions of his glory. R3028:1
The Second Death is never referred to as a sleep. R1939:4
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| 25 But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. |
And the maid arose – Did not come back from heaven or hell, and was not resurrected, but was merely awakened out of the sleep of death because Christ was "The first-fruits of them that slept" (1 Cor. 15:20), "The first that should rise from the dead" (Acts 26:23). R2618:2,4
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| 26 And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land. |
And the fame – As the fame of Jesus increased, because of his miracles and teaching, the opposition became more pronounced, especially from the Chief Priests, as they were brought into competition and unfavorable comparison with him. R1735:3
Went abroad – Threatening the immediate advancement of Jesus to the kingly office. R1754:3
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| 27 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us. |
Two blind men – Encouraged one another and both got the desired blessings. This illustrates the advantage of Church fellowship in respect to faith-stimulation. R4589:1
Thou son of David – The long-promised king of David's line, the Messiah. SM210:2; C257; E133; PD65/77
"The Lord shall give him the throne of his father David." (Luke 1:32) C257
The Righteous Branch from the Davidic root. E134
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| 28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this?
They said unto him, Yea, Lord. |
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| 29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
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According to your faith – Now God's rule for dealing with the Church. R5129:1
Because now good and perfect works are impossible. CR324:5
Faith should triumph, or the light of joy and blessing will die. R5148:4
God will reward us according to our faith, confidence, honesty and sincerity. R5594:1
Much faith, much rest; little faith, little rest. R5433:4, 3841:6
Faith which has a true foundation is very precious in the Lord's sight. R5095:6
Faith is a matter of steps and development; and only the developed faith could possibly bring to us the blessing of the Abrahamic covenant. R4377:2
Our faith must be corroborated by our works, but these cannot be perfect because of weakness. Only our faith and intention can be perfect now, and according to these the Lord deals with us. NS70:5
Faith brings advancement towards holiness. PT391:1*
Every exercise of faith is based on something real and tangible to faith. R5717:5
Not works, as will be the case during the Millennial age. F113
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| 30 And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.
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| 31 But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country. |
Spread abroad his fame – Their joy was so great that the Lord's humility in the matter served to draw forth their praises the louder. NS70:5; R4589:1
Those healed of blindness loudly praised the Lord. So with us when the eyes of our understanding are opened: we cannot refrain from telling the good tidings. R4589:1
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| 32 As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil. |
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| 33 And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel. |
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| 34 But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils. |
Casteth out devils – Greek, daimonion, demons, unclean spirits, familiar spirits, the fallen angels. R5183:3; SM548:3
Through – That would be suicidal. It would be equivalent to a king stirring up strife in his own kingdom and working against his own cause. R1736:2
Prince of the devils – Greek, diabolos, the devil, Satan, Beelzebub. R5183:3, 3310:4
No doubt, as a superior order of being, Satan exercises some degree of control over the others. HG725:3
Until the saints of God have been sealed in their foreheads. (Rev. 7:1-3) R4880:6
To Jesus, a "contradiction of sinners against himself." (Heb. 12:3) An example of "when he was reviled, he reviled not again." (1 Pet. 2:23) R4802:5,6
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| 35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. |
In their synagogues – The fact that Jesus could and did preach in the synagogues shows that the Jews possessed greater liberty than now prevails among God's professed people. R2635:2
Every sickness – To illustrate the healing and restoring work which his Kingdom will do in its appointed time. R5075:3
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| 36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. |
With compassion – Not only upon his people, but, in due time, upon all the families of the earth. R2635:3
Compassion will be an element of the Lord's character as long as there are any who need help and desire it, until the close of the Millennial age. R2635:5
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| 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
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The harvest – Of the Jewish age. B15, B160; R5018:2
The end of the Gospel age, like the end of the Jewish age, is called a harvest. B15, B160
The harvest work consists of various parts. These are more or less important. We might misunderstand the value of these different parts of the work. CR339:3
The Great Teacher tells us distinctly that while his work was that of reaping, he blended it with a sowing. R5018:3, 4891:3
He was then manifested in the double character of Bridegroom and Reaper (see verse 15) R115:1*
Is plenteous – The way to accomplish large results is not to hope that someone else may do and hear and get a blessing in the service, but for each to resolve to do what he can. R3296:4
Private conversation has had the largest influence as far as reaching people is concerned. CR342:5
The details of the Gospel age harvest work in detail. CR341-344
The laborers are few – His disciples, two by two; and later, he sent "seventy also." R5018:3, 4891:3
It was their privilege to be all the more energetic because of the "great field" and the few to reap it. R5075:6
The labors of Jesus and the Apostles found about 500 brethren worthy of garnering during his ministry. R4968:6
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| 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
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Pray ye – He wished them to feel a measure of responsibility in the work, even though he himself was the Lord of that harvest, even though he was the responsible one. R5075:6
The Master would have every one of us feel a deep interest in the harvest work now in progress in the end of this age. R5075:6
Whoever is praying for the Lord to send a laborer knows the laborer that is nearest him--that is, himself. CR339:1; R5144:3, 3296:1
Let us labor while we pray. R5146:1
If our work is of him, he is able to sustain it, and he will do so until it shall be finished. If it is not of the Lord, the sooner it stops the better we should be pleased. R4892:1
Prayers not accompanied by efforts are not sincere. R4913:1
Send forth laborers – Jesus is the Chief Reaper, but he is not doing the work directly himself, but is supervising it. His disciples are engaged in that work. CR340:2
All have the opportunity of harvest work. CR343:6
And ask the Lord to help you be a reaper. R3296:1, 5, 2635:6, 225:5
Sometimes the Lord's people put too much value on money and not enough on service. No place are we told to pray for money, but we are told the harvest is great and the laborers are few. R3513:6*
If we were all conscientious, it would mean, What are you doing yourself? CR339:2
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