The Meaning of Matthew 9:3 Explained

Matthew 9:3

KJV: And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.

YLT: And lo, certain of the scribes said within themselves, 'This one doth speak evil.'

Darby: And behold, certain of the scribes said to themselves, This man blasphemes.

ASV: And behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And,  behold,  certain  of the scribes  said  within  themselves,  This  [man] blasphemeth. 

What does Matthew 9:3 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Some of the teachers of the law who were standing by took offense at what Jesus said. He was claiming to forgive sins, but God alone can forgive sins since it is He whom people sin against ( Psalm 51:4; Isaiah 43:25; Isaiah 44:22). They called Jesus" words blasphemy because they viewed them as a slanderous affront to God. This is the first instance of this charge in Matthew , but it will become a prominent theme.

Context Summary

Matthew 9:1-8 - The Forgiver Of Sins
How inventive and ingenious is human love! Not improbably this was a young man and the others had been his schoolmates and friends for years. They had come to a steadfast faith in Jesus, and it was in response to their faith that the miracle was wrought. If only four earnest Christians would take one unbeliever or sinner in hand, we should see new miracles of grace.
Sin lies at the root of all suffering and disease. God's ideal is a fair and healthy body adapted to all the demands we make on it. In this ease there was evidently a close connection between the man's paralysis and some former act or acts of sin that lay heavily on conscience and heart. It was as easy for our Lord to utter one sentence as another, and the power which accompanied His utterance in the physical sphere proved that He had equal power in the spirit-world.
His critics were perfectly right. Either He blasphemed or He was the Son of God. Note that title, Son of man. Jesus was the last Adam, the second man. See 1 Corinthians 15:45. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 9

1  Jesus heals a paralytic
9  calls Matthew from the receipt of custom;
10  eats with tax collectors and sinners;
14  defends his disciples for not fasting;
20  cures the sick woman;
23  raises Jairus' daughter from death;
27  gives sight to two blind men;
32  heals a mute man possessed of a demon;
36  and has compassion on the multitude

Greek Commentary for Matthew 9:3

This man blasphemeth [ουτος βλασπημει]
See the sneer in “this fellow.” “The prophet always is a scandalous, irreverent blasphemer from the conventional point of view” (Bruce). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 9:3

Matthew 4:17 To preach [κηρύσσειν]
Originally, to discharge the duty of a herald ( κήρυξ ); hence to cry out, proclaim, (see on 2 Peter 2:5). The standing expression in the New Testament for the proclamation of the Gospel; but confined to the primary announcement of the message and facts of salvation, and not including continuous instruction in the contents and connections of the message, which is expressed by διδάσκειν (to teach). Both words are used in Matthew 4:23; Matthew 9:35; Matthew 11:1). [source]
Matthew 12:24 The Pharisees [οι δε Παρισαιοι]
Already (Matthew 9:32-34) we have had in Matthew the charge that Jesus is in league with the prince of demons, though the incident may be later than this one. See note on Matthew 10:25 about “Beelzebub.” The Pharisees feel that the excited condition of the crowds and the manifest disposition to believe that Jesus is the Messiah (the Son of David) demand strenuous action on their part. They cannot deny the fact of the miracles for the blind and dumb men both saw and spoke (Matthew 12:22). So in desperation they suggest that Jesus works by the power of Beelzebub the prince of the demons. [source]
Matthew 21:3 The Lord [ο κυριος]
It is not clear how the word would be understood here by those who heard the message though it is plain that Jesus applies it to himself. The word is from κυρος — kuros power or authority. In the lxx it is common in a variety of uses which appear in the N.T. as master of the slave (Matthew 10:24), of the harvest (Matthew 9:38), of the vineyard (Matthew 20:8), of the emperor (Acts 13:27), of God (Matthew 1:20; Matthew 11:25), and often of Jesus as the Messiah (Acts 10:36). Note Matthew 8:25. This is the only time in Matthew where the words ο κυριος — ho kurios are applied to Jesus except the doubtful passage in Matthew 28:6. A similar usage is shown by Moulton and Milligan‘s Vocabulary and Deissmann‘s Light from the Ancient East. Particularly in Egypt it was applied to “the Lord Serapis” and Ptolemy and Cleopatra are called “the lords, the most great gods” Even Herod the Great and Herod Agrippa I are addressed as “Lord King.” In the west the Roman emperors are not so termed till the time of Domitian. But the Christians boldly claimed the word for Christ as Jesus is here represented as using it with reference to himself. It seems as if already the disciples were calling Jesus “Lord” and that he accepted the appellative and used it as here. [source]
Mark 5:35 Troublest [σκύλλεις]
See on Matthew 9:36. Compare Luke 11:22, where occurs the cognate word σκῦλα , spoils, things torn or stripped from an enemy. Wyc., travailest. Tynd., diseasest. [source]
Mark 1:12 Driveth him [ἐκβάλλει]
Stronger than Matthew's ἀνήχθη , was led up, and Luke's ἤγετο , was led. See on Matthew 9:38. It is the word used of our Lord's expulsion of demons, Mark 1:34, Mark 1:39. [source]
Mark 1:43 Strictly charged [εμβριμησαμενος]
Only in Mark. Luke 5:14 has παρηγγειλεν — parēggeilen (commanded). Mark‘s word occurs also in Mark 14:5 and in Matthew 9:30 and John 11:38. See note on Matthew 9:30. It is a strong word for the snorting of a horse and expresses powerful emotion as Jesus stood here face to face with leprosy, itself a symbol of sin and all its train of evils. The command to report to the priests was in accord with the Mosaic regulations and the prohibition against talking about it was to allay excitement and to avoid needless opposition to Christ. [source]
Mark 2:5 Are forgiven [απιενται]
So Matthew 9:3, but Luke 5:20 has the Doric perfect passive απεωνται — apheōntai The astonishing thing both to the paralytic and to the four friends is that Jesus forgave his sins instead of healing him. The sins had probably caused the paralysis. [source]
Mark 2:6 Sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts [εκει κατημενοι και διαλογιζομενοι εν ταις καρδιαις αυτων]
Another of Mark‘s pictures through Peter‘s eyes. These scribes (and Pharisees, Luke 5:21) were there to cause trouble, to pick flaws in the teaching and conduct of Jesus. His popularity and power had aroused their jealousy. There is no evidence that they spoke aloud the murmur in their hearts, “within themselves” (Matthew 9:3). It was not necessary, for their looks gave them away and Jesus knew their thoughts (Matthew 9:4) and perceived their reasoning (Luke 5:22). [source]
Mark 3:21 His friends [οι παρ αυτου]
The phrase means literally “those from the side of him (Jesus).” It could mean another circle of disciples who had just arrived and who knew of the crowds and strain of the Galilean ministry who now come at this special juncture. But the idiom most likely means the kinspeople or family of Jesus as is common in the lxx. The fact that in Mark 3:31 “his mother and his brothers” are expressly mentioned would indicate that they are “the friends” alluded to in Mark 3:21. It is a mournful spectacle to think of the mother and brothers saying, He is beside himself Second aorist active indicative intransitive. The same charge was brought against Paul (Acts 26:24; 2 Corinthians 5:13). We say that one is out of his head. Certainly Mary did not believe that Jesus was in the power of Beelzebub as the rabbis said already. The scribes from Jerusalem are trying to discount the power and prestige of Jesus (Mark 3:22). See notes on Matthew 9:32-34; and note on Matthew 10:25; and note on Matthew 12:24 for Beelzebub and Beelzebul. Mary probably felt that Jesus was overwrought and wished to take him home out of the excitement and strain that he might get rest and proper food. See my The Mother of Jesus: Her Problems and Her Glory. The brothers did not as yet believe the pretensions and claims of Jesus (John 7:5). Herod Antipas will later consider Jesus as John the Baptist redivivus, the scribes treat him as under demonic possession, even the family and friends fear a disordered mind as a result of overstrain. It was a crucial moment for Jesus. His family or friends came to take him home, to lay hold of him (kratēsai), forcibly if need be. [source]
Mark 5:35 Why troublest thou the master any further? [Τι ετι σκυλλεις τον διδασκαλον]
It was all over, so they felt. Jesus had raised from the dead the son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-17), but people in general did not expect him to raise the dead. The word σκυλλω — skullō from σκυλον — skulon (skin, pelt, spoils), means to skin, to flay, in Aeschylus. Then it comes to mean to vex, annoy, distress as in Matthew 9:36, which see. The middle is common in the papyri for bother, worry, as in Luke 7:6. There was no further use in troubling the Teacher about the girl. [source]
Luke 8:49 Trouble []
See on Matthew 9:36; and Mark 5:35. Tyndale renders dis-ease, in the old verbal sense of disturb. [source]
Luke 8:38 Besought [ἐδέετο]
Imperfect: was beseeching. See on prayers, Luke 5:33. Rev., prayed. Beseech is used to render παρακαλέω (Mark 5:10). See on consolation, Luke 6:24. Παρακαλέω , beseech, is used of prayer to God in only one instance, 2 Corinthians 12:8, where Paul besought the Lord to remove the thorn in the flesh. Frequently or requests to Christ while on earth. Δεομαι , to pray, often of prayer to God (Matthew 9:38; Luke 10:2; Acts 8:22). It is noticeable that in Luke 8:28, where the demons address Christ as the Son of the highest God, they say δέομαι , I pray. In Luke 8:31, Luke 8:32, where they ask not to be sent away, and to be allowed to enter into the swine, they say παρακαλέω , I beseech. The restored man, recognizing Jesus' divine power, prayed ( ἐδεῖτο ) to be with him. The distinction, however, must not be closely pressed. The two words seem to be often used interchangeably in the New Testament. [source]
Luke 7:6 Trouble [σκύλλου]
Lit., worry. See on Matthew 9:36; and Mark 5:35. [source]
Luke 4:41 Saying []
The articulate utterance. Mr. Hobart (“Medical Language of St. Luke”) remarks that the medical bias of Luke may be seen from the words he abstains from using as well as from those he does use in respect of disease. Thus he never uses μαλακία for sickness, as Matthew does (Matthew 4:23; Matthew 9:35; Matthew 10:1), since this word is never so used in medical language, but is confined to the meaning of delicacy, effeminacy. So, too, he never uses βασανίζειν ,to torment, of sickness, as Matthew does (Matthew 8:6), as it is never so used in medical language, the word there meaning to examine some part of the body or some medical question.sa40 [source]
Luke 11:14 Dumb [κωφόν]
See on Matthew 9:32. [source]
Luke 10:2 Harvest [τερισμος]
Late word for the older τερος — theros summer, harvest. The language in this verse is verbatim what we have in Matthew 9:37, Matthew 9:38 to the Twelve. Why not? The need is the same and prayer is the answer in each case. Prayer for preachers is Christ‘s method for increasing the supply. [source]
Luke 11:15 Dumb [κωπον]
See note on Matthew 9:32. [source]
Luke 22:36 Buy a sword [αγορασατω μαχαιραν]
This is for defence clearly. The reference is to the special mission in Galilee (Luke 9:1-6; Mark 6:6-13; Matthew 9:35-11:1). They are to expect persecution and bitter hostility (John 15:18-21). Jesus does not mean that his disciples are to repel force by force, but that they are to be ready to defend his cause against attack. Changed conditions bring changed needs. This language can be misunderstood as it was then. [source]
Luke 8:49 Trouble not [μηκετι σκυλλε]
See note on Luke 7:6 for this verb and also the note on Mark 5:35; and the note on Matthew 9:36. [source]
John 11:33 He groaned in the spirit [ἐνεβριμήσατο τῷ πνεύματι]
See on Mark 1:43. The word for groaned occurs three times elsewhere: Matthew 9:30; Mark 1:43; Mark 14:5. In every case it expresses a charge, or remonstrance, accompanied with a feeling of displeasure. On this passage there are two lines of interpretation, both of them assuming the meaning just stated. (1) Τῷ πνευ.ματι , the spirit, is regarded as the object of Jesus' inward charge or remonstrance. This is explained variously: as that Jesus sternly rebuked the natural shrinking of His human spirit, and summoned it to the decisive conflict with death; or that He checked its impulse to put forth His divine energy at once. (2) Takes in the spirit, as representing the sphere of feeling, as John 13:21; Mark 8:12; Luke 10:21. Some explain the feeling as indignation at the hypocritical mourning of the Jews, or at their unbelief and the sisters' misapprehension; others as indignation at the temporary triumph of Satan, who had the power of death. The interpretation which explains τῷ πνεύματι as the sphere of feeling is to be preferred. Comp. John 11:38, in himself. The nature of the particular emotion of Jesus must remain largely a matter of conjecture. Rev. renders, in margin, was moved with indignation in the spirit. [source]
John 11:33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping [Ιησους ουν ως ειδεν αυτην κλαιουσαν]
Proleptic position of “Jesus,” “Jesus therefore when he saw.” She was weeping at the feet of Jesus, not at the tomb. And the Jews also weeping Mary‘s weeping was genuine, that of the Jews was partly perfunctory and professional and probably actual “wailing” as the verb κλαιω — klaiō can mean. Κλαιω — Klaiō is joined with αλαλαζω — alalazō in Mark 5:38, with ολολυζω — ololuzō in James 5:1, with τορυβεω — thorubeō in Mark 5:39, with πεντεω — pentheō in Mark 16:10. It was an incongruous combination. He groaned in the spirit First aorist middle indicative of εμβριμαομαι — embrimaomai old verb (from εν — en and βριμη — brimē strength) to snort with anger like a horse. It occurs in the lxx (Dan 11:30) for violent displeasure. The notion of indignation is present in the other examples of the word in the N.T. (Mark 1:43; Mark 14:5; Matthew 9:30). So it seems best to see that sense here and in John 11:38. The presence of these Jews, the grief of Mary, Christ‘s own concern, the problem of the raising of Lazarus - all greatly agitated the spirit of Jesus (locative case τωι πνευματι — tōi pneumati). He struggled for self-control. Was troubled First aorist active indicative of ταρασσω — tarassō old verb to disturb, to agitate, with the reflexive pronoun, “he agitated himself” (not passive voice, not middle). “His sympathy with the weeping sister and the wailing crowd caused this deep emotion” (Dods). Some indignation at the loud wailing would only add to the agitation of Jesus. [source]
Romans 14:16 Be evil spoken of [βλασπημειστω]
Present passive imperative of βλασπημεω — blasphēmeō for which see note on Matthew 9:3 and Romans 3:8. [source]
1 Corinthians 10:30 Am I evil-spoken of [βλασφημοῦμαι]
In the gospels this word, of which blaspheme is a transcript, has, as in the Septuagint, the special sense of treating the name of God with scorn. So Matthew 9:3; Matthew 26:65; John 10:36. In the epistles frequently as here, with the classical meaning of slandering or defaming. [source]
Revelation 14:4 Were purchased from among men [ηγοραστησαν απο των αντρωπων]
First aorist passive indicative of αγοραζω — agorazō repeating the close of Revelation 14:3.First fruits (απαρχη — aparchē). See for this word 1 Corinthians 16:15; Romans 11:16; Romans 16:5. This seems to mean that the 144,000 represent not the whole, but only a portion of the great harvest to come (Matthew 9:37), not only the first installment, but those marked by high spiritual service to God and the Lamb (Romans 12:1; Hebrews 13:15; 1 Peter 2:5). [source]
Revelation 14:4 First fruits [απαρχη]
See for this word 1 Corinthians 16:15; Romans 11:16; Romans 16:5. This seems to mean that the 144,000 represent not the whole, but only a portion of the great harvest to come (Matthew 9:37), not only the first installment, but those marked by high spiritual service to God and the Lamb (Romans 12:1; Hebrews 13:15; 1 Peter 2:5). [source]
Revelation 14:16 Was reaped [ετεριστη]
First aorist passive indicative of τεριζω — therizō Both prophetic aorists again. Christ puts in the sickle as he wills with his own agents (Matthew 9:37.; Matthew 13:39, Matthew 13:41). [source]
Revelation 14:4 For they are virgins [παρτενοι γαρ εισιν]
Παρτενος — Parthenos can be applied to men as well as women. Swete takes this language “metaphorically, as the symbolical character of the Book suggests.” Charles considers it an interpolation in the interest of celibacy for both men and women. If taken literally, the words can refer only to adultery or fornication (Beckwith). Jesus recognised abstinence only for those able to receive it (Matthew 19:12), as did Paul (1 Corinthians 7:1, 1 Corinthians 7:8, 1 Corinthians 7:32, 1 Corinthians 7:36). Marriage is approved by Paul in 1 Timothy 4:3 and by Hebrews 13:4. The New Testament exalts marriage and this passage should not be construed as degrading it.Whithersoever he goeth (οπου αν υπαγει — hopou an hupagei). Indefinite local clause with modal αν — an and the present active indicative of υπαγω — hupagō The Christian life is following the Lamb of God as Jesus taught (Mark 2:14; Mark 10:21; Luke 9:59; John 1:43; John 21:19, etc.) and as Peter taught (1 Peter 2:21) and John (1 John 2:6).Were purchased from among men First aorist passive indicative of αγοραζω — agorazō repeating the close of Revelation 14:3.First fruits (απαρχη — aparchē). See for this word 1 Corinthians 16:15; Romans 11:16; Romans 16:5. This seems to mean that the 144,000 represent not the whole, but only a portion of the great harvest to come (Matthew 9:37), not only the first installment, but those marked by high spiritual service to God and the Lamb (Romans 12:1; Hebrews 13:15; 1 Peter 2:5). [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 9:3 mean?

And behold some of the scribes said to themselves This [man] blasphemes
Καὶ ἰδού τινες τῶν γραμματέων εἶπαν ἐν ἑαυτοῖς Οὗτος βλασφημεῖ

ἰδού  behold 
Parse: Interjection
Root: ἰδού  
Sense: behold, see, lo.
τινες  some 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: τὶς  
Sense: a certain, a certain one.
τῶν  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
γραμματέων  scribes 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: γραμματεύς  
Sense: a clerk, scribe, esp.
εἶπαν  said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
ἑαυτοῖς  themselves 
Parse: Reflexive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἑαυτοῦ  
Sense: himself, herself, itself, themselves.
Οὗτος  This  [man] 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
βλασφημεῖ  blasphemes 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: βλασφημέω 
Sense: to speak reproachfully, rail at, revile, calumniate, blaspheme.