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| 1 And stepping into the boat, he passed over, and came to the own city. |
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| 2 And lo, they brought to him, a paralytic, upon a bed lying. And seeing the Jesus the faith of them, he said to the paralytic: Take courage, son; are forgiven thee the sins of thee.
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Brought to him a man – The chief business of every Christian, besides that of his own development, is to help others to the Redeemer. R3315:4
Seeing their faith – The faith of the sick man and those who brought him. R1921:2
Said – Acting as the special agent, the representative of the Father. R3729:2
Be of good cheer – Possibly the palsied man and his friends felt disappointed, not appreciating his work as Sin-Bearer. R4587:1
Thy sins be forgiven – The Lord placed the most important matter first. R3729:1
The Lord was teaching a lesson of the relationship between sin and sickness, and his power to deliver from both. R4587:1
The ransom-price for the sins of the whole world was already on the altar. R1921:3
Similar declarations of forgiveness of sins may be made by members of the body of Christ to all who come unto God by Christ. R3315:2
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| 3 And lo, some of the scribes said among themselves: This blasphemes. |
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| 4 And knowing the Jesus the thoughts of them, says: Why you think evils in the hearts of you?
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| 5 Which for is easier? to say: Are forgiven of thee the sins? or to say: Arise and walk?
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Thy sins be forgiven – Transgression of the divine law could not be forgiven except by the satisfaction of that law. R4587:2[R4587:2]
The forgiveness of sins with the Jews would imply proportionate release from sin's infirmities. R4587:4[R4587:4]
Arise and walk – If sickness is a judgment or discipline for sin, we should expect that when sin has been confessed and repented of, the Lord would remove the chastisement and raise up the penitent from his affliction, either partially or wholly. R2008:4[R2008:4]
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| 6 That but you may know that authority has the son of the man on the earth to forgive sins;
(then he says to the paralytic:) Arising take up of thee the bed, and go into the house of thee.
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That ye may know – That he could heal diseases he urged as proof that he had power to forgive sins. R144:5*[R144:12]*
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| 7 And arising he went to the house of him. |
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| 8 Seeing and the crowds wondered, and glorified the God, that having given authority so great to the men. |
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| 9 And passing on the Jesus from thence, he saw a man sitting at the custom-house, Matthew being named; and he says to him: Follow me.
And rising up he followed him. |
Named Matthew – Elsewhere styled "Levi." R4587:4
Meaning "the gift of God"; the name given to Levi by our Lord. R2260:3
He had undoubtedly been acquainted with the Lord and his work and the Lord acquainted with him prior to his call. R2260:1
Receipt of custom – A collector of taxes for the Roman government. R4587:4, 2260:2
An occupation despised by the average Jew as being unpatriotic. R2591:1
Despised because it was considered disreputable to assist a foreign government and because many of the publicans took advantage of their position to make themselves wealthy through bribes and over-collections. R4587:4, 2260:2
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| 10 And it happened, of him reclining at table in the house, and lo, many publicans and sinners coming reclined with the Jesus and the disciples of him. |
Sat at meat – Matthew at once made a supper for his friends, that these might have the opportunity for acquaintance with the Lord, who was also a guest. R4587:5[R4587:5]
In the house – In the home of those who have consecrated themselves to the Lord, the first consideration should be the service of the Master. R2591:3
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| 11 And seeing the Pharisees said to the disciples of him: Why with the publicans and sinners eats the teacher of you? |
Why eateth – Thereby implying social equality. R2591:5
He was not descending to sin in any form, but seeking to lift up sinners. R4587:5[R4587:5]
It was the loving kindness of Jesus that disturbed their pharisaical nature and called forth their opposition. R539:1*
With publicans – Tax collectors. R2591:1
Despised for two reasons: (1) it was considered disreputable to assist a foreign government from one's friends; and (2) many publicans made themselves wealthy by bribes and over-collections. R4587:4[R4587:4]
And sinners – Those not professing holiness. R2591:3[R2591:3]
The Master did not hold himself aloof from people, but was warm, glowing, sympathetic, helpful, intensive, whole-souled. R4967:3[R4967:3]
He was fellowshipping with sinners that he might do them good. R4587:5[R4587:5]
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| 12 The Jesus hearing, says to them: No need have those being well of a physician, but those sick being.
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They that be whole – He had come as a physician to the sin-sick, and they did not realize themselves as sin-sick, and hence had little interest in the physician. Our Lord's words were uttered in sarcasm. NS410:4
A physician – A physician has a right to mingle with those whom he seeks to relieve. R2591:6
Physicians and medicine were not condemned by the Lord. He and his disciples spent considerable money for bread, which is the medicine needed when hungry. R2009:4
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| 13 You are going but learn, what is; Mercy I wish, and not a sacrifice. Not for I am come to call just persons, but sinners.
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I will have mercy – They should have had the yearning compassion which would have delighted to have lifted them out of sin and brought them nearer to the Lord and to righteous influences. R2592:1
Quoted from Hosea 6:6. R4587:5, 2591:6
And not sacrifice – God's work in Christ was not to sacrifice the world, but to save it. R539:1*
The righteous – Those who think of themselves as righteous. R2260:5
The sinners – Those who realized themselves to be imperfect. R2260:5
To repentance – But we are to recognize a great difference between calling men to repentance and calling them to the high calling. F87[F86:2]
He was not descending to sin in any form, but seeking to lift up sinners. R4587:5
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| 14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying: Why we and the Pharisees fast much, the but disciples of thee not fast? |
Why do we – Fasts were intended for one of two purposes: a manifestation of repentance, or with a view to bringing the heart into closer communion with the Lord. NS153:1
From earliest times fasting has been recognized as a valuable adjunct to piety. NS453:1
Fast oft – Does not signify total abstinence from food, but a measure of abstinence and self-restraint as respects the condiments and delicacies. NS454:6
The more intelligent people of the world practice a kind of fasting or self-denial every day they live. They have an aim in life and eat and drink in harmony therewith. NS453:4
We recognize that the Lenten custom, while not instituted by the Lord, has probably been a beneficial one physically, sometimes spiritually. NS453:5
Fasting, like baptism, may be either a mere form, injurious rather than beneficial, or it may be observed with spiritual profit. NS153:4
But thy disciples – Expressing surprise that fasting was not enjoined by our Master's teachings as a law. NS453:1
The highest form of fasting, self-denial, is represented in our Lord; but, since he was perfect, it is perhaps better illustrated by the Apostle Paul. NS454:2
Fast not – Showing that our Lord did not impose literal fasting upon his disciples. R2260:5, 4987:2; NS154:4
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| 15 And says to them the Jesus: Not are able the sons of the bridal chamber to mourn, in as much with them is the bridegroom? Shall come but days, when may be taken from them the bridegroom, and then they shall fast.
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Can the children – Why should they fast? Their sins had been forgiven, they had been accepted of the Lord and taught to call the Almighty "our Father in heaven." NS154:5
Bridegroom – Jesus, personally, is the Bridegroom, and not Jesus and the overcomers. R398:4
Jesus is pictured as a Bridegroom, and his followers as a bride company. R5178:2
Shall be taken – Implying that, with his return, the fasting will cease and a great feast of joy ushered in. NS155:1
And then – When the Bridegroom would be away, there would be abundance of perplexity and sorrow, and then fasting would be in order, throughout the Gospel age. R2592:2, 4987:4
Shall they fast – Waiting for his return. NS155:1
All through the Gospel age it has been appropriate that the Lord's followers fast with the true fasting of self-denial, hungering and thirsting after righteousness. NS155:1
We may safely conclude that all "abstaining from fleshly lusts" or desires is real fasting, the kind most approved in the Lord's sight. NS153:5
"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself [fast in the true sense]." (Matt. 16:24) NS154:1
In the Dark Ages the food supply was made more and more unnutritious, forcing a fast, which ultimately amounted almost to a "famine for the hearing of the words of the Lord." (Amos 8:11) NS155:2
We have good New Testament precedent for the observance of literal fasts. R2022:5; NS153:3
Discipline the body by abstaining from delicacies and relishes. R3659:5
Very plain diet or total abstinence from food is occasionally desirable to many of the Lord's people who are full-blooded and impulsive. R2260:5
Fasting is proper when done from a right motive, but worse than useless when done as a formality, to be seen of men, that they might think us holy. R2260:5
Typically means self-denial. R2592:2
None will be admitted to Kingdom glories except those who practice fasting, self-denial. Without self-denial no one will ever attain to eternal life, neither in the present age nor in the age to come. NS455:4-6
Let us continue the fasting of self-denial, but let us seek more and more to appreciate and to digest the spiritual food he now is supplying through his faithful ones. NS156:1
A concomitant of mourning and sorrow. R2260:5
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| 16 No one now puts a patch of cloth unfulled on to a mantle old; takes away for the patch of it from the mantle, and worse a rent becomes.
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Piece of new cloth – The fuller light of truth due at the first and second advents of our Lord; the Gospel message. C160; R4987:5
Unto an old garment – Old sects and organizations. C160
It is of no use to patch the sects with the doctrines of the new dispensation. R1084:4*
Perhaps the first intimation our Lord had given of the fact that Israel as a nation would not be found worthy of the Kingdom and would be rejected. R2260:6
The Gospel teaching is not a patch upon the Jewish law, but a new proposition. R4987:5
From the garment – Would tear it to shreds. C160; R4987:5
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| 17 Nor do they put wine new into bottles old; if but not, burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles are destroyed; but they put wine new into bottles new, and both are preserved together.
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Neither do – These two parables were given to emphasize that before the blessing could come to natural Israel, Spiritual Israel must be selected. R4987:5
Men put new wine – New doctrines, truths; the Gospel message. C160; R4987:5
New principles of justice and equality among men, now stretching the old system of things, which ultimately will burst and destroy the present social order. R1143:3
Into old bottles – Literally, old wineskins, out of which all the elasticity has gone; symbolically, old systems. C160; R4987:5
The bottles break – Rent asunder by the new truths which are out of harmony with the sectarian pride, errors, superstitions and traditions of these systems. C160
And the wine – The new doctrines. C160
The Gospel message, committed to a special class. R4987:5
Runneth out – Are left stranded, hampered by all the old errors of the sect and held responsible for its past record by the world. C160
Into new bottles – New wineskins, "new creatures in Christ," who will be able to stand the stress of the fermentation of trials, disciplines and testings. R4987:5
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| 18 These of him speaking, of them, lo, a ruler certain coming prostrated to him, saying: That the daughter of me now is dead; but coming lay the hand of thee upon her, and she shall live. |
While he spake – While Jesus was at the house of Matthew, probably at the conclusion of the banquet, Jairus arrived. R2617:1
A certain ruler – Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue in Capernaum, our Lord's home city. R4588:3
He knew Jesus well. He sometimes called upon him to read the Sabbath lesson (Luke 4:16). Once he entreated the Lord on behalf of the centurion's servant (Luke 7:4). R4588:3
Properly given audience first because of his prominence as a representative man. R4588:5
The four miracles of verses 18 to 34 illustrate faith from four different standpoints: (1) the faith of Jairus on behalf of his daughter; (2) the faith of the woman on her own account; (3) the faith of the two blind men encouraging each other; and (4) the faith of the friends of the deaf and dumb man possessed with a demon. R4588:3
Worshipped him – Manifested his faith by his conduct, expressing his homage, obedience and faith. R4588:5
My daughter – His only daughter, twelve years old. R4588:3
Is even now dead – Was at the point of death when I left home, and is no doubt dead by now. R2617:2
If, according to some theories, having died she paid her own penalty, she should be free from death after Jesus restored life to her. But she died again. R392:1
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| 19 And arising the Jesus went after him, and the disciples of him. |
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| 20 And lo, a woman having a flow of blood twelve years, approaching behind, touched the tuft of the mantle of him. |
Touched the hem – The strength immediately came into her body, just as the touching of a storage battery with a wire would draw the electric current. R4588:6
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| 21 She said for within herself: If only I can touch the mantle of him, I shall be healed. |
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| 22 The but Jesus turning and seeing her, said: Take courage, daughter; the faith of thee has saved thee.
And she was well the woman from the hour of that. |
Jesus turned – Imagine the feelings of Jairus in consequence of this delay; while it added to his faith in the power of Jesus, it at the same time tested his faith in respect to the recovery of his child. R2617:2
Thy faith – Faith does not spurn reason, but uses it with certain prescribed and rational lines. R4588:2
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| 23 And coming the Jesus into the house of a ruler, and seeing the flute-players, and the crowd making noise, |
The minstrels – The hired mourners, some playing doleful tunes on flutes. R2617:4, 4588:5
The people – Neighbors had gathered, in harmony with Jewish custom. R4588:5
Making a noise – Shrieking and murmuring. R4588:5
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| 24 says to them: Withdraw; not for is dead the girl, but sleeps.
And they derided him. |
But sleepeth – A synonym for death, but only in view of the hoped-for-awakening, the resurrection. R2959:2
It is not extinct, has a hope of a resurrection. R2959:2; PD61/72
Death is a condition of rest, of quiet, of peaceful unconsciousness. E329; R5059:6, 4794:2, 4588:5
She was dead, according to the usual human expression, but asleep from the divine standpoint. R4588:5
Because of Christ's redemptive work, death no longer should be regarded as a perished condition, but as a "sleep." R1126:2; HG293:5
If they sleep, it can not also be true that they enjoy immediate communion with God and the visions of his glory. R3028:1
The Second Death is never referred to as a sleep. R1939:4
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| 25 When but they put out the crowd, he entering took hold of the hand of her; and was raised the girl. |
And the maid arose – Did not come back from heaven or hell, and was not resurrected, but was merely awakened out of the sleep of death because Christ was "The first-fruits of them that slept" (1 Cor. 15:20), "The first that should rise from the dead" (Acts 26:23). R2618:2,4
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| 26 And went forth the report this into all the land that. |
And the fame – As the fame of Jesus increased, because of his miracles and teaching, the opposition became more pronounced, especially from the Chief Priests, as they were brought into competition and unfavorable comparison with him. R1735:3
Went abroad – Threatening the immediate advancement of Jesus to the kingly office. R1754:3
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| 27 And passing on from there the Jesus, went after him two blind men, crying out and saying: Have pity on us, O son of David. |
Two blind men – Encouraged one another and both got the desired blessings. This illustrates the advantage of Church fellowship in respect to faith-stimulation. R4589:1
Thou son of David – The long-promised king of David's line, the Messiah. SM210:2; C257; E133; PD65/77
"The Lord shall give him the throne of his father David." (Luke 1:32) C257
The Righteous Branch from the Davidic root. E134
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| 28 Being come and into the house, came to him the blind men, and says to them the Jesus: Do you believe, that I am able this I do?
They say to him: Yes O master. |
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| 29 Then he touched the eyes of them, saying: According to the faith of you be it done to you.
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According to your faith – Now God's rule for dealing with the Church. R5129:1
Because now good and perfect works are impossible. CR324:5
Faith should triumph, or the light of joy and blessing will die. R5148:4
God will reward us according to our faith, confidence, honesty and sincerity. R5594:1
Much faith, much rest; little faith, little rest. R5433:4, 3841:6
Faith which has a true foundation is very precious in the Lord's sight. R5095:6
Faith is a matter of steps and development; and only the developed faith could possibly bring to us the blessing of the Abrahamic covenant. R4377:2
Our faith must be corroborated by our works, but these cannot be perfect because of weakness. Only our faith and intention can be perfect now, and according to these the Lord deals with us. NS70:5
Faith brings advancement towards holiness. PT391:1*
Every exercise of faith is based on something real and tangible to faith. R5717:5
Not works, as will be the case during the Millennial age. F113
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| 30 And were opened of them the eyes. And strictly charged them the Jesus, saying: See, no one knows.
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| 31 They but having gone published him in all the land that. |
Spread abroad his fame – Their joy was so great that the Lord's humility in the matter served to draw forth their praises the louder. NS70:5; R4589:1
Those healed of blindness loudly praised the Lord. So with us when the eyes of our understanding are opened: we cannot refrain from telling the good tidings. R4589:1
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| 32 These and going away, lo, they brought to him a man dumb, being demonized. |
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| 33 And having cast out the demon, spoke the dumb. And were astonished the crowds, saying: Never was it seen thus in to the Israel. |
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| 34 The but Pharisees said: By the prince of the demons he cast out the demons. |
Casteth out devils – Greek, daimonion, demons, unclean spirits, familiar spirits, the fallen angels. R5183:3; SM548:3
Through – That would be suicidal. It would be equivalent to a king stirring up strife in his own kingdom and working against his own cause. R1736:2
Prince of the devils – Greek, diabolos, the devil, Satan, Beelzebub. R5183:3, 3310:4
No doubt, as a superior order of being, Satan exercises some degree of control over the others. HG725:3
Until the saints of God have been sealed in their foreheads. (Rev. 7:1-3) R4880:6
To Jesus, a "contradiction of sinners against himself." (Heb. 12:3) An example of "when he was reviled, he reviled not again." (1 Pet. 2:23) R4802:5,6
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| 35 And went about the Jesus the cities all and the villages, teaching in the synagogues of them, and publishing the glad tidings of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every malady. |
In their synagogues – The fact that Jesus could and did preach in the synagogues shows that the Jews possessed greater liberty than now prevails among God's professed people. R2635:2
Every sickness – To illustrate the healing and restoring work which his Kingdom will do in its appointed time. R5075:3
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| 36 Seeing and the crowds, he moved with pity for them, because they were jaded and scattered, like sheep not having a shepherd. |
With compassion – Not only upon his people, but, in due time, upon all the families of the earth. R2635:3
Compassion will be an element of the Lord's character as long as there are any who need help and desire it, until the close of the Millennial age. R2635:5
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| 37 Then he says to the disciples of him: The indeed harvest plenteous, the but laborers few.
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The harvest – Of the Jewish age. B15, B160; R5018:2
The end of the Gospel age, like the end of the Jewish age, is called a harvest. B15, B160
The harvest work consists of various parts. These are more or less important. We might misunderstand the value of these different parts of the work. CR339:3
The Great Teacher tells us distinctly that while his work was that of reaping, he blended it with a sowing. R5018:3, 4891:3
He was then manifested in the double character of Bridegroom and Reaper (see verse 15) R115:1*
Is plenteous – The way to accomplish large results is not to hope that someone else may do and hear and get a blessing in the service, but for each to resolve to do what he can. R3296:4
Private conversation has had the largest influence as far as reaching people is concerned. CR342:5
The details of the Gospel age harvest work in detail. CR341-344
The laborers are few – His disciples, two by two; and later, he sent "seventy also." R5018:3, 4891:3
It was their privilege to be all the more energetic because of the "great field" and the few to reap it. R5075:6
The labors of Jesus and the Apostles found about 500 brethren worthy of garnering during his ministry. R4968:6
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| 38 Implore then the Lord of the harvest, that he would send out laborers into the harvest of him.
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Pray ye – He wished them to feel a measure of responsibility in the work, even though he himself was the Lord of that harvest, even though he was the responsible one. R5075:6
The Master would have every one of us feel a deep interest in the harvest work now in progress in the end of this age. R5075:6
Whoever is praying for the Lord to send a laborer knows the laborer that is nearest him--that is, himself. CR339:1; R5144:3, 3296:1
Let us labor while we pray. R5146:1
If our work is of him, he is able to sustain it, and he will do so until it shall be finished. If it is not of the Lord, the sooner it stops the better we should be pleased. R4892:1
Prayers not accompanied by efforts are not sincere. R4913:1
Send forth laborers – Jesus is the Chief Reaper, but he is not doing the work directly himself, but is supervising it. His disciples are engaged in that work. CR340:2
All have the opportunity of harvest work. CR343:6
And ask the Lord to help you be a reaper. R3296:1, 5, 2635:6, 225:5
Sometimes the Lord's people put too much value on money and not enough on service. No place are we told to pray for money, but we are told the harvest is great and the laborers are few. R3513:6*
If we were all conscientious, it would mean, What are you doing yourself? CR339:2
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