Matthew 9: Jesus Forgives, Heals and Calls Matthew

Jesus forgives and heals a paralyzed man, calls Matthew the tax collector to follow Him and eats with sinners. He raises a ruler's daughter, heals a woman who touches His clothes, and gives sight to two blind men. Seeing the crowds like sheep without a shepherd, He has compassion and asks His disciples to pray for workers for the harvest.

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Read Matthew 9

World English Bible · 38 verses

¹ He entered into a boat and crossed over, and came into his own city.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² Behold, they brought to him a man who was paralyzed, lying on a bed. Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, cheer up! Your sins are forgiven you.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ Behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man blasphemes.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk’?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins—” (then he said to the paralytic), “Get up, and take up your mat, and go to your house.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ He arose and departed to his house.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ As Jesus passed by from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax collection office. He said to him, “Follow me.” He got up and followed him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ As he sat in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ When the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² When Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ But you go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ Then John’s disciples came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don’t fast?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch would tear away from the garment, and a worse hole is made.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ Neither do people put new wine into old wineskins, or else the skins would burst, and the wine be spilled, and the skins ruined. No, they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ While he told these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ Jesus got up and followed him, as did his disciples.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ Behold, a woman who had a discharge of blood for twelve years came behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²¹ for she said within herself, “If I just touch his garment, I will be made well.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²² But Jesus, turning around and seeing her, said, “Daughter, cheer up! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²³ When Jesus came into the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd in noisy disorder,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁴ he said to them, “Make room, because the girl isn’t dead, but sleeping.” They were ridiculing him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁵ But when the crowd was sent out, he entered in, took her by the hand, and the girl arose.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁶ The report of this went out into all that land.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁷ As Jesus passed by from there, two blind men followed him, calling out and saying, “Have mercy on us, son of David!”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁸ When he had come into the house, the blind men came to him. Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They told him, “Yes, Lord.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁹ Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁰ Then their eyes were opened. Jesus strictly commanded them, saying, “See that no one knows about this.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³¹ But they went out and spread abroad his fame in all that land.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³² As they went out, behold, a mute man who was demon possessed was brought to him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³³ When the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke. The multitudes marveled, saying, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁴ But the Pharisees said, “By the prince of the demons, he casts out demons.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁵ Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁶ But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them because they were harassed and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the laborers are few.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁸ Pray therefore that the Lord of the harvest will send out laborers into his harvest.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

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Open Preschool on its own page

Matthew 9 · Preschool

Jesus Has Compassion

Name Date

Color the picture. Point to Jesus, the man on his mat, the crowd and the sheep.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them because they were harassed and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd.”

Matthew 9:36 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: Jesus cares about people. Ask: Who can you be kind to this week?

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Matthew 9 · Grade 4

Friend of Sinners

Name Date

Read and Think

Jesus came back to His own town, and people brought Him a paralyzed man lying on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said, "Son, cheer up! Your sins are forgiven you." Some scribes thought this was blasphemy, because only God can forgive sins. To show that He has authority on earth to forgive sins, Jesus told the man to get up, and he did.

Then Jesus saw Matthew sitting at the tax booth. Tax collectors were seen as traitors and cheats. Jesus said, "Follow me," and Matthew got up and followed. At dinner, many sinners ate with Jesus. When the Pharisees objected, Jesus quoted Hosea: God desires mercy, and not sacrifice. He came to call sinners to repentance.

Jesus kept showing mercy. He raised a ruler's daughter, healed a woman who touched the edge of His garment, and opened the eyes of two blind men who cried, "Have mercy on us, son of David!" Moved with compassion for the crowds, He told His disciples, "The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the laborers are few."

Show What You Know

Why did the scribes think Jesus was speaking blasphemy?
Why was it surprising that Jesus called Matthew?
What did Jesus quote from Hosea, and what does it mean?
What did Jesus ask His disciples to pray for?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

forgiveJesusGodMatthew

came back to His own town, and people brought Him a paralyzed man lying on a mat.
To show that He has authority on earth to sins, Jesus told the man to get up, and he did.
Then Jesus saw sitting at the tax booth.
When the Pharisees objected, Jesus quoted Hosea: desires mercy, and not sacrifice.

Think About It

Matthew wrote this book! How do you think he felt remembering the day Jesus called him?
Who are people others avoid? How could you show them Jesus' mercy?

Memory Verse

But you go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Matthew 9:13 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for this Bible story. Help me to . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Jesus said the workers are few. How can you pray and help in God's work?
Why do you think Jesus said He came for sinners, not for people who thought they were good?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Matthew 9 · Grade 5

Mercy, Not Sacrifice

Name Date

Read and Think

Matthew 9 continues the King's miracles and also shows growing conflict. When Jesus forgives the paralyzed man, the scribes accuse Him of blasphemy. Jesus asks which is easier, to say "Your sins are forgiven" or "Get up, and walk." The healing, which anyone could see, proved the forgiveness, which no one could see. Jesus has authority that belongs only to God.

Next, Matthew tells his own story. A tax collector working for Rome was despised, yet Jesus called him and ate with sinners in his house. The Pharisees kept themselves separate from such people, but Jesus said, "Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do." He compared Himself to a bridegroom and His message to new wine that needs new wineskins.

The chapter is full of compassion. A ruler kneels for his dead daughter; a woman who had suffered for twelve years reaches for Jesus' garment; blind men cry for mercy. Jesus heals them all. Yet some Pharisees claimed He worked by the prince of demons. Jesus kept going through towns, teaching, preaching and healing, and seeing people "like sheep without a shepherd."

Show What You Know

How did the healing prove Jesus could forgive sins?
Why did the Pharisees object to Jesus eating with sinners?
What did Jesus mean by the physician comparison?
Name three people or groups Jesus healed or raised in this chapter.
How did some Pharisees explain Jesus' miracles?

Crossword

Across

A tax collector who followed Jesus.
How many years the woman had been sick.

Down

Sick people need one, Jesus said (the Bible says physician).
Jesus told the man his sins were ____.
The crowds were like sheep without a ____.
The man's friends carried him on this.

Think About It

Jesus said He came for the sick, not the healthy. Why must we admit we need Him to receive His help?
Jesus saw crowds with compassion. How could you look at people around you with His eyes?

Memory Verse

“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them because they were harassed and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd.”

Matthew 9:36 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for this Bible story. Help me to . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Jesus said the workers are few. How can you pray and help in God's work?
How can you show kindness to people others look down on?
What is one specific way you could live out this chapter this week?

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Matthew 9: Jesus Forgives, Heals and Calls Matthew

Read Matthew 9

Worksheets

Jesus Has Compassion

Prayer

Take It Home

Jesus Cares

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

Follow Me, Matthew

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Put the Story in Order

Prayer

Take It Home

Get Up and Walk

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

The Great Physician

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

Put the Story in Order

Prayer

Take It Home

Friend of Sinners

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

Mercy, Not Sacrifice

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

More print options