Matthew 9:12

Matthew 9:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
• New International Version (NIV)On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But when he heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
• New King James Version (NKJV)When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

Context of Matthew 9:12

10Later Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house. Many tax collectors and sinners came to eat with Jesus and his disciples. 11The Pharisees saw this and asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard that, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor; those who are sick do. 13Learn what this means: ‘I want mercy, not sacrifices.’ I’ve come to call sinners, not people who think they have God’s approval.” 14Then John’s disciples came to Jesus. They said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often but your disciples never do?”

Matthew 9:12 word by word

ὁ δὲ ἀκούσας εἶπεν οὐ χρείαν ἔχουσιν οἱ ἰσχύοντες ἰατροῦ ἀλλ᾽ οἱ κακῶς ἔχοντες.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• whenἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
• Jesusὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• he saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• unto themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• They that be wholeἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• They that be wholeἰσχύωischuō · be strongG2480
• needχρείαchreia · needG5532
• notοὐou · noG3756
• a physicianἰατρόςiatros · physicianG2395
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• they that are sickκακῶςkakōs · badlyG2560

Cross-references for Matthew 9:12

• Psalms 6:2Have pity on me, O Lord, because I am weak. Heal me, O Lord, because my bones shake with terror.
• Psalms 41:4I said, “O Lord, have pity on me! Heal my soul because I have sinned against you.”
• Psalms 147:3He is the healer of the brokenhearted. He is the one who bandages their wounds.
• Jeremiah 17:14Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed. Rescue me, and I will be rescued. You are the one I praise.
• Jeremiah 30:17I’ll restore your health and heal your wounds,” declares the Lord. “People call you an outcast: Zion, no one cares for you.
• Jeremiah 33:6“But I will heal this city and restore it to health. I will heal its people, and I will give them peace and security.
• Hosea 14:4⌞The Lord says,⌟ “I will cure them of their unfaithfulness. I will love them freely. I will no longer be angry with them.
• Mark 2:17When Jesus heard that, he said to them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor; those who are sick do. I’ve come to call sinners, not people who think they have God’s approval.”
• Luke 5:31Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor; those who are sick do.
• Luke 8:43A woman who had been suffering from chronic bleeding for twelve years was in the crowd. No one could cure her.
• Luke 9:11But the crowds found out about this and followed him. He welcomed them, talked to them about God’s kingdom, and cured those who were sick.
• Luke 18:11The Pharisee stood up and prayed, ‘God, I thank you that I’m not like other people! I’m not a robber or a dishonest person. I haven’t committed adultery. I’m not even like this tax collector.
• Romans 7:9At one time I was alive without any laws. But when this commandment came, sin became alive
• Revelation 3:17You say, ‘I’m rich. I’m wealthy. I don’t need anything.’ Yet, you do not realize that you are miserable, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.

Commentaries on Matthew 9:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12They 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: - Jesus Christ represents himself here as the sovereign Physician of souls. That all stand in need of his healing power. 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…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12They that be whole … - Jesus, in reply, said that the whole needed not a physician. Sick persons only needed his aid. A physician would not commonly be found with those that were in health. His proper place was among the sick. So, says he, “If you Pharisees are such as you think yourselves - already pure and holy - you do not need my aid. It would be of no use to you, and you would not thank me for it. With those persons who feel that they are sinners I…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-13Verses 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 effectually brought to Christ, cannot but desire that others also may be brought to him. Those who suppose their souls to be without disease will not welcome the spiritual Physician. This was the case with the Pharisees; they despised Christ, because…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9-13Jesus, as Lord and Messiah, removed the obstacles that stopped righteous Jews from interacting with people considered ceremonially unclean or sinful.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them--to the Pharisees and scribes; addressing Himself to them, though they had shrunk from addressing Him. They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick--that is, "Ye deem yourselves whole; My mission, therefore, is not to you: The physician's business is with the sick; therefore eat I with publicans and sinners." Oh, what myriads of broken hearts, of sin-sick souls, have been bound up by this…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 9:12

• Capernaum
• Disease
• Ecclesiasticism
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Pharisees
• Physician
• Self-Righteousness

In the dictionaries

• Jesus
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Bridechamber
• Capernaum
• Cheer
• Comfort
• Daughter
• Eat
• Garment
• Harvest

Commentaries on Matthew 9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings