Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 9

Many times He crossed the Lake of Galilee, but this time, more in sadness than in anger, He left a people behind Him who had begged Him to depart. He had made Capernaum His own city by the privileges with which He had exalted it. What a name! “His own city.” It was its highest honor that He came sailing into its port, even He who was Lord High Admiral of all seas.

Yet the favored city refused Him and did not recognize its day. May none of us be so favored and prove so unworthy!

And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.

I think I see the departing sail — love, hope, and peace melting away upon the distant horizon, and the Gergesenes left to perish. O God, do not do so with any of us! Do not say, "Ephraim is joined to idols.

Let him alone."

And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.

Our Lord had given these Gergesenes an opportunity of becoming his disciples; the kingdom of God had come very near to them, but as they accounted themselves unworthy of it and implored him to depart from their region, he did not force himself upon them. Take heed, dear friends, if you only hear the gospel once, that you do not reject it, for you may never have the opportunity of hearing it again.

And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith –

The faith of the bearers, and the faith of the palsied man himself, –

And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

Our Lord dealt first with the greater evil, for sin is worse than even such a dreadful disease as the palsy. Forgiveness of sin is an even greater mercy than the healing of sickness.