Matthew 9:35

It Is Time

Pastor Valentine | 8.13.23

It Is Time.. The Harvest is Plentiful

(A Summary from Google Bard AI)

Matthew 9 is the ninth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament. It continues the narrative about Jesus’ ministry in Galilee as he ministers to the public, working miracles, and going through all the cities and towns of the area, preaching the gospel, and healing every disease.

The chapter begins with Jesus back in “his own town”, i.e. Capernaum. He is approached by a group of men who bring a paralyzed man to him to be healed. Jesus forgives the man’s sins, which upsets some scribes sitting nearby. Jesus asks them a question; which is easier to say to someone, “Your sins are forgiven,” or “Get up and walk?” Nevertheless, Jesus assures them that the Son of man has power or authority on earth to forgive sins. The scribes may have had a problem, but the multitudes didn’t; they glorified God for giving such power to men.

Jesus then calls Matthew, a tax collector, to follow him. This is a controversial move, as tax collectors were often seen as corrupt and collaborators with the Roman occupation. However, Jesus sees Matthew’s heart and calls him. Matthew obeys Jesus’ call to come follow Him.

Later, Jesus eats with tax collectors and unclean sinners. This again upsets the Pharisees, who believe that Jesus should not associate with such people. Jesus responds by saying that he has come to call sinners, not the righteous. He also says that those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

Jesus then heals a woman who has been bleeding for twelve years. He also raises Jairus’ daughter from the dead. These miracles demonstrate Jesus’ power over sin, sickness, and death.

The chapter concludes with Jesus declaring that the harvest is plentiful and telling His followers to pray for workers. This is a call to all believers to share the good news of Jesus Christ with the world.

The moral lesson of Matthew Chapter 9 is that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, who has come to save us from our sins. He has the power to forgive sins, heal the sick, and raise the dead. He also calls us to follow Him and share the good news of His salvation with others.