SEV Biblia, Chapter 9:12
Mas oyndolo Jess, les dijo: Los que estn sanos no tienen necesidad de mdico, sino los enfermos.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 9:12
Verse 12. They that be whole need not a physician] A common proverb, which none could either misunderstand or misapply. Of it the reader may make the following use:-1. Jesus Christ represents himself here as the sovereign Physician of souls.
2. That all stand in need of his healing power. 3. That men must acknowledge their spiritual maladies, and the need they have of his mercy, in order to be healed by him. 4. That it is the most inveterate and dangerous disease the soul can be afflicted with to imagine itself whole, when the sting of death, which is sin, has pierced it through in every part, infusing its poison every where.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 12. But when Jesus heard that , etc.] The charge the Pharisees brought against him, and the insinuations they had made of him to his disciples; which he either overheard himself, or his disciples related to him, he said unto them ; the Pharisees, with an audible voice, not only to confute and convince them, but chiefly to establish his disciples, they were endeavouring to draw away from him: they that be whole need not a physician ; by which he would signify that he was a physician: and so he is in a spiritual sense, and that a very skilful one: he knows the nature of all the diseases of the soul, without being told them by the patient; what are the true causes of them; what is proper to apply; when is the best time, and what the best manner: he is an universal one, with regard both to diseases and to persons, that apply to him; he heals all sorts of persons, and all sorts of diseases; such as are blind from their birth, are as deaf as the deaf adder, the halt, and the lame, such as have broken hearts, yea the plague in their hearts, and have stony ones, and all the relapses of his people; which he does by his stripes and wounds, by the application of his blood, by his word and Gospel, through sinners looking to him, and touching him: he is an infallible one, none ever went from him without a cure; none ever perished under his hands; the disease he heals never returns more to prevail, so as to bring on death and destruction; and he does all freely, without money, and without price. So Philo the Jew calls the Logos, or word, iatron kakwn , an healer of diseases f556 , and God our legislator, twn thv quchv payw n aristov iatrov , the best physician of the diseases of the soul f557 . Now Christ argues from this his character, in vindication of himself; as that he was with these persons, not as a companion of theirs, but as a physician to them; and as it is not unlawful, but highly proper and commendable, that a physician should be with the sick; so it was very lawful, fit, and proper, yea praiseworthy in him, to be among these publicans and sinners, for their spiritual good. He suggests indeed, that they that be whole, in perfect health and strength, as the Pharisees thought themselves to be, even free from all the maladies and diseases of sin, were strong, robust, and able to do anything, and everything of themselves; these truly stood in no need of him, as a physician, in their own apprehension; they saw no need of him; in principle they had no need of him, and in practice did not make use of him; and therefore it was to no purpose to attend them, but converse with others, who had need of him: but they that are sick ; who are not only diseased and disordered in all the powers and faculties of their souls, as all Adams posterity are, whether sensible of it or not; but who know themselves to be so, these see their need of Christ as a physician, apply to him as such, and to them he is exceeding precious, a physician of value; and such were these publicans and sinners. These words seem to be a proverbial expression, and there is something like it in the Talmud, aysa ybl lyza abyak hyl byakd , he that is afflicted with any pain goes, or let him go to the physicians house; that is, he that is attended with any sickness, or disease, does, or he ought to, consult a physician.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 10-13 - Some time after his call, Matthew sought to bring his old associates to hear Christ. He knew by experience what the grace of Christ could do and would not despair concerning them. Those who are effectuall brought to Christ, cannot but desire that others also may be brought to him. Those who suppose their souls to be without disease will no welcome the spiritual Physician. This was the case with the Pharisees they despised Christ, because they thought themselves whole; but the poor publicans and sinners felt that they wanted instruction an amendment. It is easy, and too common, to put the worst construction upon the best words and actions. It may justly be suspected that thos have not the grace of God themselves, who are not pleased with others obtaining it. Christ's conversing with sinners is here called mercy for to promote the conversion of souls is the greatest act of mercy The gospel call is a call to repentance; a call to us to change ou minds, and to change our ways. If the children of men had not bee sinners, there had been no need for Christ to come among them. Let u examine whether we have found out our sickness, and have learned to follow the directions of our great Physician.
Greek Textus Receptus
ο 3588 T-NSM δε 1161 CONJ ιησους 2424 N-NSM ακουσας 191 5660 V-AAP-NSM ειπεν 2036 5627 V-2AAI-3S αυτοις 846 P-DPM ου 3756 PRT-N χρειαν 5532 N-ASF εχουσιν 2192 5719 V-PAI-3P οι 3588 T-NPM ισχυοντες 2480 5723 V-PAP-NPM ιατρου 2395 N-GSM αλλ 235 CONJ οι 3588 T-NPM κακως 2560 ADV εχοντες 2192 5723 V-PAP-NPM
Robertson's NT Word Studies
9:12 {But they that are sick} (alla hoi kakws econtes). Probably a current proverb about the physician. As a physician of body and soul Jesus was bound to come in close touch with the social outcasts.
