Matthew 9 - God With Us
[This Reflection Journal is not intended to cover all the material in each chapter. Rather, it is what stands out to me in that particular reading of the passage. Sharing it with you helps me keep to the task of journaling, something I used to do very consistently and hope to encourage in myself once more as a spiritual discipline. My desire is to know God's voice with greater clarity, and thus know Him with more intimacy. These reflections are incomplete without reading the biblical chapters themselves. If you do not have a Bible with you, you may read the chapters at either Bible Gateway or Blue Letter Bible. I use both depending on what tools I am looking for. Reflection entries may be isolated from other entries by clicking the label "Reflection" at the end of any post.]
Some of these stories appear here in abbreviated versions. Mark 2 & 5 and Luke 5 & 8 contain fuller versions of some of this same material. Perhaps they were written earlier. if the stories were already known, Matthew can simply refer to them and move on.
Jesus healed "that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins." His first concern was the [problem caused by the] sin [rather than the problems caused by the paralyzation]. Perhaps the paralytic was more concerned about his sin than his healing himself. Otherwise, we can hardly expect him to "be of good cheer" while remaining paralyzed.
The ruler in v.18 "came and worshiped" Jesus. In Mark and Luke, we learn that this man was the ruler of a synagogue, a Jewish leader. For Matthew (a very Jewish gospel) to describe his falling at Jesus' feet as worship is outstanding. He was risking his very life in faith that Jesus was the Messiah [and thus God and the only one due worship] and able to raise the dead.
Some of these stories appear here in abbreviated versions. Mark 2 & 5 and Luke 5 & 8 contain fuller versions of some of this same material. Perhaps they were written earlier. if the stories were already known, Matthew can simply refer to them and move on.
Jesus healed "that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins." His first concern was the [problem caused by the] sin [rather than the problems caused by the paralyzation]. Perhaps the paralytic was more concerned about his sin than his healing himself. Otherwise, we can hardly expect him to "be of good cheer" while remaining paralyzed.
The ruler in v.18 "came and worshiped" Jesus. In Mark and Luke, we learn that this man was the ruler of a synagogue, a Jewish leader. For Matthew (a very Jewish gospel) to describe his falling at Jesus' feet as worship is outstanding. He was risking his very life in faith that Jesus was the Messiah [and thus God and the only one due worship] and able to raise the dead.
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