Matthew (Written)

Wednesday, 7 May 2025

Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” Matthew 9:38

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“You beg, therefore, the Lord of the reaping that He might eject toilers into His reaping.” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus noted the plentiful reaping but the few toilers to attend to it. Therefore, He continues with, “You beg, therefore.”

Jesus begins this last verse of Chapter 9 with a new word, deomai. The word is derived from deo, to bind or fasten. It is used in the middle voice, and thus it signifies to beg, as if in binding oneself. It then gives the sense of a petition, such as in 2 Corinthians 5:20 –

“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading [deomai] through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”

Understanding this, Jesus continues with, “the Lord of the reaping.”

Jesus places Himself as the one who directs the reaping of the harvest, meaning the souls of those who are to be gathered into the kingdom. Others disagree and state that this is referring to praying to the Father for this to be accomplished. At this time, this would seem reasonable if it were an actual prayer of petition because He is referring to people right there in front of them and not some future harvest during the church age.

However, in using the term “beg,” it is more likely that it is referring to Jesus, who will appoint and then send out his apostles as Chapter 10 begins. Therefore, it is Jesus who is stating He is the Lord of the reaping. He continues with what they are to beg Him for next, saying, “that He might eject toilers into His reaping.”

The word ekballo, to cast out or eject, is used. It has already been seen several times, but it seems to be a rather forceful word to use in such a situation. Considering, however, the reticence of people to take responsibility and then to act in accord with it, the word seems appropriate.

Jesus will call His disciples, appoint twelve of them, and tell them to get about the business He sets forth for them to accomplish. He is stripping them of their old lives and casting them into a new state of authority. Therefore, the words are anticipatory of that coming action.

Life application: Though a different harvest, Jesus is presented again as the Lord of the harvest in Revelation 14 –

“Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. ¹⁵ And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, ‘Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.’ ¹⁶ So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.” Revelation 14:14-16

Various harvests are referred to in Scripture concerning humanity. The one in Revelation is not one you want to be a part of. It signifies the judgment on humanity, as in the stomping of grapes with the blood flowing out. The one being referred to by Jesus in Matthew 9 is one of bringing in the harvest of the people of Israel.

Another harvest is mentioned in John 4:34-38, which includes the Gentiles. This is certain because it is referring to the Samaritans at that time. Jesus was preparing His disciples at that time to see that there was more than the house of Israel, even though His earthly ministry was directed to the people of Israel, as He explicitly states in Matthew 10:6 and 15:24.

The way to correctly determine what is being referred to in Scripture is to determine the context of what is being said. Without doing that, thoughts that are presented at various times can become jumbled up and misinterpreted. The greater harvest of the Gentiles is alluded to by Jesus in John 12:20-26, where it specifically mentions Greeks, Thus, it is emblematic of the Gentiles.

However, it does it in the context of Jesus’ death. The words, then, mean that until His ministry was complete, it did not include the Greeks. In His death, signified by the grain of wheat falling into the ground, a great harvest would come forth. It is at that time that the greater harvest that extends beyond Israel would be fully realized.

This is then seen in Acts where the message of the risen Christ goes from Jerusalem to Judea, then Samaria, and then to the ends of the earth. Each thing must be accomplished in its proper sequence. Therefore, be sure that you consider this as you read commentaries on Matthew 9:38.

If someone equates Jesus’ words to that of the harvest of Gentiles and the church, you know to reject that commentary as a mixing of dispensations. Keep things in order, and your understanding of what God in Christ is doing will be proper.

O God, thank You for the great and beautiful way that Your word unfolds, showing us step by step how You have redeemed man. Each step brings us to a fuller understanding of how You have done it and how it applies to the people of the world. What a great and awesome God You are! Hallelujah and Amen.

Matthew 9 (CG)

1 And having entered the boat, He through-crossed, and He came into His own city. ² And, you behold, they presented Him a paralytic having been cast upon a bed. And Jesus, having seen their faith, He said to the paralytic, “You embolden child! Your sins, they are forgiven you.”

³ And, you behold! Some of the scribes, they said to themselves, “This, He blasphemes.” ⁴ And Jesus, having seen their thoughts, He said, “So why do you think evil in your hearts?” ⁵ For which it is easier: To say, “Your sins, they are forgiven,” or “You arise, and you walk?” ⁶ And so, you might have known that the Son of Man, He has authority upon the earth to forgive sins… Then He says to the paralytic, “Having arisen, you lift your mat, and you go to your house.” ⁷ And, having arisen, he departed to his house. ⁸ And the crowds having seen, they marveled, and they glorified God, the ‘having given such authority’ to men.

⁹ And Jesus, passing thence, He saw a man sitting upon the tax-booth, being called Matthew. And He says to him, “You follow Me.” And, having arisen, he followed Him.

¹⁰ And it was, He – reclining in the house. And, you behold! Many taxmen and sinners, having come, they reclined with Jesus and His disciples. ¹¹ And the Pharisees, having seen, they said to His disciples, ‘Through what, your Teacher, He eats with the taxmen and sinners? ¹² And Jesus, having heard, He said to them, “Not they have need, the ‘being strong,’ of a physician. But the ‘having evil.’” ¹³ And having gone, you learn what it is: “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” For I came not to call righteous but sinners to reconsideration. ¹⁴ Then, they come to Him, the disciples of John, saying, ‘Through what, we and the Pharisees, we fast much. And your disciples, they fast not? ¹⁵ And Jesus, He said to them, “Not, they can, the sons of the bridechamber, mourn – upon as much the bridegroom, He is with them. They will come, however, days when the bridegroom, He shall be removed from them. And then, they will fast.” ¹⁶ And none, he puts on a putting on of a tearing unfulled upon an old cloak. For its filling, it lifts from the cloak, and it becomes a worse split. ¹⁷ Nor they cast new wine into old skins. And if otherwise, they burst the skins, and the wine – it is outpoured, and the skins – they are destroyed. But they cast new wine into new skins, and both – they are preserved.

¹⁸ He, speaking these to them, you behold! A ruler, having come, he kneeled to Him, saying that, “My daughter now, she died. But having come, You upon-set Your hand upon her, and she will live.” ¹⁹ And Jesus, having arisen, He followed him – and His disciples.

²⁰ And, you behold! A woman, blood-flowing twelve years, having approached behind, she touched the tassel of His cloak. ²¹ For she said in herself, “If only I shall touch His cloak, I will be saved.” ²² And Jesus, having turned and having seen her, He said, “You take courage, daughter. Your faith, it has saved you.” And, the woman, she was saved from the very hour.

²³ And Jesus, having come into the house of the ruler, and having seen the pipers and the crowd tumultuating, ²⁴ He said to them, ‘You withdraw! For not she died, the damsel, but she sleeps. And they derided Him. ²⁵ And when He ejected the crowd, having entered, He seized her hand, and the damsel, she arose. ²⁶ And this saying, it went out into all that land.

²⁷ And Jesus, passing thence, they followed Him – two blind – croaking and saying, “You compassionate us, Son of David.” ²⁸ And having come into the house, they came to Him – the blind – and Jesus, He says to them, “You believe that I can do this?” They say to Him, “Yes, Lord.” ²⁹ Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith, it be to you.” ³⁰ And their eyes, they opened. And Jesus, He in-snorted at them, saying, “You see none knows.” ³¹ And they, having departed, they divulged Him in all that land.

³² And they, departing – you behold – they presented Him a man, mute – demon-possessings. ³³ And the demon, having been ejected, the mute – he spoke. And the crowds, they marveled, saying that never it appeared thus in Israel. ³⁴ And the Pharisees, they said, “In the ruler of the demons He ejects demons.”

³⁵ And Jesus, He traverses all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every malady in the people. ³⁶ And having seen the crowds, He gut-wrenched about them, for they were having been enervated and having been strewn, as sheep not having a shepherd. ³⁷ Then He says to His disciples, “Indeed, the reaping – plentiful, and the toilers – few. ³⁸ You beg, therefore, the Lord of the reaping that He might eject toilers into His reaping.”

Tuesday, 6 May 2025

Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Matthew 9:37

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“Then He says to His disciples, ‘Indeed, the reaping – plentiful, and the toilers – few’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus saw the multitudes and was moved with compassion for them. It also noted that they were enervated and strewn as sheep with no shepherd. Having looked on such masses of people, Matthew next records, “Then He says to His disciples.”

Without going any further, one can sense that something about those lost sheep will be expressed by Him. The narrative is carefully leading the reader to understand the heart of God as it is displayed in the Person of Jesus. And what is it that moves Him concerning the situation? Matthen next records, “Indeed, the reaping – plentiful.”

In other words, Jesus is now changing the metaphor from sheep to stalks of grain. He is looking out at the masses as if they are a field of grain ready for harvesting. In such an instance, there is only so much time to accomplish the labor.

It is the time of the harvest, which is a new word, therismos. It signifies a reaping. The grain is on standing stalks. These must be cut and bundled into sheaves to be taken to the threshing floor, where they are threshed and winnowed to obtain piles of only grain.

In this case, there are so many people in need, signified by saying that the reaping, meaning that which is harvest-ready, is plentiful. Like the metaphor of sheep, this one is seen in the Old Testament as well. The book of Ruth, when understanding the typology presented, gives a beautiful picture of the use of stalks, grain, threshing, winnowing, etc. In the case of threshing, Micah uses the symbolism of the nations ready to be threshed –

“Now also many nations have gathered against you,
Who say, ‘Let her be defiled,
And let our eye look upon Zion.’
¹² But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord,
Nor do they understand His counsel;
For He will gather them like sheaves to the threshing floor.
¹³ ‘Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion;
For I will make your horn iron,
And I will make your hooves bronze;
You shall beat in pieces many peoples;
I will consecrate their gain to the Lord,
And their substance to the Lord of the whole earth.’” Micah 4:11-13

As for Jesus’ words concerning the masses around Him, He next says, “And the toilers – few.” There is another new word here, ergatés, a toiler. It signifies a worker, laborer, toiler, etc. One can see the base word, erg, used today in words like ergonomics. There is a sense of doing labor.

Jesus’ concern is that with such a great multitude that are ready for being brought into the kingdom, there must also be laborers sufficient for the harvest. He alone was being burdened by the masses and knew it was time to delegate responsibility to others to meet this great need.

Life application: The Bible is replete with metaphors that bring man to the most basic interactions with the creation. Metaphors of inanimate objects abound, such as water, rocks, mountains, trees of various types, etc., are used to give us clues about our interactions with Him, even in typology, anticipating Christ.

There are metaphors, as seen in today’s passage, that deal with agricultural themes. This is about as basic as it gets for human existence. People need to eat, and so we plant, cultivate, and harvest food to meet that need. God uses such actions to teach us other, spiritual, truths.

Interacting with various animals, such as sheep, horses, lions, bears, etc., is all placed in Scripture, which asks us to think about the characteristics of those animals. God created them, and so the way He did so can be used to show us things about ourselves, our societies, etc. They can reveal aspects of the nature of God, enemies, our emotions, and so forth.

When you come to a passage that speaks of a valley or a river, think about why that is included in the Bible. God is not going to waste words as He continues the narrative. Rather, He is immersing us in information about things we should contemplate and grasp that will tell us the things He wants us to know.

Let us never tire of thinking about the details in God’s word. It is an endless source of wisdom and wonder.

Lord God, thank You for Your wonderful word. It is so filled with amazing details of seemingly basic things that will lead us to marvelous understandings of things otherwise unimaginable to contemplate. Men everywhere can pick it up and find value in the words because we all interact with these basic aspects of Your creation. What a treat! Amen.

Monday, 5 May 2025

But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Matthew 9:36

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And having seen the crowds, He gut-wrenched about them, for they were having been enervated and having been strewn, as sheep not having a shepherd” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus was said to have gone about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues about the gospel of the kingdom. He was also said to cure those with every sickness and disease. Now, Matthew records, “And having seen the crowds, He gut-wrenched about them.”

Here is a new word, splagchnizomai, translated as gut-wrenched. It is derived from splagchnon, meaning the bowels or inward parts. Thus, it signifies to have the bowels yearn. A single, hyphenated word to get a literal sense of what is conveyed would be gut-wrenched. Figuratively, it signifies having compassion.

Jesus looked at the masses, and His internal parts surely moved with pity, sadness, and a deep yearning to take away their lost state. Understanding this, the reason for it is next stated, saying, “for they were having been enervated and having been strewn.”

Two more new words, both perfect participles, are seen here. The first is ekluó. HELPS Word Studies says, it is from “ek, ‘out from and to’ and lýō, ‘loose, let go’) – properly, let completely out as to (entirely) succumb, i.e. with the outcome of losing inner strength; hence, to become weary (exhausted), to the point of fainting.” Thus, a great word to match the thought is enervate.

The next new word is rhiptó. The root of this word signifies to fling. Thus, it gives the sense of being scattered about. A suitable word to catch the intent is strewn. The reason for this tired and disheveled state of the people is because they were “as sheep not having a shepherd.”

Sheep without a shepherd would be in just this state. They would be worn out from a lack of care. They would also be enervated and strewn about as they were harassed by lions, wolves, or other predators. This is what the people of Israel were like. The Old Testament repeatedly explains why this was so. Jeremiah 50 gives the sense –

“My people have been lost sheep.
Their shepherds have led them astray;
They have turned them away on the mountains.
They have gone from mountain to hill;
They have forgotten their resting place.
⁷ All who found them have devoured them;
And their adversaries said, ‘We have not offended,
Because they have sinned against the Lord, the habitation of justice,
The Lord, the hope of their fathers.’” Jeremiah 50:6, 7

The shepherds of Israel, the leaders of the people, failed to responsibly tend to the people. They led them astray, they abused them for their own gain, and they wore them out in the process. This sentiment is reflected throughout the writings of the prophets.

Life application: In the New Testament, Jesus states He is the good Shepherd, thus fulfilling the typology seen in the Old Testament, such as –

“Behold, the Lord God shall come with a strong hand,
And His arm shall rule for Him;
Behold, His reward is with Him,
And His work before Him.
¹¹ He will feed His flock like a shepherd;
He will gather the lambs with His arm,
And carry them in His bosom,
And gently lead those who are with young.” Isaiah 40:10, 11

By claiming to be the good Shepherd, Jesus was claiming to be the Lord incarnate. He was stating to the people that it is He who would tend to His flock and bring them safely through the times of trouble. This is not limited to the people of Israel, but all of God’s people. Jesus is the one to unite the flocks into one –

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. ¹² But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. ¹³ The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. ¹⁴ I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. ¹⁵ As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. ¹⁶ And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.” John 10:11-16

Thank God for Jesus, who is there to lead and tend to His people.

Glorious God, thank You for the hope we possess of resting forever in Your presence because of Jesus. We long for the day when we, Your sheep, are gathered together forever under our Great Shepherd, Jesus. Amen.

Sunday, 4 May 2025

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. Matthew 9:35

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And Jesus, He traverses all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every malady in the people” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus was accused by the Pharisees that He was ejecting demons by the ruler of demons. Now, a new paragraph with a new direction commences, which is very similar to Matthew 4:23. For most of the verse, it is word-for-word identical –

4:23 – And Jesus, He traverses all the Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every malady in the people.

9:35 – And Jesus, He traverses all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every malady in the people.

As can be seen, the major difference is found in the opening words, which state, “And Jesus, He traverses all the cities and the villages.” Instead of saying “the Galilee,” it says, “all the cities and the villages.”

As for the word translated as “villages,” it is a new word, kómé. Strong’s says it is derived from keimai, to lie, be laid, be set, or be appointed. In other words, it indicates a hamlet as if laid down in the countryside.

This is the same general area that was identified as the Galilee in Matthew 4. It seems likely that Jesus is revisiting the places He had already gone to. There were only so many cities and villages in the area. Wherever He went, though, the people continued to receive Him, as is noted in the next words. He was “teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom.”

What is interesting is that after Matthew 4, Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount. In Chapter 10, Jesus will commission the apostles to go forth to speak to the people.

Therefore, in each instance after speaking throughout the Galilee, a great time of instruction that was intended to mark out His ministry results, first directly from Him and then through His appointed apostles. For the time being, while traversing the region to teach, it also says, “and curing every disease and every malady in the people.”

Just as in His earlier time going throughout the area, He continued to heal the people. The ministry must have been very tiring for Him and the apostles, but there was only so much time set for the Lord to complete His ministry. And so, He went about His business according to that sobering thought.

Life application: A cliché occasionally passed among some missionaries and which is then spoken in churches as they seek funding essentially says, “Nobody should be given the gospel twice until everybody has heard it once.”

At first, that sounds like a reasonable proposition. “Yeah, we need to get the word out to the whole world.” However, the thought is entirely wrong. It is a ploy by missionaries to increase their funding, but it ignores the fundamental truth that innumerable people had to hear the gospel many times before coming to saving faith.

In fact, many of the people who are being asked to give were probably included in that thought. This is the purpose of local churches. The gospel should be given to the congregation each week in hopes that some family member may finally get it and yield himself to the Lord.

Each time you go to the restaurant or bank, do you say to yourself, “Well, I already told this person about Jesus seven years ago. I don’t need to tell her again.” Of course not! Be careful not to get caught up in nice-sounding clichés that have no basis in reality, but which are actually unbiblical.

Jesus traversed all the Galilee “teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every malady in the people.” He did this again sometime later, surely anticipating that some who heard and rejected His word before would yield to it on a second visit.

Is it reasonable to think that a Christian physician would go into a village once a year to cure every disease and every malady in the people, but then not give them the gospel when he did because he had already done it three years earlier

Which is more important, the gospel for spiritual healing or going forth to cure physical maladies? Be sure to think when you are given a nice-sounding proposition. Does it match what Scripture says? If not, ignore what you have heard.

Glorious God, may we do what is right and proper in regard to sharing the good news about Jesus. May we never withhold the word that tells of Him and what He has done for the world, even if we have to repeat it over and over again. Help us to be faithful in our witnessing. To Your glory we pray. Amen.

Saturday, 3 May 2025

But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons.” Matthew 9:34

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And the Pharisees, they said, ‘In the ruler of the demons He ejects demons’” (CG).

In the previous verse, it said that the multitudes marveled over what Jesus had done, noting that nothing like it had ever been seen in Israel. Now, in an obvious jealous response to this, it records, “And the Pharisees, they said, ‘In the ruler of the demons He ejects demons.’”

The people, having seen Jesus’ miracles, were overwhelmed with awe at the demonstrations of power and healing they had seen. But in complete contrast to that, the Pharisees, who were considered the spiritual elite, certainly felt that their authority was being challenged by the things Jesus was doing, of which they had no such ability.

Therefore, to diminish Jesus and His works in their eyes, they ascribe His power not to God but to Satan. In Matthew 12, the charge will be made again. Although getting ahead of the narrative as Matthew presents it, at that time, they will use the term Beelzebub to describe this ruler.

It is a reference to Satan, but the name itself is derived from the Hebrew words baal, lord or master, and z’vuv, a fly. As such, it would indicate Lord of the Flies. It is a title that speaks of corruption and malignancy as much as anything else. It speaks of Satan’s power over the demons (as in demonic flies).

Further, they use the word en, in, to describe the matter, “in the ruler of the demons.” The sense is that it isn’t just that Jesus is using the authority of the ruler of the demons, but that He is in a state of union with him. Because He is supposedly so aligned with Satan, He has the power and authority to eject the demons that work on behalf of Satan.

Life application: The New Testament uses the word en, in, when referring to a positional status, such as, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive” 1 Corinthians 15:22. These are the two great distinctions for man. One is either in Adam and fallen or he has moved to Christ and has been redeemed by God.

As such, the positional status is what is being referred to. The change is not something that occurs and can be undone. Rather, it is a permanent move. This is why Jesus says this to the people in John 6 –

“And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:40

One can see the ridiculous nature of the argument for the loss of salvation. People who teach this view know it is. Therefore, as the evidence mounts against them with verses presented in their proper context, the arguments become more and more outlandish to continue to justify the unjustifiable. Eventually, the argument is, “Well, what if someone changes his mind and wants to go to hell?”

The answer is not that Jesus suddenly takes away their salvation and they are condemned to hell. The answer is that Jesus will raise them up at the last day, and He will deal with their lives at that time. The positional status of a person no longer changes when one comes to Christ. There is nothing in Scripture to even hint at that. Therefore, teaching the doctrine of “loss of salvation” is unbiblical.

Be sure not to get duped by such failing arguments. God’s integrity is on the line. He has saved the person who believes. He has sealed that person with His Holy Spirit, the guarantee that the person possesses until the day of redemption. From there, that person will be raised. After that, Jesus will handle the rest. This is what the Bible teaches. Be sure to convey it properly to those who want to argue an alternative, nonsensical position.

Lord God, we know Your word is true. Because of this, we know that those who believe in You will be raised. At that time, You will sort out all of the baggage of our lives, revealing our strengths and forgiving our shortcomings. We stand in awe of You who would save such poor and wayward sinners as us. Thank You, O God, for Jesus who makes this possible. Amen.