Matthew 9:1

Verse 1. The cure of the paralytic (verse 2), is generally supposed to have been anterior in point of time, to the cure of two possessed persons, chap. 8. Carrieres supposes the contrary. V.—Into his own city. Not of Bethlehem, where he was born, nor of Nazareth, where he was brought up, but of Capharnaum, says S. Chrysostom, where he is said to have dwelt since he began to preach. See Matthew 4:13. Witham.—S. Jerom understands this city to be Nazareth, which was Christ’s own, because he was conceived there. Saint Augustine, S. Chrysos. Euthy. Theophylactus, think it was Capharnaum, because this miracle was performed at the last mentioned place, according to Saint Mark’s relation; and Saint Matthew calls it Christ’s own city, because after leaving Nazareth, he chose Capharnaum for the chief place of his abode. If S. Jerom’s interpretation be admitted, we must suppose that Saint Matthew having told us that Christ came to his own city, Nazareth, and omitting to relate what happened there, passed immediately to the history of the cure of the paralytic, which took place at Capharnaum. Such omissions and change of place without the reader’s being informed of the transition, are not unfrequent in the evangelists. We must likewise observe that they frequently invert the order of facts, as to the time of their happening. Jansen.—Christ may be said to have had three cities: Bethlehem, in which he was born; Nazareth, in which he was educated; and Capharnaum, in which he most frequently resided, during his sacred ministry. It is most probable, and most generally understood, that in this place of the Scripture Capharnaum is meant; though several understand it of Nazareth, and some few with Sedulius, li. 3. carm.

Intravit natale solum, quo corpore nasci

Se voluit, patriamque sibi pater ipse dicavit.