Matthew 9:8 - Exposition

But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled ; were afraid (Revised Version); ἐφοβήθησαν . A more solely physical effect than the ἐθαύμασαν of the Textus Receptus. Resch's supposition, that the difference of words here and in the parallel passages is due to various translations of the Aramaic, or rather of the Hebrew according to his theory, is in this ease not improbable. And glorified God (cf Matthew 15:31 ), which had given such power ( authority , as Matthew 9:6 ) unto men ( τοῖς ἀνθρώποις ); i.e. the human race. Observe that though the phrase recalls Matthew 9:6 , there is here no mention of forgiving sins: the multitudes appear to have thought only of authority to perform the miracle; further, that although the multitudes seem to have heard Christ's words, they did not understand his expression to refer to Messiah.