We saw in the last chapter how that after the Lord had delivered the two possessed with demons, the people of the city came out and requested Him to depart out of their coasts. They showed no regard for the two who had been liberated from Satan’s power. This shows their hardness of heart against the Lord, who had gone forth among the people in the power of Jehovah according to Psalm 103:33Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; (Psalm 103:3), “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.” He presented Himself to the nation as their Redeemer and Deliverer. To prove His title as such, He carried out this last part of the verse first.
It is a very solemn thing to ask the Lord to depart, for He will do so. But it may be the last opportunity to have to do with Him while He is dealing in grace. By and by He will be the One who will tell those who refused Him to depart, and that will be to everlasting punishment.
Sins Forgiven
In chapter 9 the Lord enters into a ship and passes over to the other side to “His own city” — Capernaum. It was where He lived and wrought His mightiest miracles. “And, behold, they brought unto Him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed.” The Lord appreciates their faith and speaks kindly to the afflicted one: “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven Thee.” Some of the scribes, who were familiar with the law but very critical of the Lord, said within themselves, “This man blasphemeth.” But the Lord knew their thoughts and asks why they thought evil things in their hearts. To Him it meant the same to say, “Thy sins be forgiven thee,” as to say “Arise, and walk.” Any sins must be forgiven before the man could be healed of his affliction. But that they might know that the Son of Man had power to forgive sins, He saith unto the sick of the palsy, “Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.” The man departed to his own home. In the man sick with palsy we have a picture of Israel. The day is coming when the Lord will both forgive all their iniquities and heal all their diseases.
“When the multitudes saw it, they marveled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.” They did not see that the One who wielded that power was God Himself.
Sinners Invited
The Lord goes on from here and sees a publican named Matthew sitting in the tax office. Knowing him to be a man of faith He says to him, “Follow Me,” which he did. The publicans were commonly classed as sinners, but this only brings out the Lord’s grace all the more in calling such. Matthew not only followed the Lord, but he invited Him and His disciples to his home where they sat down to eat at his table. Many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Him also. But the Pharisees, who were always ready to find fault with Him, question the disciples as to why their Master would eat with publicans and sinners. When the Lord heard it He said unto them, “They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.” They should have learned that the prophets had spoken of a time coming when Jehovah desired them to show mercy, rather than offer sacrifices to Him. They, however, claimed to not need a physician, but in heart they were far from Him and so did not hear His voice.
Further Meditation
1. What two people are delivered in this passage of scripture?
2. Why weren’t the Pharisees glad to see people being healed?
3. For a wonderful commentary that includes the book of Matthew you would most likely enjoy The Evangelists by J. G. Bellett.