http://www.ccel.org/ccel/mcgarvey/gospels.vi.xvi.html
Jesus calls Matthew, a tax collector, to follow him. He does.
The commentary makes a few points here which I hadn’t thought of, such as this: Matthew was probably familiar with Jesus’ ministry and was in any case ready to be called. His willingness to leave his work and join the disciple brotherhood was an indication that he had already put his affairs in order and was ready to make the move when called.
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/mcgarvey/gospels.vi.xv.html
Jesus preaches to the crowd, and a lame man is lowered down in front of him. Jesus looks upon him with compassion and… forgives his sins. What do you think the onlookers thought about that? But wait, there’s more – in order to silence his critics (some of whom were sitting in the room with him), Jesus then tells the man to get up and walk. The implication is that only one powerful enough to make the lame man walk can also forgive sins.
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/mcgarvey/gospels.vi.xiv.html
Jesus is touring around Galilee. He stops to heal a leper. He tells the leper very strongly not to tell anyone, but the leper does anyway. Consequently the crowds are so attracted to Jesus so that he doesn’t enter into the cities and instead he withdraws to the desert.
So, there’s all kinds of questions that we could ask at this point: is Jesus thawrted in his plans? I think it’s okay if he was. Perhaps that’s the result of man’s free will: that the leper freely chose to disobey Jesus’ command to remain silent, and thus the plan of God took a different path. Or maybe not, because we don’t see the big picture.
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/mcgarvey/gospels.vi.xiii.html
But he said unto them, I must preach the good tidings of the kingdom of God to the other cities also: for therefore was I sent.
Jesus is still in Capernaum. There is much work to be done there, and the disciples are anxious for Jesus to get to work healing and performing miracles. But Jesus knows that his primary task is not miracle-working, it is preaching the good news of reconciliation with God. So rather than rest on his fame in Capernaum, he travels throughout Galilee preaching and teaching and healing.
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/mcgarvey/gospels.vi.xii.html
Jesus heals, and his work is well-known and of such good quality that “all the city was gathered together at the door.”
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/mcgarvey/gospels.vi.xi.html
22 And they were astonished at his teaching: for he taught them as having { c his word was with} b authority, and not as the scribes.
Jesus teaches in a way that is different from the scribes and pharisees, who endlessly refer to other sources as their authority – “Rabbi Hillel says this, and Rabbi Schmerna says that.” Jesus teaches like this: “You have heard it said, but I say to you…”
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/mcgarvey/gospels.vi.x.html
8 But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 9 For he was amazed, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken [This miracle came home to the soul of Peter because it was wrought in his own boat, with his own nets, and concerned his own business. Religion is only powerful as it becomes personal.
I think this line is absolutely right: Religion is only powerful as it becomes personal.
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/mcgarvey/gospels.vi.ix.html
Jesus moves to Capernaum and fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah, who said, “The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light.” Jesus is the light that comes upon them. Capernaum was beset by trials during its history.
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/mcgarvey/gospels.vi.viii.html
Jesus heals the nobleman’s son. The nobleman seeks Jesus’ assistance when his son is at the point of death. Isn’t that familiar? We seek God’s help when we have nowhere else to turn.
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/mcgarvey/gospels.vi.vii.html
Jesus is preaching to the Jews, so his message of repentance must be familiar territory to them, at least from their history classes.
