Matthew 9:8
When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
When the crowds saw this
This phrase sets the scene for the reaction of the people who witnessed the miraculous healing performed by Jesus. The Greek word for "crowds" is "ὄχλοι" (ochloi), indicating a large gathering of people. Historically, these crowds were often composed of a diverse mix of individuals, including Jews from various regions, who were drawn to Jesus' teachings and miracles. The presence of such a crowd underscores the public nature of Jesus' ministry and the widespread interest in His works.

they were awestruck
The Greek word used here is "ἐθαύμασαν" (ethaumasan), which conveys a sense of wonder and amazement. This reaction is not merely one of surprise but of deep reverence and awe at witnessing the divine power of Jesus. In the context of first-century Judea, such miracles were seen as direct interventions by God, challenging the natural order and affirming Jesus' divine authority.

and glorified God
The phrase "glorified God" reflects the immediate response of the people to attribute the miraculous event to the power and presence of God. The Greek word "ἐδόξασαν" (edoxasan) means to honor or praise. This act of glorification is significant in the Jewish tradition, where giving glory to God is a central aspect of worship and acknowledgment of His sovereignty. It highlights the recognition of God's hand in the miracle and the proper response of worship and praise.

who had given such authority to men
This phrase emphasizes the divine authority bestowed upon Jesus, who, though fully human, operated with the power of God. The Greek word for "authority" is "ἐξουσίαν" (exousian), indicating a legitimate power or right to act. In the historical and scriptural context, this authority was unprecedented, as it was not derived from human institutions or religious leaders but directly from God. This acknowledgment by the crowd points to the unique role of Jesus as the Messiah, who bridges the divine and human realms, fulfilling the prophecies and expectations of the Old Testament.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus Christ
The central figure in this passage, Jesus has just healed a paralytic, demonstrating His divine authority and power.

2. The Crowds
The people who witnessed the miracle performed by Jesus. Their reaction is one of awe and glorification of God.

3. The Paralytic
The man who was healed by Jesus, illustrating the power of faith and the authority of Jesus to forgive sins and heal.

4. Capernaum
The town where this event took place, often serving as a base for Jesus' ministry in Galilee.

5. The Miracle
The healing of the paralytic, which serves as a testament to Jesus' divine authority and the power of God working through Him.
Teaching Points
Authority of Jesus
Jesus' authority is both divine and human, as He is fully God and fully man. This authority is evident in His ability to forgive sins and perform miracles.

Response of Awe and Worship
The appropriate response to witnessing God's power is awe and worship. We should glorify God for His works and authority in our lives.

Faith and Healing
The healing of the paralytic demonstrates the power of faith. We are encouraged to have faith in Jesus' authority over all aspects of our lives, including physical and spiritual healing.

God's Authority Given to Men
The passage highlights that God has given authority to men, particularly through Jesus. This authority is extended to believers who act in Jesus' name.

Witnessing to God's Power
As believers, we are called to be witnesses to God's power and authority, sharing the good news of Jesus' works and His ability to transform lives.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the reaction of the crowds in Matthew 9:8 challenge or inspire your own response to witnessing God's work in your life?

2. In what ways can you exercise the authority given to you as a believer in Jesus Christ, as seen in this passage and other scriptures?

3. How does the healing of the paralytic in Matthew 9:8 encourage you to trust in Jesus for both physical and spiritual needs?

4. What are some practical ways you can glorify God in your daily life, as the crowds did in response to Jesus' miracle?

5. How can the authority of Jesus, as demonstrated in this passage, influence your understanding of His role in your life and the world today?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Mark 2:1-12 and Luke 5:17-26
These parallel accounts of the healing of the paralytic provide additional details and perspectives on the event, emphasizing Jesus' authority to forgive sins.

Matthew 28:18
Jesus declares that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him, reinforcing the authority demonstrated in Matthew 9:8.

Acts 3:12-16
Peter heals a lame man in the name of Jesus, showing that the authority given to Jesus is also extended to His followers.
Christ Sees the Beginning and the Ending of the Patient'sW. Arnot.Matthew 9:1-8
Forgiveness, the Primary Reed of the SinnerGurnall.Matthew 9:1-8
Getting the Palsied Man to JesusWebster and Wilkinson.Matthew 9:1-8
Good Cheer for Sad HeartsW. Armlet.Matthew 9:1-8
Helplessness and its MasterBp. Huntingdon.Matthew 9:1-8
Sin and its ForgivenessC. B. Drake, M. A.Matthew 9:1-8
Soul-SearchingJ.A. Macdonald Matthew 9:1-8
The Cure of the ParalyticD. Rees.Matthew 9:1-8
The Efficacy of GraceA. F. C. Wallroth.Matthew 9:1-8
The Forgiven ParalyticP. Morrison.Matthew 9:1-8
The Highest Cause for JoyAmerican Homiletical ReviewMatthew 9:1-8
The Lord of Both LivesP.C. Barker Matthew 9:1-8
The Mystery of SicknessS. Robjohns, M. A.Matthew 9:1-8
The Paralytic HealedThe Clergyman's MagazineMatthew 9:1-8
The Paralytic, or Sickness ImprovedW. Jay.Matthew 9:1-8
The Story of a ParalyticH. S. Swithinbank, M. A.Matthew 9:1-8
At CapernaumMarcus Dods Matthew 9:1-17
Christ and the Forgiveness of SinsW.F. Adeney Matthew 9:2-8
People
David, Jesus, John, Matthew
Places
Capernaum
Topics
Afraid, Ascribed, Authority, Awe, Awestruck, Awe-struck, Crowds, Entrusted, Fear, Filled, Full, Glorified, Glory, Marveled, Marvelled, Multitude, Multitudes, Power, Praised, Seeing, Wondered
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Matthew 9:8

     5279   crowds
     5784   amazement
     8334   reverence, and God's nature
     8665   praise, reasons

Matthew 9:1-8

     2012   Christ, authority
     6654   forgiveness, Christ's ministry

Matthew 9:2-8

     5162   lameness
     5285   cures
     7464   teachers of the law

Matthew 9:4-8

     5030   knowledge, of Christ

Matthew 9:6-8

     5962   surprises

Matthew 9:7-8

     8624   worship, reasons

Library
June 26. "When He Saw the Multitudes He was Moved" (Matt. Ix. 36).
"When He saw the multitudes He was moved" (Matt. ix. 36). He is able to be "touched with the feeling of our infirmities." The word "touched" expresses a great deal. It means that our troubles are His troubles, and that in all our afflictions He is afflicted. It is not a sympathy of sentiment, but a sympathy of suffering. There is much help in this for the tired heart. It is the foundation of His Priesthood, and God meant that it should be to us a source of unceasing consolation. Let us realize, more
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

Christ's Encouragements
'Son, be of good cheer.'--MATT. ix. 2. This word of encouragement, which exhorts to both cheerfulness and courage, is often upon Christ's lips. It is only once employed in the Gospels by any other than He. If we throw together the various instances in which He thus speaks, we may get a somewhat striking view of the hindrances to such a temper of bold, buoyant cheerfulness which the world presents, and of the means for securing it which Christ provides. But before I consider these individually, let
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

A Christlike Judgment of Men
'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.' --MATT. ix. 36. In the course of our Lord's wandering life of teaching and healing, there had naturally gathered around Him a large number of persons who followed Him from place to place, and we have here cast into a symbol the impression produced upon Him by their outward condition. That is to say, He sees them lying there weary, and footsore, and
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Soul-Healing First: Body-Healing Second
'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.'--MATT. ix. 6. The great example of our Lord's teaching in the Sermon on the Mount is followed, in this and the preceding chapter, by a similar collection of His works of healing. These are divided into three groups, each consisting of three members. This miracle is the last of the second triad, of which the other two members are the
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Touch of Faith and the Touch of Christ
'While 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. 19. And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did His disciples. 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: 21. For she said within herself, If I may but touch His garment, I shall be whole. 22. But Jesus turned Him about,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Call of Matthew
'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. 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. 11. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto His disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? 12. But when Jesus heard that, He said unto them, They that be whole need not
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Compassion of Jesus
THIS is said of Christ Jesus several times in the New Testament. The original word is a very remarkable one. It is not found in classic Greek. It is not found in the Septuagint. The fact is, it was a word coined by the evangelists themselves. They did not find one in the whole Greek language that suited their purpose, and therefore they had to make one. It is expressive of the deepest emotion; a striving of the bowels--a yearning of the innermost nature with pity. As the dictionaries tell us-- Ex
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 60: 1914

Eleventh Day for More Labourers
WHAT TO PRAY.--For more Labourers "Pray ye the Lord of the harvest, that He send forth labourers into His harvest."--MATT. ix. 38. What a remarkable call of the Lord Jesus for help from His disciples in getting the need supplied. What an honour put upon prayer. What a proof that God wants prayer and will hear it. Pray for labourers, for all students in theological seminaries, training homes, Bible institutes, that they may not go, unless He fits them and sends them forth; that our churches may
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession

Dread of Ridicule.
24th Sunday after Trinity. S. Matt. ix. 24. "And they laughed Him to scorn." INTRODUCTION.--"All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Tim. iii. 12.) This is what S. Paul says. This is what everyone of you must make up your mind to, if you intend to live godly lives, and, moreover, to live in Christ. Do you know what that meant to the early Christians? It meant that if they were going to be firm in their faith, live up to their profession, and eschew evil, they should
S. Baring-Gould—The Village Pulpit, Volume II. Trinity to Advent

Evil Thoughts.
19th Sunday after Trinity. S. Matt. ix. 4. "Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?" INTRODUCTION.--Thoughts are only thoughts! who is to beheld accountable for them? They are clouds blown about by fancy, taking various shapes. God is not so hard as to judge us for our thoughts; He will try us by what we have done, not by what we have dreamed. No garden is without weeds; there are tares in every cornfield. Who speak thus? Is it those who are conscientious and scrupulous to drive away evil thoughts?
S. Baring-Gould—The Village Pulpit, Volume II. Trinity to Advent

Civilized Barbarism (Preached for the Bishop of London's Fund, at St. John's Church, Notting Hill, June 1866. )
ST. MATTHEW ix. 12. They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. I have been honoured by an invitation to preach on behalf of the Bishop of London's Fund for providing for the spiritual wants of this metropolis. By the bishop, and a large number of landowners, employers of labour, and others who were aware of the increasing heathendom of the richest and happiest city of the world, it was agreed that, if possible, a million sterling should be raised during the next ten years,
Charles Kingsley—The Water of Life and Other Sermons

The Physician's Calling (Preached at Whitehall for St. George's Hospital. )
ST. MATTHEW ix. 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. The Gospels speak of disease and death in a very simple and human tone. They regard them in theory, as all are forced to regard them in fact, as sore and sad evils. The Gospels never speak of disease or death as necessities; never as the will of God. It is Satan, not God, who binds the woman with
Charles Kingsley—The Water of Life and Other Sermons

Of the Words Themselves in General.
We come now to the words themselves, wherein Christ asserts that he is, 1, "the way;" 2, "the truth;" 3, "the life;" and, 4, "that no man cometh to the Father but by him." In them we learn these two things in general. First, The misery of wretched man by nature. This cannot be in a few words expressed. These words will point out those particulars thereof, which we will but mention. 1. That he is born an enemy to, and living at a distance from God, by virtue of the curse of the broken covenant of
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

Christ
IF NOT GOD--NOT GOOD BY I. M. HALDEMAN, D.D. "Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is God" (Matthew 9:17). THE world has accepted Jesus Christ as a good man. The evidences of his goodness are manifold. He was full of compassion. He never looked upon the people as a crowd. He never thought of them as a mass. He saw them always as individuals. His heart went out to them. All his impulses were to pity them, sympathize with, and help them. He went among them. He entered into
I. M. Haldeman—Christ, Christianity and the Bible

Concerted Prayer
"A tourist, in climbing an Alpine summit, finds himself tied by a strong rope to his trusty guide, and to three of his fellow-tourists. As they skirt a perilous precipice he cannot pray, Lord, hold up my goings in a safe path, that my footsteps slip not, but as to my guide and companions, they must look out for themselves.' The only proper prayer in such a case is, Lord, hold up our goings in a safe path; for if one slips all of us may perish.'"--H. Clay Trumbull The pious Quesnel says that "God
Edward M. Bounds—The Essentials of Prayer

Combination Illustrated.
To illustrate our method of combination, let us take Section 36, which is a fitting together of the following passages, namely: 9 And as Jesus passed by from thence, he saw a man, called Matthew, sitting at the place of toll: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.--Matt. ix. 9. 13 And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them. 14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphæus sitting at the place of toll,
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Call of Matthew.
(at or Near Capernaum.) ^A Matt. IX. 9; ^B Mark II. 13, 14; ^C Luke V. 27, 28. ^c 27 And after these thingsa [after the healing of the paralytic] he went forth, ^a again by the seaside [i. e., he left Capernaum, and sought the shore of the sea, which formed a convenient auditorium for him, and which was hence a favorite scene for his teaching]; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them. 14 And as he ^a Jesus passed by from thence, he saw ^c and beheld ^a a man, ^c a publican, named
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Matthew's Feast. Discourse on Fasting.
(Capernaum.) ^A Matt. IX. 10-17; ^B Mark II. 15-22; ^C Luke V. 29-39. ^c 29 And Levi [another name for the apostle Matthew] made him a great feast in his house: ^b 15 And it came to pass, that he was sitting { ^a as he sat} at meat in the { ^b his} ^a house, ^c and there was a great multitude of publicans [Matthew had invited his old friends] and of others ^b and ^a behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. ^b for there were many, ^c that were sitting at meat
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jairus' Daughter and the Invalid Woman.
(Capernaum, Same Day as Last.) ^A Matt. IX. 18-26; ^B Mark V. 22-43; ^C Luke VIII. 41-56. ^c 41 And ^a 18 While he spake these things unto them [while he talked about fasting at Matthew's table], behold, there came, { ^b cometh} ^c a man named Jairus, { ^b Jairus by name;} ^c and he was a ruler { ^b one of the rulers} of the synagogue [He was one of the board of elders which governed the synagogue at Capernaum. These elders were not necessarily old men--Matt. xix. 16-22; Luke xviii. 18-23], and seeing
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus Heals a Paralytic at Capernaum.
^A Matt. IX. 2-8; ^B Mark II. 1-12; ^C Luke V. 17-26. ^c 17 And it came to pass on one of those days, ^b when he entered again into Capernaum after some days, ^c that he was teaching; ^b it was noised that he was in the house. [Luke uses the general expression "those days," referring to the early portion of our Lord's ministry in Galilee. Mark says, "some days," which implies the lapse of a considerable interval. The healing of the leper created such excitement that for some time, several weeks,
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Lix. Healing Blind Men and a Dumb Demoniac.
(Probably Capernaum.) ^A Matt. IX. 27-34. ^a 27 And as Jesus passed by from thence [If construed strictly, this phrase means, as he departed from Jairus' house. But the phrase is indefinite], two blind men followed him, crying out, and saying, Have mercy on us, thou son of David. [This, among the Jews, was a common and thoroughly recognized name for the expected Messiah.] 28 And when he was come into the house [possibly Peter's. But the place is not important. The house is mentioned to show that
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Third Circuit of Galilee. The Twelve Instructed and Sent Forth.
^A Matt. IX. 35-38; X. 1, 5-42; XI. 1; ^B Mark VI. 6-13; ^C Luke IX. 1-6. ^b 6 And he ^a Jesus ^b went about ^a all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner sickness and all manner of sickness. [In the first circuit of Galilee some of the twelve accompanied Jesus as disciples (see [3]Section XXXIII.); in the second the twelve were with him as apostles; in the third they, too, are sent forth as evangelists to supplement
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Return to Capernaum - Concerning the Forgiveness of Sins - the Healing of the Paralysed
It is a remarkable instance of the reserve of the Gospel-narratives, that of the second journey of Jesus in Galilee no other special event is recorded than the healing of the leper. And it seems also to indicate, that this one miracle had been so selected for a special purpose. But if, as we have suggested, after the Unknown Feast,' the activity of Jesus assumed a new and what, for want of a better name, may be called an anti-Judaic character, we can perceive the reason of it. The healing of leprosy
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Healing of the Woman - Christ's Personal Appearance - the Raising of Jairus' Daughter
THERE seems remarkable correspondence between the two miracles which Jesus had wrought on leaving Capernaum and those which He did on His return. In one sense they are complementary to each other. The stilling of the storm and the healing of the demonised were manifestations of the absolute power inherent in Christ; the recovery of the woman and the raising of Jairus' daughter, evidence of the absolute efficacy of faith. The unlikeliness of dominion over the storm, and of command over a legion of
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Links
Matthew 9:8 NIV
Matthew 9:8 NLT
Matthew 9:8 ESV
Matthew 9:8 NASB
Matthew 9:8 KJV

Matthew 9:8 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Matthew 9:7
Top of Page
Top of Page