Section 9:1–8
Jesus forgave and healed a paralyzed man
In this section, Matthew continued to write about the power that Jesus has to heal people. But more importantly, he showed that Jesus also has the authority and power to forgive sins (9:6a). In addition, he again showed that faith is important.
When Jesus first told the paralyzed man that his sins were forgiven (9:2d), it began a conflict with the Jewish leaders. (This is the first time that Matthew showed a conflict between Jesus and the Jewish leaders.) This conflict continues in the next sections.
Here are some other possible headings for this section:
Jesus healed a paralyzed man
-or-
Jesus has the power to forgive sins
-or-
Healing and Forgiving a Paralytic (NET Bible)
There are parallel passages for this section in Mark 2:1–12 and Luke 5:17–26.
Paragraph 9:1–3
9:1a
The Greek of 9:1a begins with a word that is often translated as “and.” The Berean Standard Bible omits this word. The events in this paragraph happened immediately after the events in 8:34. In 8:34, the people of the town of Gadara begged Jesus to leave their region. So Jesus got back into a boat and returned across the lake.
Here are some other ways to begin this paragraph:
So (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Then
Jesus got into a boat: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as got into refers to entering a boat. This same verb occurs in 8:23a. Use an expression that is natural in your language for getting into a boat.
The boat was probably the same boat that Jesus used to get there (to the town of Gadara). It was mentioned in 8:23–24. So some versions translate this clause as “getting back into the boat.” For example:
He got back in the boat (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Jesus re-embarked on the boat (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
Also, the disciples went with Jesus, but the text does not refer to them because the focus is on Jesus here. In some languages, it is more natural to mention the disciples.
Jesus climbed into the boat ⌊taking the disciples⌋
-or-
Jesus ⌊and his disciples⌋ entered the boat.
crossed over: This phrase refers to going from one side of the lake (of Galilee) to the other side. In this context, Jesus went back across the lake to Capernaum. He had started in Capernaum. He then went across the lake to Gadara. Finally, he returned to Capernaum.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
crossed the water (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
went back across the lake (Good News Translation)
-or-
crossed to the other side (NET Bible)
9:1b
and came to His own town: The verb came means “arrived (by boat).” The phrase His own town refers to Capernaum. Capernaum was next to the lake, and Jesus and his disciples came to the town by boat. The verb came does not indicate a separate journey from the boat to town. For example:
and arrived at his own town
It is implied that Jesus and his disciples got out of the boat after arriving at the landing place near Capernaum. In some languages it is necessary to say that they got out of the boat, or it will be understood that they were still in the boat. For example:
and arrived at his own town, ⌊and he and his disciples got out of the boat⌋
-or-
and came to ⌊the shore of⌋ his own town, ⌊and he and his disciples got out of the boat⌋
His own town: The phrase His own town refers to Capernaum. That is where Jesus lived during his years of ministry. In this context, the phrase does not mean that he was born there or that his family lived there. He was born in Bethlehem, and he was raised in Nazareth.
If people will think that the phrase His own town refers to Bethlehem or Nazareth, you may want to:
• Explain it in the text. For example:
the town where he lived (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
his own town ⌊of Capernaum⌋
• Explain it in a footnote. For example:
“His own town” refers to Capernaum. That is where Jesus was living at the time.
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