Matthew 9:18-38 – Jesus' Compassion - by Jeff Byerley

Study on Matthew 9:18-38 – Jesus' Compassion

Outline of Passage
9:18-26 Jesus heals a woman and restores a girl to life.
9:27-31 Jesus heals two men of blindness.
9:32-34 Jesus heals a mute.
9:35-38 Jesus' compassion seeking to reap a harvest.


Our Reflections
1. Why does Matthew give rather abbreviated versions of these miracles compared to Mark and Luke?
2. What was Jesus looking for before each miracle (v.18, 21 & 28)?
3. Why did Jesus aim to keep the people quiet about the miracles (v.25, 30)?
4. Why did the Pharisees say that Jesus cast out demons by the power of Satan (v.34)?
5. Why did Jesus regard the people like sheep having no shepherd (v.36)?

Our Conclusions

We see in chapters 8-9 a series of miracles revealing who Jesus is. A summary is then given at 9:35 matching that of 4:23 (making an inclusio of the intervening chapters). It is these miraculous works that Jesus gives as a testimony to the disciples of John the Baptist (Matt.11:2-5). These disciples were then able to return to John, who was in prison, and assure him that Jesus was indeed the awaited Messiah fulfilling the prophecies of Isaiah 29:18-19 and 35:5-6a.
1. Why does Matthew give rather abbreviated versions of these miracles compared to Mark and Luke?
Each gospel writer has been inspired by the Holy Spirit to draw out different aspects, not always so evident in the other gospels. These may be the very observations we are reflecting on here.
2. What was Jesus looking for before each miracle (v.18, 21 & 28)?
Jesus was looking for their declaration of faith in him, the very means of their healing; eg v.22 “your faith has made you well.”
3. Why did Jesus aim to keep the people quiet about the miracles (v.25, 30)?
He did not wish to be seen solely as a wonder worker and cause a crisis too early. As Jesus gradually revealed, he came primarily to save people from their sins. This was to occur on the cross at the appointed time.
4. Why did the Pharisees say Jesus cast out demons by Satan's power (v.34)?
Jesus did not fall into line with the corrupt religious establishment. Yet he was doing all these miracles and growing in popularity among the people. This was a slap in the face to them and an intolerable situation which threatened their standing. The only way they could explain away these miracles, without acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah, was to say he was doing it by the power of Satan.
5. Why did Jesus regard the people like sheep having no shepherd (v.36)?
After Moses had died, God laid down that the leaders who followed, like Joshua, were to be like shepherds to care for the people and properly guide them, (Num. 27:17). But this was not happening in Jesus' day. The religious establishment were quite happy to fill their pockets and accommodate the Romans, whilst letting their people suffer under oppression. Yet it was these circumstances that made the people ripe for the harvest