(36) But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted,
and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
(37) Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few.
(38) Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest‖.
Matthew Chapter 9 is an important section whose main lesson is largely overlooked. Here we find the
definition of what the Gospel message is. Contrary to what some teach, the Gospel message is not the
"death, burial and resurrection of the Messiah‖. It can't be that, as we have Y‘shua Himself ―preaching the
Gospel" in this chapter—and He is still alive before the crucifixion. Add to that the fact that His disciples also
preach the Gospel while He is alive, and that in Heb 4:2 we are told the Gospel was preached to the children
of Israel with Moses in the wilderness. Just what is the Gospel message, then?
9:1-7 "Son of Man"
―(1) And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. (2) 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. (3) And, behold, certain of the scribes said within
themselves, This man blasphemeth. (4) And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in
your hearts? (5) For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? (6) But
that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the
palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. (7) And he arose, and departed to his house. (8) But
when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men‖.
In this context, ―Son of man" is a Messianic term found in the Tenach and numerous Hebrew sources
including: ―I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven,
and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him‖. (Dan 7:13)
Talmud - Mas. Sanhedrin 98a: ―R. Alexandri said: R. Joshua b. Levi pointed out a contradiction. it is written,
in its time [will the Messiah come], whilst it is also written, I [the Lord] will hasten it! — if they are worthy, I will
hasten it: if not, [he will come] at the due time. R. Alexandri said: R. Joshua opposed two verses: it is written,
And behold, one like the son of man came with the clouds of heaven whilst [elsewhere] it is written, [behold,
thy king cometh unto thee...] lowly, and riding upon an ass!‖
Soncino Zohar, Bereshith, Section 1, Page 145b: ―And, behold, there came with the clouds of heaven one
like unto a son of man‖ (Dan. VII, 13), alluding to the Messiah, concerning whom it is also written: ―And in the
days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, etc‖. (Ibid. II, 44).
Enoch XLVIII: ―In that hour was this Son of man invoked before the Lord of spirits, and his name in the
presence of the Ancient of Days... In his presence they shall fall, and not be raised up again; nor shall there
be any one to take them out of his hands, and to lift them up: for they have denied the Lord of spirits, and his
Messiah‖.
9:6-9 Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins
―(6) But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick
of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. (7) And he arose, and departed to his house.
(8) But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.
(9) And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom:
and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him‖.
What Y‘shua claims for Himself:
"Follow ME ... " (Matt 4:19)
"That you may know that the Son of Man HAS POWER ON EARTH TO FORGIVE SINS‖. (Matt 9:6)
Him that has Power to give out Healing Power and Power over Death to His followers (Matt 10:8)
"The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath Day" (Matt 12:8)
"I cast out devils by the Spirit of God" (Matt 12:28)
"A Greater than Solomon is here" (Matt 12:42)
"Many Prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which you see... and to hear the things
which you hear " (Matt 13:17)
"The Son of Man shall send forth HIS ANGELS and they shall gather out of HIS KINGDOM all things that
offend ... and shall cast them into a furnace, ... then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in THE
KINGDOM OF THEIR FATHER" (Matt 13:41-43)
"And I will give unto thee the KEYS OF HEAVEN" (Matt 16:19)
"For the Son of Man ... shall reward every man according to his works" (Matt 16:27)
"They will see the Son of Man coming in HIS KINGDOM‖. (Matt 16:28)