QT 11/02/2026 Wed. Matthew 9. Handicapped Physically, Yet Spiritually Alive 肉体残缺，心灵活泼
QT 11/02/2026 Wed. Matthew 9. Handicapped Physically, Yet Spiritually Alive
READ http://www.esv.org/matthew9
Equating having a physical handicap as spiritually unresponsive or equating frantic activities as evidence of being spiritually alive can be dangerous. Matthew presents Jesus as the authoritative Messiah who restores broken people—physically, spiritually, and socially. Though many in Matthew 9 are handicapped by sickness, sin, social exclusion, or fear, Jesus brings true life by forgiving sins, calling the outcast, defeating death, and awakening faith. Physical weakness does not disqualify a person from spiritual life; faith in Jesus makes one fully alive.
This chapter displays various types of restorations. Jesus moves from town to town encountering people who are limited, broken, marginalized, or desperate. Each scene reinforces a central truth: Jesus has authority to restore what is most deeply broken:
(a) He has Authority to Forgive and Heal (9:1–8)
(b) Authority to Call the Unworthy (9:9–13)
(c) Authority to Bring New Life (9:14–26)
(d) Authority to Open Eyes and Send Workers (9:27–38)
Together, they reveal a Messiah who brings holistic restoration and calls for faith-filled response.
(1) Forgiven Before Healed (9:1–8)
The paralysed man is visibly helpless. He must be carried. He has no ability to change his condition. Yet Jesus addresses him as “my son” and forgives his sins before healing his body. The deepest handicap in Matthew 9 is not paralysis—it is sin. And Jesus has authority over it.
The healing that follows is not merely compassion; it is confirmation. By commanding the man to rise and walk, Jesus demonstrates (and confirms) that the invisible forgiveness of sins is real and effective.
Takeaway: A person may remain physically weak and yet be spiritually alive—and forgiven. Consider that possibility when we view others (and ourselves), won’t we?
(2) Called While Broken (9:9–13)
Jesus then calls Matthew, a tax collector—morally and socially handicapped in the eyes of religious society. Matthew is not healed first or reformed before being called. He is called as he is. Jesus’ declaration is striking:
“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.” (9:12)
Spiritual life begins with recognising spiritual need. Jesus does not come for the self-sufficient, but for the spiritually impaired who know they need mercy.
Takeaway: Awareness of brokenness is not a barrier to discipleship—it is the doorway. Do re-look the problem before us with another lens or viewpoint!
(3) New Life for the Hopeless (9:14–26)
Two intertwined stories—the woman with the discharge of blood and the ruler’s dead daughter—highlight Jesus’ authority over long-term suffering and even death. The woman is physically ill, ritually unclean, and socially isolated. Twelve years of suffering have not extinguished her faith. One touch, driven by trust, brings healing.
The girl is beyond help—dead by human standards. Yet Jesus speaks life where there is none. In both cases, faith meets authority.
Takeaway: Even when the body is failing—or life seems over—faith in Jesus brings restoration beyond human limits. It is not the end until the end. Be hopeful always that God will grant the best to those who come to Him in faith and do His sovereign will.
(4) Opened Eyes and Compassionate Authority (9:27–38)
Jesus heals two blind men who cry out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” Though blind, they see clearly who Jesus is. Their physical limitation does not prevent spiritual insight. Jesus then heals a mute man oppressed by a demon, demonstrating authority over forces that silence and bind. The chapter concludes with Jesus looking upon the crowds:
“harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (9:36)
His response is not frustration—but compassion. The solution is prayer: that the Lord would send workers into the harvest.
Takeaway: Jesus’ authority moves Him to compassion—and His compassion sends His people into the world.
(5) Living Out the Theme
Matthew 9 reminds us that people are handicapped in many ways:
(a) Physically (paralysis, blindness, disease)
(b) Spiritually (sin, guilt, fear)
(c) Socially (rejection, shame, marginalization)
(d) Vocationally (lost, directionless, weary)
Yet none of these conditions prevent a person from being fully alive in Christ.
(a) Faith does not require strength.
(b) Discipleship does not require perfection.
(c) Healing does not always come first—but forgiveness always does.
(6) Call to Response
Where have you mistaken physical or emotional limitation for spiritual failure? Are you willing to trust Jesus not only for healing, but for forgiveness and lordship? Will you see the “harassed and helpless” as Jesus does—with compassion, not distance?
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, thank your for sending Jesus. You are the healer of bodies, the forgiver of sins, and the shepherd of the weary. Thank You that our weaknesses do not disqualify us from Your grace. Make us alive in You—whether we walk in strength or depend on others. Give us eyes to see the harvest and hearts moved by compassion. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
QT 11/02/2026 星期三. 马太福音 9. 肉体残缺，心灵活泼
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/mat/9/
若将身体残疾等同于心灵麻木，或将狂热活动视为灵性健康的证明，都可能带来危险。马太福音将耶稣描绘为权威的弥赛亚，祂修复破碎之人——无论肉体、心灵或社会层面。尽管马太福音第九章中许多人因疾病、罪恶、社会排斥或恐惧而受困，耶稣却通过赦免罪孽、呼召被弃者、战胜死亡、唤醒信心带来真生命。肉体软弱并不妨碍人拥有属灵生命；对耶稣的信心使人全然活过来。
本章展现了多重修复：耶稣巡行各城，遇见受限者、破碎者、边缘者与绝望者。每个场景都印证核心真理：耶稣拥有修复最深创伤的权柄：
(a) 赦罪医治的权柄（9:1-8）
(b) 呼召不配之人的权柄（9:9-13）
(c) 赐予新生命的权柄（9:14-26）
(d) 开启双眼与差遣工人的权柄（9:27-38）
这些权柄共同显明一位带来全然复兴的弥赛亚，并呼召人以信心回应。
(1) 赦罪先于医治（9:1-8）
瘫子显然无助，必须被人抬着，无法改变自身处境。然而耶稣称他为 “孩子” ，在医治身体前先赦免了他的罪。马太福音第九章中真正的残障并非瘫痪，而是罪。而耶稣对罪拥有权柄。
随后的医治不仅是怜悯，更是印证。耶稣命令瘫子起来行走，以此彰显（并证实）那看不见的罪得赦免是真实有效的。
要点：人可能肉体衰弱，却在灵里活着——且蒙赦免。当我们看待他人（以及自己）时，何不考虑这种可能性呢？
(2) 破碎时蒙召（9:9–13）
耶稣随即呼召税吏马太——在宗教社会眼中，马太是道德与社会双重残障者。马太未先脱离这双重残障者，便蒙主呼召。马太以本相被召。耶稣宣告震撼人心：
““健康的人不需要医生，有病的人才需要。”（9:12）
属灵生命始于认清属灵需求。耶稣并非为自以为义者而来，而是为深知需要怜悯的属灵残障者而来。
要点：认识破碎并非门徒之路的障碍——恰是通往门内的门户。请用另一副眼镜或视角重新审视眼前难题！
(3) 绝望者得新生（9:14–26）
两个交织的故事——患血漏的妇人与官长的死女——彰显了耶稣对长期病痛乃至死亡的权柄。妇人身患疾病，在律法中被视为不洁，遭社会排斥。十二年的苦难未能熄灭她的信心。凭着信心的触摸，她便得医治。
女孩按人标准已无救可救——她死了。但耶稣在死亡之地宣告生命。两个案例都彰显了信心与权能的交汇。
要点：纵然肉体衰败——或生命看似终结——对耶稣的信心仍能带来超越人限的复兴。未到终局，终局未至。当常存盼望，因神必将至善赐予凭信心前来、遵行祂主权旨意的人。
(4) 开启双眼与怜悯的权柄（9:27–38）
耶稣医治了两名呼喊 “大卫的子孙，可怜我们吧！” 的盲人。纵然失明，他们却清晰辨识耶稣的身份。肉体缺陷并未阻碍属灵洞见。随后耶稣医治了被鬼附的哑巴，彰显出对禁锢与沉默之势力的统御权柄。本章以耶稣注视人群的场景收尾：
“因为他们困苦无依，像没有牧人的羊一样。”（9:36）
祂的回应并非沮丧——而是怜悯。解决之道在于祷告：求主差遣工人进入庄稼地里。
要点：耶稣的权柄催动祂的怜悯——而祂的怜悯差遣祂的子民进入世界。
(5) 活出主题
马太福音第九章提醒我们，人们在多方面都存在缺陷：
(a) 身体上的缺陷（瘫痪、失明、疾病）
(b) 灵性上的缺陷（罪恶、愧疚、恐惧）
(c) 社会层面的缺陷（被排斥、羞耻、边缘化）
(d) 职业层面的缺陷（迷失方向、疲惫不堪）
然而，这些缺陷都无法阻碍人在基督里活出丰盛的生命。
(a) 信心无需力量支撑
(b) 门徒之路不必完美无瑕
(c) 医治未必先行——但赦免永不缺席
(6) 回应呼召
你是否曾将肉体或情感的局限误认为属灵的失败？你是否愿意全然信靠耶稣，不仅为得医治，更为得赦免与顺服？你能否像耶稣那样看待 “困苦无依” 之人——以怜悯相待，而非疏远回避？
祷告
亲爱的天父，感谢祢差遣耶稣。祢是身体的医治者，罪的赦免者，疲乏者的牧者。感谢祢不因我们的软弱而剥夺恩典。无论我们凭己力前行或倚靠他人，求祢使我们活在祢里面。赐我们看见庄稼的眼睛，赐我们被怜悯所触动的心。奉主耶稣的名。阿们。
