Matthew 9:8
When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
While the crowds recognized God's power at work, their praise reveals they saw it as merely delegated authority granted to a remarkable man, missing the deeper truth that this authority belonged to God Himself manifesting in human form. This awe-filled, yet limited, perspective shows how easily we can admire the miraculous without fully grasping the divine identity behind it.
Just before this, Jesus had healed a paralyzed man, first forgiving his sins and then commanding him to rise and walk. This act caused some religious leaders to question Jesus' authority, but the man demonstrated the reality of the healing by picking up his mat and going home. Now, the crowds who witnessed this incredible display of power were stunned and afraid, but they ultimately praised God for giving such authority to people.
When Jesus performed a miracle, the crowd's reaction wasn't simple amazement. They felt a mix of wonder and something else... something a bit more unsettling.
The crowd's response to Jesus' healing of the paralytic is fascinatingly complex. Matthew records that they 'marvelled' (or 'feared,' according to some ancient manuscripts). This duality is key.
Wonder at the Miracle
They were astonished by the power displayed. Seeing a man instantly healed, able to walk and carry his bed, was unlike anything they had witnessed. This points to the incredible nature of Jesus' power, a power that obviously came from God.
Fear of the Divine
But they also 'feared.' This wasn't just a jump scare; it was a reverent awe in the face of the sacred. Theologians suggest this fear stemmed from a realization of the divine power present, a power that commanded deep respect and perhaps even a touch of trepidation. It’s the feeling you get when you encounter something profoundly holy, knowing you are in the presence of something far greater than yourself.
The crowd saw an incredible display of power. But their understanding of who was performing it was incomplete, revealing a common human tendency.
The people rightly 'glorified God,' recognizing that such a miracle could only come from Him. However, their understanding of how God was acting was limited. They said God had 'given such authority to men.'
Delegated Power vs. Divine Person
This phrasing shows they saw Jesus as a man empowered by God, a conduit for divine action. They were acknowledging God's sovereignty and goodness in granting this ability to a human being. This is a step in the right direction, but it stops short of the full truth.
Missing the Incarnation
They didn't yet grasp the profound mystery that in Jesus, God Himself was present on earth in human form. The theologians note that while they praised God, their praise was tinged with an ignorance of the divine majesty united with Christ's humanity. They saw a man with God's power, not God in man.
Understand the original words
doxazō · Greek Verb
To praise, honor, or acknowledge the majesty and character of God. It is an expression of awe and reverence in response to witnessing God’s power or holiness.
The crowd's reaction reveals a common perception of Jesus as a man empowered by God, rather than fully divine. This highlights the challenge Jesus faced in revealing his true identity to those who only saw his human nature and miraculous deeds.
c. AD 28
Jesus begins public ministry
Jesus begins teaching, performing miracles, and calling disciples in Galilee, establishing his reputation.
c. AD 28-30— this verse
Jesus' ministry in Capernaum
Jesus frequently visits Capernaum, his 'own town,' teaching in synagogues and homes, and healing many, including the paralytic in this passage.
c. AD 30
Jesus' authority challenged
Jesus' pronouncements and actions, especially forgiving sins, draw sharp criticism from religious leaders, who question his divine authority.
c. AD 30
Crowds react to miracles
The crowds witness Jesus' powerful miracles, leading to awe, fear, and praise for God, though many fail to grasp Jesus' full divine identity.
This passage shows God giving authority to Moses, similar to how the crowds recognized divine authority given to Jesus and, by extension, to men.
Acts 4:13When Peter and John healed the lame man, the Jewish leaders recognized they had been with Jesus, implying they saw Jesus' authority reflected in His followers.
1 Corinthians 12:28This passage lists various 'gifts' given by God to people in the church, including those with miraculous powers, aligning with the crowd's awe at divinely empowered individuals.
Luke 5:26This parallel account emphasizes the fear and amazement of the onlookers, highlighting the overwhelming nature of experiencing God's power through human hands.
clarkeMatthew 9:8: "But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men."
When the multitudes saw it, they marveled - Instead of εθαυμασαν, wondered, the Codex Vatic. and Cod. Bezae, with several other MSS. and versions, have εφοβηθησαν, feared. In the Gothic, and one copy of the Itala, both readings are conjoined, thus: And the multitudes seeing it, wondered and feared, and glorified God. Wondered at the miracle; feared to offend against such power…
calvinMatthew 9:1-8: "And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city."
- And entering into a ship, he passed over, and came into his own city. 2. And, lo, they brought to him a paralytic lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, Take courage, my son, thy sins are forgiven thee. 3. And, lo, some of the scribes said among themselves, This man blasphemeth. 4. And when Jesus saw their thoughts, he said, Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5. For…
While the crowds recognized God's power at work, their praise reveals they saw it as merely delegated authority granted to a remarkable man, missing the deeper truth that this authority belonged to God Himself manifesting in human form. This awe-filled, yet limited, perspective shows how easily we can admire the miraculous without fully grasping the divine identity behind it.
Just before this, Jesus had healed a paralyzed man, first forgiving his sins and then commanding him to rise and walk. This act caused some religious leaders to question Jesus' authority, but the man demonstrated the reality of the healing by picking up his mat and going home. Now, the crowds who witnessed this incredible display of power were stunned and afraid, but they ultimately praised God for giving such authority to people.
Just before this, Jesus had healed a paralyzed man, first forgiving his sins and then commanding him to rise and walk. This act caused some religious leaders to question Jesus' authority, but the man demonstrated the reality of the healing by picking up his mat and going home. Now, the crowds who witnessed this incredible display of power were stunned and afraid, but they ultimately praised God for giving such authority to people.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Matthew 9:8 is available in the Sola app.
"When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men." — While the crowds recognized God's power at work, their praise reveals they saw it as merely delegated authority granted to a remarkable man, missing the deeper truth that this authority belonged to G…
