Matthew 9: 27 – 31
The Doctor Is In
27 When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” 28 And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” 29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, “See that no one knows it.” 31 But when they had departed, they spread the news about Him in all that country.
The raising of the Ruler’s daughter from the dead is now followed by a further Messianic sign, the opening of the eyes of the blind. In this incident there are two blind men who are healed.
27 When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!”
Not only is this a Messianic sign following closely on the previous one, and deliberately connected to it, but it is also a picture of what will follow the resurrection. Blind eyes will be opened to an acceptance of the Messiah. For it is those who ‘see’ who are blessed. And this will be because of the merciful response of ‘the Son of David’.
We need not assume that our Lord Jesus had ignored their pleas. He may well have been unaware of them. He may have had the purpose in it of being able to speak to them privately. Or He may not have wanted to respond in an open way to that designation at this point in His ministry. It could have raised false expectations.
28 And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”
The persistence of the blind men is brought out here. They had not only cried out but had followed Him home. And for two blind men that would not have been a simple thing to do. But their faith and desire was such that they persisted. They would not be denied. So our Great and Mighty Lord Jesus asks them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” He wants them to appreciate Who it is Who will actually do this. Note that He does not say, ‘Do you believe that God is able to do this? As in the case of the leper the point is being made that it is dependent on His will whether it is done or not.
Their reply is a simple confirmation of their faith. They have no doubt. They are confident in His power. This contrasts greatly with the ‘little faith’ of the disciples. That is not, however, fully fair to the disciples, for these people had concentrated their faith on one great thing, which the disciples would by now know that He could do, but the disciples were being called on to learn slowly that they had to trust Him in every aspect of their lives.
We note again the use of ‘Lord’. This is in a very full sense, even if only because they see Him as the Son of David. But it was heightened by the fact that they saw Him as a unique healer and prophet. It was reverence of the highest magnitude.
29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.”
Our Precious Holy Lord Jesus makes clear that He is responding to their faith. He uses His touch of power, touching their eyes and declaring that He is responding to their faith. The lesson is clear. All who come to the Messiah in faith can have their eyes opened.
30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, “See that no one knows it.”
In the book of Isaiah chapter 35 verse 5 it is stated concerning the coming age, ‘the eyes of the blind will be opened’, and here it was happening before all eyes. It was declaring to them, “The Messiah, the son of David’ is among you. The Kingdom of God is here.’ Then The Lord Jesus told them not to spread abroad what had happened. It was a private miracle done within a private house, and that was how He wanted it to remain. As ever our Master Lord Jesus aim was to curtail the crowds and prevent Himself from being swamped so He could continue to spread the ‘Good News’.
31 But when they had departed, they spread the news about Him in all that country.
But His words fell on ‘deaf’ ears. They went out and told everywhere what had happened to them and how the Son of God, our Lord Jesus had healed them. You know the outcome, our Lord Jesus’ fame spread abroad in all the land.
By the way, how’s your eyesight lately?
