In this chapter there seems to me more rising of grace above the evil. It is not merely Jehovah's grace to heal, but after all the children of the kingdom cast out, but forgiveness, healing being the proof. He calls sinners—heals faith on the way—raises the dead when they are so—opens the eyes to see—and, in spite of the blasphemy of the Pharisees, has compassion on the multitude, those sheep without a shepherd. It does not end in rushing down to destruction. Hence it leads on to His disciples being spent for Israel, till the return of Christ, if Israel was in the Land. This is clearly sovereign grace. It was not merely present power in Israel; so that these chapters give a double character of His ways with them.
He forgives—calls public sinners to follow Him—has done with the old bottles—goes to raise the dead, for such is His journey—heals on the way there also, by faith, those who could not be healed as Israel viewed as of God—raises the dead, for she was not so in God's purpose—opens the blind eyes and unstops the deaf ears. But, in the midst of all this for the people, Israel reject Him. But He sees in the multitude the poor shepherdless sheep, and looks only at the greatness of the harvest, and will have other laborers called forth from the Lord of the harvest into His harvest. In chapter 10 He sends them forth.
In this chapter, we have to do with sins, sinners (in the same goodness in power) but it could not, i.e., His religious ways could not be put into old bottles. Verse 18 to the end is the true working and character of this in Israel. For, though divine goodness reached beyond, as in this chapter, it was still working in; so, in chapter to, the disciples are sent only to Israel.