Harmony of the Gospels
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East Shore of Galilee
Lesson: Mute Demoniac Healed
Matthew 9:32-34
32 As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.
As Jesus went out of the house where He had restored the sight of two blind men, they brought a man to Him, who was both demon-possessed and unable to speak. From this account, it can be seen how busy Jesus was; that He was continually involved in doing good. When He completed one work of mercy, there was always someone waiting, who needed what only He could give. It is here where we can see how closely the Old Testament prophesies were fulfilled, where it said, “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert." (Isaiah 35:5-6 (KJV)
The word “dumb” often signifies one who could neither hear nor speak. That is often the case with those who are born deaf, because if they cannot hear, they can’t learn to speak. But it appears that this man could not speak, due to the cruel demon that possessed him. It would prevent his conversation with other men and stop him from ever praising God. This man did not come to Christ of his own will, but instead was brought by friends, who believed in Christ; that he had the power to heal their friend. No doubt, they called upon Jesus to remove the demon and heal him, which Jesus did.
33 And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.
I believe that as soon as Jesus looked at the man, he ordered the demon out, and it left, because it could not withstand the will of God.
The crowd that was there, who had followed the men who brought this one possessed and dumb, were amazed at what they saw and they declared, “It was never so seen in Israel.” Many wonderful things had been done in Israel, in times past, by Moses, Elijah and Elisha, but nothing like this; which had been done by Christ. They were not only referring to this miracle, but to those others which they had observed; such as curing the woman with the issue of blood, raising Jairus’ daughter from death, restoring sight to the two blind men, and now casting out a dumb devil.
34 But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.
The Pharisees hated Christ and could not bear that He would receive so much honor and glory, so they said; “He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.” They could not deny the miracle, and they couldn’t say that He had done an awful thing; in fact they had to admit that He had done a supernatural thing, and they couldn’t contradict what the people had said-that nothing like this had been done before. Therefore they chose to claim that He did these things through the power of Satan.
It appears here that the charge went unanswered, but later on in Matthew He answere this charge, “But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?" (Matt 12:24-26 (KJV)
