Matthew 9

Matthew 9:1

INto his owne] namely Capernaum where he made his ordinary abode, Mark 2:1.

Matthew 9:2

Thy sins] which are the cause of thy disease; sinne being the cause of all those evills that befall man.

Matthew 9:3

Blasphemeth] attributing unto himselfe the power of pardoning sins which belongeth to God alone.

Matthew 9:5

Whether is] according to your carnall judgment it is a higher, and more difficult thing to heale this diseased man by my word, then to forgive him his sinnes: now I will doe that which you judge to be the most difficult, and is sensible: to shew that I can doe that which you esteeme to bee lesse, and is spirituall, and hidden, both depending upon the same divine and supreame power.

Matthew 9:8

Unto men] such as they thought Christ to be, being not yet instructed concerning his eternall God-head.

Matthew 9:9

Matthew and Levi, also Luke 5:27.

Matthew 9:10

In the house] Namely of Matthew as St. Luke saith.

Matthew 9:13

And learne] you hypocrites do set all your pietie and righteousnesse in ceremonies and an externall discipline, and hold them to be prophane, and unworthy of your conversation which doe not follow you: whereas by this saying of the Prophet you might have learned, that the most acceptable service to God is that mercy which I use towards poore sinners, procuring their salvation and amendment by my familiarity with them, seeing that grace by the Gospell, which I am Mediator for and distributer of, is but onely for all Repentant sinners.

Matthew 9:15

Of the Bride Chamber,] namely the bride-groomes most intimate friends and companions, Iohn 3 26. The meaning is I will not disturbe the joy my Disciples conceave by reason of my presence, after my departure out of the world they will have afflictions and sorrowes and time enough to feele them.

Matthew 9:16

No man] besides this cause, I have also a regrd not to oppresse the weakenesse of those which are mine with too rigorous a discipline in these beginnings New cloth] the Italian rough cloth] as t commeth out of the weavers hand neither dressed nor fulled, and therefore very unfit for any use especially to mend or patch clothes.

Matthew 9:18

Ruler] they were certaine superior Ecclesiasticall persons, which did preside in the Iewes particular Assemblies, and there did right according to Law, ended controversies, and punished exorbitancies.

Matthew 9:23

The minstres] they were certaine hired people which did play mournefull tunes at funeralls according to he custome of the Iewes, 2 Chronicles 35:25. and of other Nations.

Matthew 9:24

Is not dead,] In respect of mee and of my Dvine power this death is but as sleepe, I will revive her with my meere word, as if she were but a sleep. See Acts 20:10.

Matthew 9:28

To doe this,] Namely to restore your eye sight unto you, which was all their desire.

Matthew 9:30

See that] See upon Matth 8. 4.

Matthew 9:32

A dumbe] either naturally dumbe, and besides that possessed with an evill spirit, or dumbe onely by the working of the evill spirit which possessed him.

Matthew 9:34

Through the Prince,] Namely by Magicke art, and by a covenant made with the chiefe of Devills, called elsewhere Beelzebub by whose authoritie and power hee driveth out inferiour De¦vills.

Matthew 9:36

Moved with compassion,] Not so much for their corporall labour in following of him as because hee knew them desirous to heare Gods Word which was not preached to them by their ordinary Teachers and Pastors.

Matthew 9:37

The harvest,] There are many who by the inward operation of the Holy Ghost are as it were already ripe, and disposed to receave the Gospell, and to be gathered into the Church, as it were into the Lords barne.

Matthew 9:38

Send forth,] the Italian thust forth,] a terme which representeth Gods powerfull operation in stirring up and moving men to the painefull worke of the holy ministery. See Jeremiah 20:7. and also the necessitie which is imposed upon them of preaching the Gospell, 1 Corinthians 9:16. and also the promptitude which is required therein.