And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
He crossed the sea by boat and came back to Capernaum, the city where He lived and stayed between His journeys. He left the country of the Gergesenes because after the loss of the swine they asked Him to depart, and He took them at their word because He never forces His presence on any who wish Him gone. Capernaum lay on the shore of Galilee on great travel routes, so from there He could meet people of every rank and land and His teaching and mission could go out to the world. His coming there brought Him to the paralytic who sought healing but far more desired pardon, whose palsy and despair came from a sinful life and whose burden of guilt was greater than his bodily pain. Looking on his heart He first gave him peace by forgiving his sins, then with divine power restored his useless limbs to health, proving the Son of man has power on earth both to forgive and to heal and bringing joy and hope to him, his family, and all burdened by sin.
Voyage to His Own City
He entered into a ship and passed over from the country of the Gergesenes because they besought Him to depart out of their coasts after the destruction of the herd of swine. Their covetousness over the loss made them wish to get rid of Him rather than welcome Him and bring their sick to be healed. In leaving when asked He took the people at their word, for He never forces His presence on anyone. His departure sets a contrast between the Gergesenes who desired Him to depart and the people of Capernaum who received Him and among whom He wrought wonderful miracles.
His own city is Capernaum, to which He crossed over by boat and returned. He dwelt and stayed there between His journeys. Capernaum lay on the shore of the Sea of Galilee near or on the plain of Gennesaret and on major travel routes. From there He could meet people from many lands and of every social rank, His teaching could be carried to other countries and households, interest in the prophecies about the Messiah could grow, and His mission could be brought before the world.
There He stayed as a guest at Peter's house. He taught in a house with His disciples sitting near Him to learn truths they would proclaim, while a dense crowd of the sick and others gathered inside and around it to hear Him.
Paralytic Forgiven and Healed
Matthew 9:1 introduces His arrival in His own city, Capernaum, before the healing of the paralytic who was brought to Him there seeking both healing and forgiveness. Reports of His works of mercy in Capernaum renewed the man's hope that he could be relieved and forgiven, and his friends hoped to bring him because He had welcomed and healed even those others might shun. He stayed at Peter's house and drew crowds eager to hear Him.
His palsy had followed a life of dissipation, transgression and sin, which he regarded as the penalty for his sin. Remorse deepened his suffering and left him helpless and despairing. He feared his sinful life and affliction would keep Jesus from receiving him, and feared his sin would make Jesus reject him. Yet news of Jesus' mercy and power revived his hope for relief and pardon by His power and mercy. What he desired most was forgiveness and peace with God, even more than physical healing, including relief from the burden of his sins.
The crowd blocked the man and his friends from reaching Him where He was teaching in a house, with a dense crowd gathered inside and around it. So they carried him to the roof and planned to lower him into His presence. Jesus knew the man's burden of sin and suffering of soul were greater than his bodily pain. He first gave him peace by assuring him his sins were forgiven, which lifted his burden and restored hope, peace and joy.
He then healed him to show that the Son of man has power on earth both to forgive sins and to heal the sick. He restored the man's useless limbs with sudden strength and health, showing compassionate power to heal the afflicted and guilty. The man accepted the words in simple faith and received them as new life, and his quiet joy and restored body showed he had been forgiven and healed. The miracle stands as an act of mercy and decisive proof of divine power that He is the promised Saviour.
The healed man returned home carrying the couch on which he had been carried, restored to health, strength and joy and praising God. His family gave thanks to God and trusted Jesus, and his complete restoration brought joy to his family. The result glorified God through Jesus, and brought hope to the hopeless, helpless and burdened by sin. The people were amazed, and the miracle confirmed His divine power.
The Pharisees held that sickness proved God's displeasure and condemned sufferers, though they too were guilty. They recognized His superior authority but refused to confess it. The stronger the evidence became the more the hardened scribes and Pharisees responded with hatred and unbelief until they were left in spiritual darkness with no further appeal reaching their hearts.
The episode shows He joined preaching the truth with healing the sick. Relief of bodily suffering can make the mind and heart more open to spiritual help. His disciples sat near Him in the house to learn truths they would proclaim by word and writing throughout the world and in all ages. His example shows gospel messengers should work where they can meet passing multitudes and share the truths of Scripture.
He crossed the sea by boat and came back to Capernaum, the city where He lived and stayed between His journeys. He left the country of the Gergesenes because after the loss of the swine they asked Him to depart, and He took them at their word because He never forces His presence on any who wish Him gone. Capernaum lay on the shore of Galilee on great travel routes, so from there He could meet people of every rank and land and His teaching and mission could go out to the world. His coming there brought Him to the paralytic who sought healing but far more desired pardon, whose palsy and despair came from a sinful life and whose burden of guilt was greater than his bodily pain. Looking on his heart He first gave him peace by forgiving his sins, then with divine power restored his useless limbs to health, proving the Son of man has power on earth both to forgive and to heal and bringing joy and hope to him, his family, and all burdened by sin.
Voyage to His Own City
He entered into a ship and passed over from the country of the Gergesenes because they besought Him to depart out of their coasts after the destruction of the herd of swine. Their covetousness over the loss made them wish to get rid of Him rather than welcome Him and bring their sick to be healed. In leaving when asked He took the people at their word, for He never forces His presence on anyone. His departure sets a contrast between the Gergesenes who desired Him to depart and the people of Capernaum who received Him and among whom He wrought wonderful miracles.
His own city is Capernaum, to which He crossed over by boat and returned. He dwelt and stayed there between His journeys. Capernaum lay on the shore of the Sea of Galilee near or on the plain of Gennesaret and on major travel routes. From there He could meet people from many lands and of every social rank, His teaching could be carried to other countries and households, interest in the prophecies about the Messiah could grow, and His mission could be brought before the world.
There He stayed as a guest at Peter's house. He taught in a house with His disciples sitting near Him to learn truths they would proclaim, while a dense crowd of the sick and others gathered inside and around it to hear Him.
Paralytic Forgiven and Healed
Matthew 9:1 introduces His arrival in His own city, Capernaum, before the healing of the paralytic who was brought to Him there seeking both healing and forgiveness. Reports of His works of mercy in Capernaum renewed the man's hope that he could be relieved and forgiven, and his friends hoped to bring him because He had welcomed and healed even those others might shun. He stayed at Peter's house and drew crowds eager to hear Him.
His palsy had followed a life of dissipation, transgression and sin, which he regarded as the penalty for his sin. Remorse deepened his suffering and left him helpless and despairing. He feared his sinful life and affliction would keep Jesus from receiving him, and feared his sin would make Jesus reject him. Yet news of Jesus' mercy and power revived his hope for relief and pardon by His power and mercy. What he desired most was forgiveness and peace with God, even more than physical healing, including relief from the burden of his sins.
The crowd blocked the man and his friends from reaching Him where He was teaching in a house, with a dense crowd gathered inside and around it. So they carried him to the roof and planned to lower him into His presence. Jesus knew the man's burden of sin and suffering of soul were greater than his bodily pain. He first gave him peace by assuring him his sins were forgiven, which lifted his burden and restored hope, peace and joy.
He then healed him to show that the Son of man has power on earth both to forgive sins and to heal the sick. He restored the man's useless limbs with sudden strength and health, showing compassionate power to heal the afflicted and guilty. The man accepted the words in simple faith and received them as new life, and his quiet joy and restored body showed he had been forgiven and healed. The miracle stands as an act of mercy and decisive proof of divine power that He is the promised Saviour.
The healed man returned home carrying the couch on which he had been carried, restored to health, strength and joy and praising God. His family gave thanks to God and trusted Jesus, and his complete restoration brought joy to his family. The result glorified God through Jesus, and brought hope to the hopeless, helpless and burdened by sin. The people were amazed, and the miracle confirmed His divine power.
The Pharisees held that sickness proved God's displeasure and condemned sufferers, though they too were guilty. They recognized His superior authority but refused to confess it. The stronger the evidence became the more the hardened scribes and Pharisees responded with hatred and unbelief until they were left in spiritual darkness with no further appeal reaching their hearts.
The episode shows He joined preaching the truth with healing the sick. Relief of bodily suffering can make the mind and heart more open to spiritual help. His disciples sat near Him in the house to learn truths they would proclaim by word and writing throughout the world and in all ages. His example shows gospel messengers should work where they can meet passing multitudes and share the truths of Scripture.