Matthew 9:27 - Meaning and Application

In these verses we see two more miracles worked together by our Savior. The first is the giving of sight to two blind men, in Matthew 9:27-31. Christ is the source of light as well as life. By raising the dead, he showed that he was the same one who first breathed life into man. By giving sight to the blind, he showed that he was the same one who first commanded light to shine out of darkness.

Notice, first, how urgently the blind men came to Christ. He was leaving the ruler’s house and going to his own lodging, and these blind men followed him, calling out again and again, as beggars often do (Matthew 9:27). The one who heals sickness so easily, so fully, and at no cost will always have many people seeking him. In a way, he was known as a healer of the eyes.

Notice also the title they gave him: “Son of David, have mercy on us.” The promise that the Messiah would come from David’s family was well known, and so the Messiah was often called the Son of David. At this time, people were generally expecting him to appear. These blind men knew it, admitted it, and proclaimed it in the streets of Capernaum, that he had come and that this was he. That makes the sin and folly of the chief priests and Pharisees even worse, because they denied and opposed him. They could not see him or his miracles, but faith comes by hearing. Those who are deprived of bodily sight may still, by God’s grace, have their understanding opened so they can see the great things of God, which are hidden from the wise and sensible.

Notice their request: “Have mercy on us.” It was foretold that the Son of David would be merciful (Psalm 72:12-13), and in him shines “the tender mercy of our God” (Luke 1:78). Whatever our needs and burdens may be, we need nothing more for support and help than a share in the mercy of our Lord Jesus. Whether he heals us or not, if he has mercy on us, that is enough. As for the exact form his mercy takes, we may safely leave that to his wisdom. They did not each speak for himself, saying, “Have mercy on me,” but together they said, “Have mercy on us.” That is fitting for those under the same trouble, because they should join in the same prayers for relief. Fellow sufferers should be fellow petitioners. In Christ there is enough for all.

Notice, too, their persistence in asking. They followed him, crying out. It seems he did not answer them at once, because he wanted to test their faith, which he knew was strong. He also wanted to stir up their prayers and make his cures more valued when they did not always come at the first request. In this way he teaches us to keep praying and not give up, to wait for an answer, and to follow providence even when it seems to ignore or oppose our prayers. Christ would not heal them publicly in the street, because he wanted to keep this healing private (Matthew 9:30). But when he went into the house, they followed him there and came to him. Christ’s door is always open to believers who keep asking with urgency. It may have seemed bold for them to come into the house after him when he wished to withdraw, but our Lord Jesus is so kind that they were no bolder than welcome.

Then Christ drew from them a confession of faith. When they came asking for mercy, he asked, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” Faith is the great condition for receiving Christ’s blessings. Those who want Christ’s mercy must firmly trust his power. What we ask him to do, we must be fully sure he is able to do. They had followed Christ and cried to him, but the main question was, “Do you believe?” Nature can make people earnest, but only grace can produce faith. Spiritual blessings are received only by faith. They had already shown belief in Christ as the Son of David and in his mercy, but now Christ also asks for open trust in his power. “Do you believe that I am able to do this,” to give sight to the blind, just as he heals the lame and raises the dead? It is good to be specific in faith, applying God’s general power and promises to our own needs. If all things work together for good, then this need also will work for good.

When Christ asked whether they believed he was able to do it, he was asking more than whether he could ask God for help as a prophet. He was asking whether they believed he could do it by his own power. That points to faith in him not only as the Son of David, but as the Son of God. It is God’s special power to open blind eyes (Psalm 146:8); he makes the seeing eye (Exodus 4:11). Job was eyes to the blind, meaning he helped them like someone who could see for them (Job 29:15), but he could not give sight to the blind. The question still reaches us: do we believe that Christ is able to help us through the power of his merit and intercession in heaven, his Spirit and grace in the heart, and his providence and rule in the world? To believe Christ’s power is not only to agree that it is real, but to rest ourselves in it and draw courage from it.

They answered at once, without hesitation, “Yes, Lord.” Even though he had kept them waiting and had not helped them right away, they honestly took that as wisdom, not weakness. They still trusted his ability. The riches of mercy stored up in Christ’s power are given out and worked for those who trust in him (Psalm 31:19).

Then Christ healed them by touching their eyes (Matthew 9:29). He did this to strengthen the faith he had tested by delay, and to show that he gives sight to blind souls through the work of his grace along with the word, as if he were putting eye-salve on their eyes. He tied the healing to their faith: “According to your faith let it be done to you.” When they asked for healing, he first examined their faith (Matthew 9:28), asking, “Do you believe that I am able?” He did not ask whether they had money to pay him, or whether their reputation would improve from the healing. He asked about their faith. Now that they had openly confessed that faith, he made the blessing depend on it. He was saying, in effect, “I know that you do believe, and the power you trust in will be used for you.” This shows that he knows the sincerity of their faith and approves of it. That is a great comfort to true believers, because Jesus Christ knows their faith and is pleased with it. Even if it is weak, even if others do not notice it, even if they themselves doubt it, he knows it.

Jesus also made faith a condition. He said, in effect, “If you believe, you will receive what you are asking for.” Those who come to Christ are dealt with according to their faith, not according to their imagination or outward profession, but according to real faith. Unbelievers can expect no favor from God, but true believers may be sure of all the grace offered in the gospel. Our comfort rises or falls with the strength of our faith, and we are not limited in Christ unless we limit ourselves.

Jesus also told them to keep the matter private, saying, “See that no one knows about it” (Matthew 9:30). He gave this command to teach humility. In the good we do, we should not seek our own praise, but only God’s glory. We should care more about being useful than about being noticed, as Proverbs says about wise, careful conduct (Proverbs 20:6; Proverbs 25:27). In this way Christ matched his own rule, “Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.”

Some think Jesus also kept it private to show displeasure toward the people of Capernaum, who had seen many miracles and still did not believe. When Christ silences those who should proclaim his works, that is a judgment on a place or people. It is right for Christ to withhold proof from those who stubbornly refuse it, and to hide light from those who shut their eyes against it.

He also acted wisely to protect himself, because the more he was praised, the more the Jewish rulers would grow suspicious of his influence among the people. Dr. Whitby gives another likely reason, which matters a great deal. Jesus sometimes hid his miracles, and later told people not to spread news of his transfiguration, because he would not encourage the harmful Jewish idea that the Messiah would be a merely earthly king. That false hope could stir people to make him king by force, as they tried to do (John 6:15). After his resurrection, which fully proved his mission, his spiritual kingdom was established, so that danger was past, and his works could be published to all nations. Whitby also notes that Jesus’ miracles among the Gentiles and the Gadarenes were allowed to be known, because that same danger was not present there.

But honor is like a shadow, it runs from those who chase it and follows those who flee from it (Matthew 9:31). The men spread his fame abroad. Their zeal was greater than their prudence. Their aim was good, but they still acted against a clear command, so their action cannot be justified. Whenever we say we are aiming at God’s glory, we must still make sure our actions agree with God’s will.

Next comes the healing of a dumb man who was possessed by a demon. His condition was very sad. In this case the demon had made him unable to speak (Matthew 9:32). This shows the misery of the world, and the many forms suffering can take. No sooner have we left two blind men than we meet a dumb man. How thankful we should be to God for sight and speech. It also shows Satan’s hatred of mankind and the many ways he works harm.

This man’s silence came from being demon-possessed, but it was better to be unable to speak than to speak as the demon-possessed men did, “What do you want with us?” (Matthew 8:29). Of the two, it is better to have a silent demon than a blaspheming one. When the devil gains control of a soul, that soul is made silent about what is good, mute in prayer and praise, which the devil hates. This poor man was brought to Christ, and Jesus welcomed not only those who came on their own faith, but also those brought by others in the faith of their friends. Even though the righteous live forever by their own faith, God may grant temporary mercies because of the faith of those who plead for them.

They brought him in just as the blind man was leaving. See how tireless Christ was in doing good, with one gracious work following another. Mercy upon mercy is stored in him. It can keep flowing out, but it can never be used up.

The cure was sudden. When the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke (Matthew 9:33). Christ’s healings go to the root. He removes the cause, and the effect disappears. He opens the lips by breaking Satan’s power in the soul. In sanctification, that is, the process of being made holy, he heals bad waters by putting salt into the spring. When Christ, by his grace, casts the devil out of a soul, the mute speaks at once. When Paul was converted, he began to pray.

The crowd was amazed, and they had reason to be. Though few believed, many wondered. People are usually quicker to feel admiration than any other response. It had been foretold that the new song of the new covenant would be sung for marvelous works (Psalm 98:1). They said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel,” and in that sense nowhere else had seen such mercy. Israel had seen miracle workers before, but Christ surpassed them all. Moses’ miracles mainly concerned Israel as a nation, but Christ’s miracles touched individual people directly.

The Pharisees, however, blasphemed (Matthew 9:34). When they could not deny the clear evidence of these miracles, they claimed the works were from the devil. “He drives out demons by the prince of demons,” they said, making an accusation beyond words in its wickedness. We will hear more about this later, along with Christ’s answer to it (Matthew 12:25). Here we can see how evil people grow worse and worse (2 Timothy 3:13), and how that growth is both their sin and their punishment. Their earlier complaints about Christ, for forgiving sins (Matthew 9:3), eating with tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 9:11), and not fasting (Matthew 9:14), were still hateful, but at least they pretended to care about holiness or devotion. This charge breathes only malice, lies, and hellish hatred. It is pure demonic thinking, and it was rightly treated as unpardonable. Because the people were amazed, the Pharisees had to say something to lessen the miracle, and this was all they could say.