You have probably heard someone say before that we need to “exercise” our faith. In Hebrews chapter 12, we read, “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1b-2a). Jesus is both the author and finisher. He is the one who both puts us on the starting blocks and helps us cross the finish line; so long as we keep our spiritual eyes fixed on Him. The race that we run is a faith race, and we need to exercise our faith if we want to cross over into victory.
Down in the same chapter of Hebrews, we read, “Strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed” (Hebrews 12:12-13). When a person’s hands are left unused, they can lose their strength; and unused legs can lead to weak knees. This is called “muscular atrophy.” Strengthening the hands and knees (v. 12) is weight training and resistance exercise. Making straight paths (v. 13) is a running program, and equates to weight bearing exercise; and both kinds of exercise are needed to become stronger physically.(1)
In addition to physical exercise, we also need spiritual exercise; and in our passage today, we will see two blind men who had to exercise their faith, to cross the finish line of healing and receive their sight. Also, as a play on words, we will see another kind of exercise; or rather, “exorcise,” as in the exorcism of demons. So, if you are intrigued, let us go ahead and begin looking at this passage, starting with verses 27-31:
The Exercising of Faith (vv. 27-31)
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.”
In verses 27-31, we see healing through exercising – the exercising of one’s faith, that is. In verse 27, we read that, as Jesus left the house of Jairus, two blind men followed Him; but Matthew does not tell us why they were blind. “Blindness was sometimes a punishment for disobedience (1 Samuel 11:2; Jeremiah 39:7); sometimes the effect of old age.”(2) And, sometimes people were simply born blind. “Blindness was a distressingly common disease in [ancient] Palestine. It came partly from the glare of the eastern sun on unprotected eyes, and partly because people knew nothing of the importance of cleanliness and hygiene.”(3) “The records state that Jesus healed at least six blind men, and each case was different.”(4)
We also see in verse 27 how the two blind men cried aloud, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” “This was the same as if they had called him Messiah.”(5) It was the “opinion at this time in Judea, that the Messiah should be Son of David; that Jesus Christ was . . . acknowledged as coming from this stock,”(6) or this bloodline. “For centuries the Jews had awaited the promised deliverer of David’s line, the leader and the commander who would not only restore their freedom, but who would lead them to power and glory, and greatness, and world conquest. It was in that way that these blind men thought of Jesus; they saw Him as the wonder-worker who would lead the people to victory, to freedom, and to conquest.”(7)
Verse 28 states, “And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him.” According to commentator Adam Clark, it was “the house of Peter at Capernaum, where He ordinarily lodged.”(8) Notice how Jesus refused to acknowledge them or heal them out on the street. It could have been that He did not want to draw attention to the fact that He was indeed the Messiah, which I will talk about more in a moment. But maybe Jesus wanted these two men to come to Peter’s house to have a more intimate encounter with the Savior; to have a “one-on-one” with Him. Allow me to share an observation made by commentator William Barclay.
He says that Jesus “did not answer them in the streets; they had to come to Him in the house. It is the law of the spiritual life that, sooner or later, a man must confront Jesus alone. It is all very well to make a decision for Jesus on the flood-tide of emotion of some great gathering . . . But after the crowd, a man must go home and be alone; after the fellowship he must go back to the essential isolation of every human soul; and what really matters is not what a man does in the crowd, but what he does when he is alone with Christ. Jesus compelled these men to face Him alone.”(9) It is a common experience for a person to kneel at their bedside before kneeling at the altar; to know Jesus through private prayer before publicly confessing Him as Savior and Lord.
Continuing in verse 28, we read, “And Jesus said to them, ‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’” Do what? Well, we can surmise that they asked Jesus to restore their sight. In the Bible, “blindness is a picture of spiritual ignorance and unbelief.”(10) In the hymn “Amazing Grace,” John Newton declared, “I once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see!” Perhaps you have been walking through life spiritually blind; or rather, lost in your sin. If so, then let me ask you, “Have you had a one-on-one, heart-to-heart talk with the Lord? Have you come to realize that your own way is not working and that Jesus is the only one who can heal you? Have you confessed your sins to Him and asked for His healing touch? Do you believe that He can save you?”
At the end of verse 28, the two men confessed their belief that Jesus could heal them; and in verses 29-30a, we read that “He touched their eyes, saying, ‘According to your faith let it be to you.’ And their eyes were opened.” “Faith is the medium through which God releases His healing power.”(11) In this passage, healing depended on the faith of the two blind men at the direct word of Jesus. However, “Scripture is full of examples of people other than the person being prayed for as sources of healing faith,”(12) like the centurion’s servant who was healed by the centurion’s faith (Matthew 8:5-13), or the paralytic who was healed by the faith of those who lowered him through a hole in the roof (Mark 2:1-5). A lost person must individually ask for spiritual healing and believe for it; but this does not exempt us from praying for someone’s salvation, as “the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16).
In verses 30b-31, we read, “And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, ‘See that no one knows it.’ But when they had departed, they spread the news about Him in all that country.” The phrase “sternly warned them” (enebrimesato autois) can also be translated as “charged them severely” or “on pain of His displeasure.” It comes from a root word (brimaomai) meaning, “to roar or storm with anger.”(13) This phrase “is used of horses snorting, [and] of men fretting or being angry.”(14) Commentator F. F. Bruce says that “Jesus looked severely, contracting His eyebrows, and [shook] His head at them,” as He warned them, noting how people of that culture demonstrated this behavior when they desired secrets to be kept.(15)
So, what was the big secret? The theological term is “The Messianic Secret.” Back in verse 27, these two men had been declaring Jesus as the “Son of David,” which was one of His titles; and as I said, Jesus refused to acknowledge them or heal them publicly, because He did not want to draw attention to the fact that He was the Messiah. So, why would Jesus want to hide this fact? Well, allow me to explain as I reference a couple other passages. In Mark 1:40-45, Jesus healed a leper and warned him not to tell anyone about it; but he did so anyway, and the text says that “Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction” (v. 45). “Jesus knew the publicity about the healing would hinder His ability to minister in the area,”(16) but there was an even greater risk than hindering his freedom of movement.
In Mark 8:27-31, when Peter, speaking for the rest of the disciples, declared Jesus to be the Christ, the text says that “Jesus strictly warned them that they should tell no one about Him” (v. 30). “Jesus was aware that the people, and even the disciples, did not yet [fully] understand that He came to die on the cross for sin. They were awaiting the appearance of the Messiah as the conqueror who would free the Jews from Roman oppression. If the crowds attempted to press Him into service in such a way, His mission and message would be compromised.”(17) Verse 31 says, “And He [immediately] began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.” Let us now look at another kind of exercise (exorcise), seen in verses 32-34:
The Exorcising of Demons (vv. 32-34)
32 As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed. 33 And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying, “It was never seen like this in Israel!” 34 But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons.”
In verses 32-34, we see healing through exorcising – the exorcising of a demon, that is. Back in verses 27-31, the two blind men had a physically malady that was either congenital or caused by the environment; but here, this man’s inability to speak is attributed to demons. In another sermon,(18) I mentioned how the notion of demon-possession makes a lot of people uncomfortable. The secular world thinks the idea is crazy and the church feels like it is condemning. But the Greek word here, daimonizomenon (v. 32), has nothing to do with demons owning a person or being in absolute control of them. It comes from the Greek verb daimonizomai, which is best transliterated “demonized.”(19) This term means to come under demonic influence; to be subject to periodic attacks that may affect a person physically, mentally, and spiritually.(20)
Commentator John Wimber tells us that “Scripture describes three areas of [a person’s life] that may be affected by ‘demonization’: the physical, mental, and spiritual. Physical afflictions were numerous, including [muteness] and blindness, epilepsy, high fever, and [being crippled].”(21) However, “Scripture makes a distinction between ‘natural [causes]’ and ‘demonic causes’ of physical and mental illness. In some instances, the sick were described as being ‘demonized,’ and in others they were simply called ‘sick.’ In seventeen instances in the gospels and [in] Acts this distinction is made . . . Those whose physical or mental illness was caused by demons had [the] demons cast out. Those whose sickness had a physical cause were not delivered of evil spirits,”(22) but were healed in another way, like the laying on of hands and prayer.
This man, in verses 32-34, was unable to speak as he was influenced by a demon. But “when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke” (v. 33). He was healed! And the multitudes said, “It was never seen like this in Israel!” Commentator John Gill notes how the crowd “declared very frankly, that though many wonderful things had been done in Israel, in times past, by Moses, Elijah, Elisha, and others, yet never were such things seen, or heard, or known of, as were done by Christ: referring not only to this miracle, but to all the rest He had [recently performed]; as [in] curing the woman of her [issue of blood], raising Jairus’s daughter from the dead, restoring sight to the two blind men, and now casting out a dumb devil.”(23) The way that Gill describes this demon is appropriate: a “dumb devil” or a “dumb demon.” Amen?
We read in verse 34, “But the Pharisees said, ‘He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons’.” The Pharisees had the habit of always following Jesus around with a critical and judgmental eye. Up to this point, we know they were at the “Sermon on the Mount,” since Jesus taught that one’s righteousness should exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 5:20). The Pharisees followed Jesus to Matthew’s house and criticized Him for eating with tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 9:9-11). And continuing beyond today’s text, we see how they followed Jesus as He and His disciples walked through the grain fields picking heads of grain to eat (Matthew 12:1-8); and they followed Him to the synagogue where He healed a man with a withered hand (Matthew 12:9-14). When Jesus departed from the synagogue, the Pharisees followed Him as He taught the multitudes, and they derided Him once again as having a demon (Matthew 12:24).
Here, in Matthew 9:34, it seems as though the Pharisees got away with mocking Him, as this is where the narrative stops; but Jesus later had a chance to answer them. In Matthew 12:24, the Pharisees repeated themselves, saying, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons." The Scripture continues, “But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? . . . But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you’” (Matthew 12:25-26, 28).
There are two things we can learn from how Jesus answered the Pharisees in Matthew chapter 12. First, the Pharisees were struggling with their thoughts. Matthew tells us that “Jesus knew their thoughts” (12:25). In 2 Corinthians chapter 2, verse 11, the apostle Paul said that Satan takes advantage of people through his schemes or deceptions; and in 2 Corinthians chapter 11, verse 3, he states, “I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” There was a battle going on within the minds of the Pharisees on whether to believe or not believe.
Secondly, Jesus exorcising the demon from the mute man proved that the kingdom of had had arrived: “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you” (12:28). In addition to proving that the kingdom of God had arrived, the healing of the mute also proved that Jesus is the Messiah. The issue with which the Pharisees were struggling, was whether to have faith in Jesus or reject Him; and this is the issue that people struggle with even today. The battle going on within the minds of the Pharisees was a faith struggle; and as we just learned, faith is needed for healing – and this includes spiritual healing as well.
Time of Reflection
Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” and Romans 6:23 tells us, “The wages of sin is death.” None of us is without sin. We all have this spiritual sickness. We are all guilty, and the penalty for sin is death; spiritual death, which is eternal separation from God, being confined to a horrible place called hell. Those who are condemned by sin, not having known Jesus Christ, are called “lost.” If you realize today that you are lost in sin, the way to be forgiven and receive spiritual healing is seen in the example of the two blind men. First, they came under conviction that He is indeed Messiah and Savior. Secondly, they came to Him and pleaded for His mercy. Thirdly, they had faith they could be healed; and last, they acknowledged Jesus as Lord.
Perhaps someone here today, like one of the Pharisees, is wrestling with your thoughts, concerning whether you believe in Jesus or not. But if you do believe that He is God’s one and only Son, who died on the cross for your sins, and rose again from the grave, then you need to say as much. You need to confess Jesus as Savior and plead for His mercy; and by your faith, you will be healed. Confess Him as Lord and you will receive the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
NOTES
(1) “Bone Is Living Tissue That Responds to Exercise by Becoming Stronger,” National Osteoporosis Foundation: www.nof.org/prevention/exercise.htm (Accessed November 30, 2009).
(2) Matthew G. Easton, “Easton’s Bible Dictionary,” Power BibleCD (Bronson, MI: Online Publishing, Inc.).
(3) William Barclay, “The Gospel of Matthew,” The Daily Study Bible, vol. 1 (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1958), p. 357.
(4) Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, Il: Victor Books, 1989), p. 36.
(5) Adam Clarke, “Matthew – Acts,” Clarke’s Commentary, vol. 5 (New York: Abingdon), p. 113.
(6) Ibid., p. 113.
(7) Barclay, p. 358.
(8) Clarke, p. 113.
(9) Barclay, p. 359.
(10) Wiersbe, p. 36.
(11) John Wimber, Power Healing (New York: HarperCollins, 1987), p. 141.
(12) Ibid., p. 141.
(13) Clarke, p. 114.
(14) A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, vol. 1 (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1930), p. 75.
(15) Ibid., p. 75.
(16) “What Is the Messianic Secret?” Got Questions: https://www.gotquestions.org/Messianic-secret.html (Accessed December 30, 2024).
(17) Ibid.
(18) “The Demons Will Flee,” based on Matthew 8:28-24.
(19) Neil T. Anderson, The Bondage Breaker (Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2000), p. 186.
(20) Wimber, pp. 109-110.
(21) Ibid., p. 108.
(22) Ibid., pp. 108-109.
(23) John Gill, John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible: https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/matthew-9-28.html (Accessed December 30, 2024).
