Matthew 9: Expository Preaching and Study Guide

Overview

Matthew 9 continues to display Jesus’ divine authority and compassion as He heals, forgives sins, calls sinners, and teaches about the nature of the Kingdom of God. The chapter includes nine distinct miracles, along with a call to discipleship, a confrontation with religious leaders, and a picture of Jesus’ heart for the lost. It highlights Jesus as the Messianic King whose authority encompasses sickness, sin, Satan, and death. This chapter reaffirms the divine identity of Jesus and the call to faith, repentance, and mission.

Key events:

Jesus forgives and heals a paralyzed man.
He calls Matthew the tax collector.
He teaches about fasting and the new covenant.
He raises a girl from the dead and heals a bleeding woman.
He restores sight to two blind men and speech to a mute demon-possessed man.
He shows deep compassion for the crowds and urges prayer for workers in the harvest.

Historical and Literary Context

Historical Context

Matthew’s Gospel was written primarily to a Jewish audience, presenting Jesus as the promised Messiah, the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. In the first-century Jewish world, sickness, disability, and death were often misunderstood as direct consequences of sin, and social outcasts (like tax collectors or unclean women) were marginalized. Jesus‘ ministry in Matthew 9 breaks these social and religious barriers. His actions declare that the Kingdom of God is not about legalistic purity but about redemptive mercy.

Paralysis and sin: Jewish thinking sometimes linked the two (cf. Job; John 9:2).
Tax collectors were seen as traitors to Jewish nationalism due to their collaboration with Rome.
Touching the dead or bleeding woman rendered one ceremonially unclean—Jesus reverses this.

Literary Structure

Matthew 9 is structured around a series of miracles that are not only signs of divine power but are evidence of the arrival of the Kingdom of God. The narrative interweaves healing and teaching to demonstrate that Jesus brings both physical restoration and spiritual transformation. The transitions between stories are purposeful, showing growing conflict with the Pharisees, rising faith among the marginalized, and the escalating mission of Jesus.

Key Themes and Doctrinal Points

1. The Authority of Jesus (vv.1-8, 18-34)

Jesus demonstrates divine authority to forgive sins (v.6), to heal all diseases, and even to raise the dead. His command over both spiritual and physical realms reveals His identity as the Son of Man (v.6)—a Messianic title with roots in Daniel 7.

Doctrinal application:
Jesus’ authority confirms His divinity and serves as a foundation for the believer’s trust. Evangelical theology affirms Christ’s Lordship over all creation—He is not just a moral teacher but God incarnate.

2. Salvation by Grace and the Call to Sinners (vv.9-13)

Jesus calls Matthew, a tax collector, into discipleship and declares His mission to call sinners, not the righteous (v.13). He quotes Hosea 6:6: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice,” emphasizing a heart of grace over legalistic ritual.

Doctrinal application:
Salvation is by grace through faith, not by works. Jesus’ association with sinners illustrates that no one is beyond God’s reach. Evangelical soteriology emphasizes this gospel of grace and the need for repentance.

3. The New Covenant and the Supremacy of Christ (vv.14-17)

Jesus explains that His presence inaugurates a new reality: “new wine into new wineskins” (v.17). This teaching points to the incompatibility of His message with the old system of religious ritual.

Doctrinal application:
Jesus fulfills and surpasses the Old Covenant, establishing a new covenant in His blood (Luke 22:20). Evangelicals hold that the new covenant brings spiritual rebirth and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

4. Faith and Healing (vv.20-22, 27-30)

Those healed by Jesus (the woman, the blind men) are commended for their faith, not for any merit of their own. Faith is the vehicle through which divine healing and salvation are accessed.

Doctrinal application:
Justification comes by faith alone, and while healing is not guaranteed, prayerful trust in God’s power is central to the Christian life. True faith rests in God’s sovereignty regardless of outcome.

5. Jesus’ Compassion and the Mission (vv.35-38)

Jesus is moved by compassion when He sees the crowds, likening them to sheep without a shepherd. He urges His disciples to pray for laborers for the harvest—a direct call to evangelistic mission.

Doctrinal application:
Evangelical theology emphasizes the Great Commission. This passage reminds us that mission flows from compassion—from seeing people as lost, helpless, and in need of the Good Shepherd.

Verse-by-Verse Analysis: Matthew 9 (Key Sections)

Verses 1-8: Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man

v.2 – “When Jesus saw their faith…”: Faith is seen as a communal and visible act, not just internal belief. Their trust in Jesus’ power prompted action.
v.2 – “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”: Jesus goes deeper than the physical ailment, addressing the root issue—sin. This shows that healing the soul is more critical than healing the body.
v.3-6 – Jesus, knowing their thoughts, calls out the scribes for blasphemy and asserts that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, identifying Himself with the divine figure of Daniel 7:13-14.
v.8 – The crowd glorifies God, recognizing that only God can give such authority.

Cross-reference: Isaiah 53:5, Romans 5:1 – Sin and sickness are connected in the fall, but Jesus brings peace and healing through justification.

Application: Jesus sees and honors faith. He heals holistically—spiritually and physically—and shows that only He can truly forgive sin.

Verses 9-13: The Call of Matthew

v.9 – Jesus calls Matthew, a tax collector, symbolizing grace extended to the socially and spiritually outcast. Matthew immediately follows—true discipleship involves radical obedience.
v.11 – The Pharisees’ objection shows their self-righteousness and misunderstanding of God’s mercy.
v.13 – Jesus quotes Hosea 6:6, highlighting God’s desire for mercy and relationship over ritual sacrifice.

Cross-reference: Luke 15 (parable of the lost), Romans 3:23-24.

Application: No one is beyond redemption. Jesus seeks out sinners. Christians should reflect Christ’s heart for the broken and not judge as the Pharisees did.

Verses 14-17: Teaching on Fasting and New Wineskins

v.14 – John’s disciples question Jesus’ disciples’ lack of fasting.
v.15 – Jesus identifies Himself as the bridegroom, implying a messianic wedding feast (cf. Isaiah 62:5, Revelation 19:7). His presence changes everything.
v.17 – “New wine into new wineskins” teaches that the new covenant in Christ cannot be contained by old religious systems.

Cross-reference: 2 Corinthians 5:17 – “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come…”

Application: Discipleship in Christ is not about patching up old systems. It’s about being transformed by the new life He gives.

Verses 18-26: Healing a Bleeding Woman and Raising a Dead Girl

v.20-22 – The woman who touches Jesus’ garment is healed through faith. She had suffered 12 years, yet Jesus honors her bold belief.
v.24 – Jesus declares the girl “not dead but asleep,” a foreshadowing of resurrection hope.
v.25 – He takes her by the hand and restores her life, showing His authority over death.

Cross-reference: Hebrews 11:6, John 11:25 – Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life.

Application: Jesus welcomes the desperate and restores life to what seems hopeless. His touch brings purity and power, not contamination.

Verses 27-34: Blind Men and the Mute Demoniac

v.28 – “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” Jesus requires personal faith.
v.30 – He tells them to keep silent, as the time for public declaration is not yet.
v.32-33 – The healing of the mute man shows Jesus’ power over demonic oppression.

Cross-reference: Isaiah 35:5-6 – The Messianic age includes sight for the blind and speech for the mute.

Application: Jesus delivers completely. The believer must come with faith, believing Christ is able.

Verses 35-38: Jesus’ Compassion and the Harvest

v.36 – Jesus sees the crowds and is moved with compassion. They are “harassed and helpless”—language of lost sheep.
v.37-38 – He tells His disciples to pray for laborers, laying the groundwork for missions and the Great Commission.

Cross-reference: Ezekiel 34 (false shepherds), John 10 (Good Shepherd), Matthew 28:18-20.

Application: Ministry must begin with compassion, prayer, and a heart for the harvest. Every Christian is called to participate in God’s mission.

Theological Implications and Connection to Jesus Christ

Matthew 9 is Christ-centered and doctrinally rich. It demonstrates:

Jesus as the Divine Healer and Savior
- He forgives sins (vv.2-6), heals bodies, and raises the dead, affirming His divine nature.
- Jesus is the true fulfillment of all Old Testament hopes and the embodiment of Isaiah’s Servant.
Jesus as the Son of Man and Messiah
- The use of “Son of Man” ties to Daniel 7:13-14, where dominion and glory are given to the Messiah.
- His power over sin, disease, and death shows He inaugurates the Kingdom of God.
Jesus and the New Covenant
- The parable of the new wine points to a new covenant, not a reform of the old, fulfilled in Christ’s death and resurrection.
- This new way includes faith, mercy, and transformation.
Christ’s Compassion and Mission
- Jesus isn’t just a healer; He is a shepherd who sees the people as lost and is driven to send laborers into the harvest.

In summary, Matthew 9 points to the gospel of Jesus Christ: His incarnation, authority, mercy, and mission. He is the hope for sinners, the restorer of life, and the Savior of the world.

Connection to God the Father

Authority from the Father
- Jesus acts under the authority of the Father (cf. John 5:19–23). His ability to forgive, heal, and raise the dead reveals the will and power of the Father working through the Son.
Revealing the Father’s Heart
- In v.36, Jesus’ compassion reflects the Father’s love for the lost. Jesus is the exact representation of the Father (Hebrews 1:3).
- His call for mercy over sacrifice (v.13) reflects God’s desire in Hosea 6:6, showing the Father’s consistent desire for relationship over ritual.
The Father’s Sovereign Plan
- Jesus’ actions are not random miracles—they’re part of the Father’s redemptive plan, revealing God’s kingdom and preparing for the cross.
Invitation to Participate in the Father’s Work
- By calling for laborers (v.38), Jesus invites His disciples to partner in the Father’s global mission, anticipating the Great Commission.

Connection to the Holy Spirit

Though the Holy Spirit is not explicitly mentioned in Matthew 9, His presence and ministry are implicitly evident throughout Jesus’ actions:

1. Empowerment of Jesus’ Ministry

Jesus operates under the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit (cf. Matthew 3:16-17). His ability to heal, forgive sins, and discern hearts reflects the Spirit’s enabling presence.

Cross-reference: Isaiah 61:1 – “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor…”

2. Faith as the Work of the Spirit

Those who approach Jesus in faith (paralyzed man’s friends, bleeding woman, blind men) demonstrate what the Spirit produces in the human heart—conviction of need and trust in Christ.

Cross-reference: 1 Corinthians 12:3 – “No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.”

3. Compassion and Intercession

In verses 36-38, Jesus’ compassion and call to prayer for laborers reflect the Spirit’s prompting in mission. The Spirit continues today to stir hearts toward the harvest.

Cross-reference: Romans 8:26 – The Spirit helps us pray according to the Father’s will, burdening us for the lost.

Sermon Outline and Flow

Title: “Jesus the Merciful King: Healing, Calling, Sending”

Text: Matthew 9:1-38
Theme: Jesus exercises divine authority to save, heal, and send, calling us to trust in Him and join His mission.

I. Jesus Forgives and Heals (vv.1-8)

Key Point: Jesus meets our deepest need—forgiveness—before healing the body.

Transition: From personal healing to public calling…
Application: Have you trusted Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins?

II. Jesus Calls the Outcast (vv.9-13)

Key Point: Jesus chooses the unlikely and shows mercy over ritual.

Illustration: A former gang member turned pastor—God calls the least expected.
Application: Who are we writing off as too far from grace?

III. Jesus Brings the New Covenant (vv.14-17)

Key Point: You can’t fit Jesus into old religion—He brings new life, not empty tradition.

Analogy: You don’t install new software on a broken system—you get a new device.
Application: Are you clinging to form instead of walking in spiritual renewal?

IV. Jesus Raises and Restores (vv.18-34)

Key Point: Jesus brings hope to the hopeless and life where there’s death.

Examples: Prayers for healing; testimonies of those healed or restored.
Application: Bring your desperation to Jesus in faith—He still works today.

V. Jesus Sends with Compassion (vv.35-38)

Key Point: Jesus sees the crowds with love, not judgment, and calls us to labor in His harvest.

Illustration: A missionary who left everything because of a burden for the lost.
Call to Action: Will you pray for and go into the harvest?

Conclusion & Call to Action

Jesus is the forgiver, healer, caller, and sender.
Come to Him with your need. Leave with His mission.
Altar call/response: Come forward for prayer—whether for healing, salvation, or surrender to the harvest.

Illustrations and Examples

1. Paralyzed Man

Modern Example: A young man struggling with addiction for years found healing—not just of his habits but of his heart—when a friend invited him to church. That friend was the “mat-carrier” who brought him to Jesus.

2. Matthew the Tax Collector

Illustration: Think of someone like a corrupt politician today. When Jesus calls a person like that and transforms them into a follower and Gospel writer, it shows no one is too far gone.

3. New Wine, New Wineskins

Analogy: You don’t stream Netflix on a broken VHS player. Jesus is not an upgrade to an old religion—He’s a new life altogether.

4. Bleeding Woman

Personal Story: A woman who battled an illness for years finds healing not in her body, but in the peace Christ gives, even while still waiting for full physical restoration.

5. Harvest and Laborers

Global Mission: A teenager prays during a youth camp, “God, send me to the nations.” Years later, she’s planting churches in an unreached tribe. The harvest is still plentiful.

Application for Today’s Christian

Matthew 9 is filled with practical guidance for discipleship, stewardship, and living out one’s faith. Here’s how believers today can apply this chapter:

1. Discipleship: Follow Jesus Wholeheartedly

Like Matthew, believers are called to leave old identities behind and follow Jesus with immediate obedience (v.9).
Application: Evaluate your life—what do you need to leave behind to follow Christ more fully? (Habits, relationships, career decisions?)

2. Show Compassion to the Marginalized

Jesus engages the outcast, touches the unclean, and eats with sinners. Christians are called to imitate His mercy.
Application: Seek opportunities to build relationships with people society often rejects—homeless, addicted, imprisoned, or lonely.

3. Live by Faith, Not by Sight

Those who came to Jesus (paralyzed man’s friends, bleeding woman, blind men) acted in bold faith.
Application: Practice prayerful dependence on Jesus. Trust Him with your needs before resorting to human solutions.

4. Steward Your Influence and Resources for the Harvest

Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” We are stewards of the Gospel and must mobilize for mission.
Application: Support missions financially, serve in local evangelism, mentor someone spiritually, or go where God calls.

5. Pray for and Participate in God’s Mission

Jesus asked for prayer for laborers (v.38), then in the next chapter, sent out the Twelve. Prayer often prepares our own hearts to go.
Application: Make it a daily practice to pray for unreached people groups and ask God how you can serve in His harvest field.

Connection to God’s Love

Matthew 9 is saturated with God’s tender, pursuing love revealed through Jesus Christ:

1. God Loves the Spiritually Broken

Jesus forgave the paralytic and called Matthew. He does not wait for us to clean ourselves up—He meets us in our brokenness (vv.2, 9).
God’s love is initiating, forgiving, and restoring.

2. God Values Relationship Over Ritual

“I desire mercy, not sacrifice” (v.13) shows God wants hearts that reflect His compassion, not just outward religiosity.
His love is not distant or conditional—it’s personal and relational.

3. God Heals and Restores the Desperate

The bleeding woman and Jairus’s daughter reveal a God who responds to the desperate cries of the hurting.
God’s love is available to all, regardless of status, condition, or shame.

4. God Sees the Crowds and Cares

Jesus looks at the multitudes with compassion—not disgust or indifference (v.36). This is the heart of the Heavenly Father.
His love motivates mission. He does not want anyone to be without a Shepherd.

In Summary:
Matthew 9 reveals that God’s love pursues the sinner, heals the broken, listens to faith-filled prayers, and sends laborers to the lost.

Broader Biblical Themes

Matthew 9 connects powerfully to major biblical themes in both Testaments:

1. Redemption

Jesus forgives sins, heals the sick, and restores life, demonstrating the redemptive power of the Gospel.
This connects with the entire redemptive arc—from Genesis (the Fall) to Revelation (restoration in Christ).

2. Covenant Fulfillment

Jesus references Hosea (v.13) and acts as the bridegroom (v.15), themes rooted in Israel’s covenantal relationship with God.
His miracles and teachings reveal that He is the fulfillment of the promised New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34).

3. God as the True Shepherd

The image of people as “sheep without a shepherd” (v.36) ties back to Ezekiel 34, where God promises to shepherd His people.
Jesus, the Good Shepherd (John 10), steps into that role, fulfilling the Father’s promise to care for His flock.

4. Creation and Restoration

By reversing sickness, death, and spiritual oppression, Jesus shows that He is Lord over creation, working to restore what was lost in the Fall (Genesis 3).
The restoration of life, health, and dignity points forward to the New Creation in Christ (Revelation 21:4-5).

5. The Mission of God

The call to pray for laborers (v.38) points toward the global mission inaugurated in Genesis 12 (Abraham‘s blessing to all nations) and fulfilled in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).
The Gospel is not just personal—it’s missional.

Reflection Questions: For Personal Study or Small Group Discussion

These questions are designed to help readers and listeners reflect more deeply on the truths in Matthew 9 and apply them to everyday life:

Faith and Forgiveness (vv.1-8)

In what ways have you seen Jesus work through the faith of others in your life?
Why do you think Jesus prioritized forgiving the man’s sins before healing his body?
What does this passage teach us about our deepest need?

Calling and Mercy (vv.9-13)

What do you learn from Matthew’s immediate response to Jesus’ call?
How do you respond to people society often ignores or looks down on?
Are you more focused on religious rituals or showing mercy and compassion like Jesus?

New Life in Christ (vv.14-17)

How is following Jesus different from simply adding religion to your life?
Are there “old wineskins” (old ways of thinking or living) that God is calling you to leave behind?

Desperation and Healing (vv.18-26)

How does Jesus respond to people who come to Him in desperation and faith?
What broken situation in your life needs His healing or restoring touch today?

Eyes of Faith (vv.27-34)

Jesus asked, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” How would you answer that about your own needs?
Where is God asking you to trust Him more fully—beyond what you can see or control?

The Heart of Mission (vv.35-38)

How do you see others—through eyes of judgment, indifference, or compassion?
Are you praying for God to send laborers into His harvest? Are you willing to be one?
What practical step can you take this week to share the love of Jesus with someone in need?