What does Matthew 9:34 Mean?

Study Notes

devils
demons.

Devils

Devils, lit demons. To the reality and personality of demons the N.T. scriptures bear abundant testimony. As to their origin nothing is clearly revealed, but they are not to be confounded with the angels mentioned in 2 Peter 2:4 ; Judges 1:6 .

Summary: Demons are spirits Matthew 12:43 ; Matthew 12:45 are Satan's emissaries; Matthew 12:26 ; Matthew 12:27 ; Matthew 25:41 and so numerous as to make Satan's power practically ubiquitous. Mark 5:9 . They are capable of entering and controlling both men and beasts Mark 5:8 ; Mark 5:11-13 and earnestly seek embodiment, without which, apparently, they are powerless for evil.; Matthew 12:43 ; Matthew 12:44 ; Mark 5:10-12 . Demon influence and demon possession are discriminated in the N. T. Instances of the latter are; Matthew 4:24 ; Matthew 8:16 ; Matthew 8:28 ; Matthew 8:33 ; Matthew 9:32 ; Matthew 12:22 ; Mark 1:32 ; Mark 5:15 ; Mark 5:16 ; Mark 5:18 ; Luke 8:35 ; Acts 8:7 ; Acts 16:16 . They are unclean, sullen, violent, and malicious; Matthew 8:28 ; Matthew 9:23 ; Matthew 10:1 ; Matthew 12:43 ; Mark 1:23 ; Mark 5:3-5 ; Mark 9:17 ; Mark 9:20 ; Luke 6:18 ; Luke 9:39 . They know Jesus Christ as Most High God, and recognize His supreme authority; Matthew 8:31 ; Matthew 8:32 ; Mark 1:24 ; Acts 19:15 ; James 2:19 . They know their eternal fate to be one of torment; Matthew 8:29 ; Luke 8:31 . They inflict physical maladies; Matthew 12:22 ; Matthew 17:15-18 ; Ephesians 6:13-18 but mental disease is to be distinguished from the disorder of mind due to demonical control. Demon influence may manifest itself in religion asceticism and formalism 1 Timothy 4:1-3 degenerating into uncleanness 2 Peter 2:10-12 . The sign of demon influence in religion is departing from the faith, i.e. the body of revealed truth in the Scriptures. 1 Timothy 4:1 . The demons maintain especially a conflict with believers who would be spiritual.; Ephesians 6:12 ; 1 Timothy 4:1-3 . All unbelievers are open to demon possession Ephesians 2:2 . The believer's resources, prayer and bodily control Matthew 17:21 "the whole armour of God" Luke 13:16 . Exorcism in the name of Jesus Christ Acts 16:18 was practised for demon possession. One of the awful features of the apocalyptic judgments in which this age will end is an irruption of demons out the abyss. Revelation 9:1-11 .

Verse Meaning

The reaction of the Pharisees contrasts with that of the crowd in the sharpest possible terms. They attributed Jesus" power to Satan, not God. They concluded that He came from Satan rather than from God. Instead of being the Messiah He must be a satanic counterfeit. Notice that the Pharisees did not deny the authenticity of Jesus" miracles. They could not do that. They accepted them as supernatural acts. However they ascribed them to demonic rather than divine power. [source][source]

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This testimony to Jesus" authority comes at the end of a collection of stories about demonstrations of Jesus" power ( Matthew 8:1 to Matthew 9:34). Matthew probably intended the reader to understand that this was the common reaction to all these miracles. ^[1] This reaction continued and culminated in the Pharisees" accusation in Matthew 12:24, "This man cast out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons."[source]

This testimony contrasts, too, with the opinion of the Gentile centurion ( Matthew 8:5-13), who saw that Jesus" operated under God"s authority. This is one evidence of a chiastic structure in chapters8,9 , which I shall comment on further below. [source][source]

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The incident illustrates Jesus" ability to enable people to speak who could not formerly do so. This was important in people confessing Jesus as the Son of God and the disciples bearing witness to Jesus. It also illustrates Jesus" compassion for needy people. [source][source]

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One of the main themes in this section ( Matthew 8:1 to Matthew 9:34) is the spreading of Jesus" fame. This resulted in an increasing number to people concluding that Jesus was the Messiah. It also resulted in increasing opposition from Jesus" enemies, Israel"s religious leaders, and even some of John the Baptist"s disciples. However some religious leaders believed in Jesus, Jairus being one. Opposition to Jesus was mounting among those who suffered economically because of His ministry as well as those who suffered religiously. Matthew"s primary purpose, however, was to present Jesus as the promised Messiah who could establish God"s kingdom on earth. [source][source]

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All of this material also prepares the reader for the next events: Jesus" self-disclosure to His disciples in His second major discourse (ch10). [source][source]

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Chapters8-9 seem to be a chiasm focusing the reader"s attention on Jesus" power to overcome Satan ( Matthew 8:28-34). [source][source]

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AJesus" power to heal ( Matthew 8:1-17; three incidents and a summary ^[1])BJesus" authority over His disciples" persons ( Matthew 8:18-22; two lessons)CJesus" supernatural power ( Matthew 8:23 to Matthew 9:8; three incidents with victory over Satan in the middle)B"Jesus" authority over His disciples" work ( Matthew 9:9-17; two lessons)A"Jesus" power to restore ( Matthew 9:18-38; three incidents and a summary ^[3])[source]

Context Summary

It is thus that the Master speaks to us: Believe ye that I am able to make you happy, though you are cut off from the light and gladness of the world? Believe ye that I am able to enrich you in poverty, strengthen you in weakness, and raise you even out of death itself, so that the barren rod may bear blossom and fruit? Believe ye that I am able to give a knowledge of God which eye hath not seen nor the heart of man conceived?

It may be with a trembling faith that we answer, Yea, Lord. But how blessed is the soul that dares to say Yea to the Master's challenge. Understand that there is no limit to what He will do for you, if only you will trust Him. The measure of His giving is according to the measure of your faith, and the measure of your faith will be according to the measure of your abandonment to Him. Spread abroad His fame. Pharisees hate Him, but demons flee. [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