The big picture
Matthew 9 opens in verse 1 with “And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 19 with “And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.”, and closes in verse 38 with “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his…” Repeated or prominent terms include Jesus, disciples, house, arose, bottles. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Matthew · King James Version · 38Matthew 9:1-8
1–8: He entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
Matthew 9:1–8 opens with “And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.” and reaches “But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Matthew 9 develops its own movement around Jesus, disciples, house, arose, bottles, with particular weight carried by palsy, sick, sins.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.” The line’s distinctive content terms include city, entered, passed. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.
Matthew 9:1-8
King James Version1And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
2And, 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.
3And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
4And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
5For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
6But 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.
7And he arose, and departed to his house.
8But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.
Matthew 9:9-16
9–16: As Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting…
Matthew 9:9–16 opens with “And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of…” and reaches “No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Matthew 9 develops its own movement around Jesus, disciples, house, arose, bottles, with particular weight carried by disciples, Jesus, fast.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 3 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith…” Naming Follow and Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
Matthew 9:9-16
King James Version9And 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.
10And 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.
11And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
12But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
13But 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.
14Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
15And 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.
16No 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.
Matthew 9:17-24
17–24: Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break…
Matthew 9:17–24 opens with “Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out…” and reaches “He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Matthew 9 develops its own movement around Jesus, disciples, house, arose, bottles, with particular weight carried by bottles, Jesus, whole.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles…” Naming Neither keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
Matthew 9:17-24
King James Version17Neither 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.
18While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.
19And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.
20And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:
21For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.
22But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
23And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,
24He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.
Matthew 9:25-32
25–32: When the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand…
Matthew 9:25–32 opens with “But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.” and reaches “As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Matthew 9 develops its own movement around Jesus, disciples, house, arose, bottles, with particular weight carried by Jesus, abroad, blind.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.” The line’s distinctive content terms include arose, hand, maid. Its relationship to verses 26 shows what work it does in this passage.
Matthew 9:25-32
King James Version25But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.
26And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.
27And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.
28And 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.
29Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
30And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.
31But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.
32As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.
Matthew 9:33-38
33–38: When the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes…
Matthew 9:33–38 opens with “And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was…” and reaches “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Matthew 9 develops its own movement around Jesus, disciples, house, arose, bottles, with particular weight carried by harvest, devils, labourers.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Matthew 9:33-38
King James Version33And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.
34But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.
35And 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.
36But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
37Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
38Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Matthew 9:1 begins with “And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.”
Where the chapter turns
Matthew 9:22 forms a natural hinge: “But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from…”
The final note
Matthew 9:38 leaves the reader with “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Jesus, disciples, house, arose, bottles, garment help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Who is included in the covenant?
Noah, his descendants and every living creature. Trace the repeated wording in verses 8-17.
Why does verse 6 matter after the flood?
It grounds the protection of every human life in the continuing divine image.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.