Matthew 9:1

By His own city here he means Capernaum. For that which gave Him birth was Bethlehem; that which brought Him up, Nazareth; that which had Him continually inhabiting it, Capernaum.

Or; This city may be no other than Nazareth, whence He was called a Nazarene.

The miracles recounted above were against temporal dangers; here he mentions ones against spiritual dangers. He does two things: first, he shows how he helps those who come to him; secondly, how he searches out those he heals (v. 35). In regard to the first: …

"And He entered into a boat, and passed over, and came into His own city. And, behold, they brought to Him a paralytic, lying on a bed." "His own city" means Capernaum, for it was there that He was living. He was born in Bethlehem, …

And he entered into a ship,.... Or "the ship", the selfsame ship he came over in, with his disciples.

And he entered into a ship ... - Jesus acceded to the request of the people of Gadara Mat 8:34, recrossed the Lake of Gennesareth, and returned to his own city. By “his own city” is meant Capernaum Mar 2:1, the city which was at that time his home, or where he had his dwelling. See the notes at Mat 4:13. This same account, with some additional circumstances, is contained in Mar 2:3-12, and Luk 5:18-26.

Let us notice, in the first part of this passage, our Lord’s knowledge of men’s thoughts. There were certain of the scribes who found fault with the words which Jesus spoke to a man sick of the palsy: they said secretly among themselves, “This man blasphemeth.”They probably supposed that no one knew what was going on in their minds: they had yet to learn that the Son of God could read hearts, and discern spirits. Their malicious thought was publicly exposed: they were put to open shame. Jesus “ knew their thoughts.” There is an important lesson for us here. “All things are naked and open unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” ( Hebrews 4:13 ). Nothing can be concealed from Christ. What do we think of, in private, when no one sees us? What do we think of in church when we seem grave and serious? What are we thinking of at this moment, while these words pass under our eyes? Jesus knows. Jesus sees. Jesus records. Jesus will one day summon us to give account. It is written that “God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.” ( Romans ). Surely we ought to be very humble when we consider these things: we ought to thank God daily that the blood of Christ can cleanse from all sin; we ought often to cry, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight.” (Psalm ). Let us notice, in the second place, the wonderful call of the apostle Matthew to be Christ’s disciple. We find the man, who afterwards was the first to write a Gospel, sitting at the receipt of custom. We see him absorbed in his worldly calling, and possibly thinking of nothing but money and gain; but suddenly the Lord Jesus calls on him to follow him, and become his disciple. At once Matthew obeys. He makes haste, and delays not, to keep Christ’s commandments ( Psalm 119:60 ). He rises and follows him.

He came into his own city - Viz. Capernaum, where he seems to have had his common residence at the house of Peter. See Mat 4:13, and Mat 8:14. This verse properly belongs to the preceding chapter.