What is the meaning of Matthew 9:8? When the crowds saw this Jesus had just healed the paralyzed man and publicly declared, “the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (Matthew 9:6). The miracle was visible, undeniable evidence that His claim was true. Much like in Mark 2:12 and Luke 5:26, eyewitnesses could not dismiss what their own eyes confirmed. The event compelled an immediate reaction because it proved that God was actively working in their midst—right then, right there. they were filled with awe • The word describes reverent amazement, a holy trembling when people encounter God’s power (Luke 7:16; Mark 1:27). • Awe keeps the heart from casual indifference; it reminds us that God’s works are anything but ordinary (Acts 3:10). • This response is the natural outcome whenever the Lord displays His might, as seen again after the calming of the storm (Matthew 8:27) and the resurrection of Jairus’s daughter (Mark 5:42). and glorified God • Praise immediately followed awe, aligning with the pattern throughout Scripture: witness a divine act, give God the glory (Matthew 15:31; Luke 18:43). • Glorifying God means acknowledging His character—mercy, power, authority—and lifting His reputation before others (Acts 4:21). • Their worship shows the event’s purpose: not only relief for one man, but public honor for the Father who sent the Son (John 12:28). who had given such authority • The crowd rightly recognized that Jesus’ authority came from God (John 5:19-23). • His authority included both the visible (physical healing) and the invisible (forgiveness of sins), fulfilling the messianic prophecies of Isaiah 35:5-6. • After His resurrection, Jesus affirmed, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me” (Matthew 28:18), reinforcing the truth they glimpsed that day. • Acts 2:22 later echoes this: God attested to Jesus by “miracles, wonders, and signs.” to men • The phrase underscores the incarnation: divine authority was operating through a true man standing before them (John 1:14; Philippians 2:7-8). • It also hints at the delegation Jesus would extend to His followers—first to the Twelve (Matthew 10:1), then to the Seventy-Two (Luke 10:19), and ultimately to the Church empowered by the Spirit (Acts 1:8; Acts 3:6). • Nevertheless, the source remains God; any authority exercised by believers is derived and subordinate (John 20:21-23). summary Matthew 9:8 records the crowd’s reaction to a tangible miracle that authenticated Jesus’ divine authority. They saw, they trembled, they worshiped, and they recognized that God Himself had entrusted unparalleled authority to the Son of Man—authority that would later overflow to His people. The verse invites every reader to respond in the same way: stand in awe, glorify God, and acknowledge the heavenly authority revealed in Christ. |
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