Showing posts with label Deaf. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Deaf. Show all posts

Thursday, June 13, 2019

#63 The Blind, Dumb, and Possessed are Healed


#63 The Blind, Dumb, and Possessed are Healed
Please first read: Matthew 9:27-34; JST Matthew 9:36

Jesus the Christ

Apostle James E. Talmage

            “Two other instances of miraculous healing are chronicled by Matthew as closely following the raising of the daughter of Jairus. As Jesus passed down the streets of Capernaum, presumably on His departure from the house of the ruler of the synagog, two blind men followed Him, crying out: “Thou son of David, have mercy on us.” This title of address was voiced by others at sundry times, and in no case do we find record of our Lord disclaiming it or objecting to its use. Jesus paused not to heed this call of the blind, and the two sightless men followed Him, even entering the house after Him. Then He spoke to them, asking: “Believe ye that I am able to do this?” and they replied, “Yea, Lord.” Their persistency in following the Lord was evidence of their belief that in some way, though to them unknown and mysterious, He could help them; and they promptly and openly confessed that belief. Our Lord touched their eyes, saying: “According to your faith be it unto you.” The effect was immediate; their eyes were opened. They were explicitly instructed to say nothing of the matter to others; but, rejoicing in the inestimable blessing of sight, “they spread abroad his fame in all that country.” So far as we can unravel the uncertain threads of sequence in the works of Christ, this is the earliest instance, recorded with attendant details, of His giving sight to the blind. Many remarkable cases [will] follow.

            “It is worthy to note that in blessing the sightless by the exercise of His healing power, Jesus usually ministered by some physical contact in addition to uttering the authoritative words of command or assurance. In this instance, as also in that of two blind men who sat by the wayside, He touched the sightless eyes; in the giving of sight to the blind indigent in Jerusalem He anointed the man’s eyes with clay; to the eyes of another He applied saliva. An analogous circumstance is found in the healing of one who was deaf and defective of speech, in which instance the Lord put his fingers into the man’s ears and touched his tongue. In no case can such treatment be regarded as medicinal or therapeutic. Christ was not a physician who relied upon curative substances, nor a surgeon to perform physical operations; His healings were the natural results of the application of a power of His own. It is conceivable that confidence, which is a stepping-stone to belief, as that in turn is to faith, may have been encouraged by these physical ministrations, strengthened and advanced to a higher and more abiding trust in Christ, on the part of the afflicted who had not sight to look upon the Master’s face and derive inspiration therefrom, nor hearing to hear His uplifting words. There is apparent not alone an entire absence of formula and formalism in His ministration, but a lack of uniformity of procedure quite as impressive.

            “As the two men, once sightless but now seeing, departed, others came, bringing a dumb friend whose affliction seems to have been primarily due to the malignant influence of an evil spirit rather than to any organic defect. Jesus rebuked the wicked spirit – cast out the demon that had obsessed the afflicted one and held him in the tyranny of speechlessness. The man’s tongue was loosened, he was freed from the evil incubus and was no longer dumb.”


Notes on the Miracles of Our Lord

R.C. Trench

            “We have here the first of those many healings of the blind recorded (Matthew 12, 20, 21; John 9) or alluded to (Matthew 11) in the Gospels; each of them a literal fulfillment of that prophetic word of Isaiah concerning the days of Messiah: “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened.” (Isaiah 35)


Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Alfred Edersheim

Several happenings occur here that should be noted.

1.      For the first time we observe the presence and murmuring of the scribes who will be bitter enemies of the Savior from now on.
2.      For the first time of record Jesus makes a “distinct declaration about the forgiveness of sins.” He does not claim power to do so, but a seed is planted.
3.      At a loss for a better reason Jesus’ opponents claim he is doing his works by the power of darkness, by satanic agency from the evil one. This is not new but is becoming more widespread. Some had already raised this against John the Baptist. Accusations against Jesus of working in league “through the ruler of the demons will intensify.” (Matthew 9:33-34)


Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, Volume 1

Apostle Bruce R. McConkie

            “Messianic prophecies foretold that Jesus would work mighty miracles, heal the sick, raise the dead, cause the lame to walk, “the blind to receive their sight,” and the deaf to hear, and that he would cure all manner of diseases. (Mosiah 3:5)

            “Matthew 9:27-31 Frequently opening the eyes of the blind, Jesus, as here, coupled his spoken command with some physical act. On this and other occasions he touched the sightless eyes. (Matthew 20:30-34) In healing the man in Jerusalem who was blind from birth, he anointed the man’s eyes with clay made with spittle and then he had the man wash in the pool of Siloam. (John 9:6-7) The blind man of Bethsaida was healed by application of saliva to his eyes. (Mark 8:22-26) Similarly, in healing a deaf man with a speech impediment, Jesus both touched the man’s tongue and put his own fingers into the man’s ears. (Mark 7:32-37)

            “None of these unusual and dissimilar acts are essential to the exercise of healing power. Healing miracles are performed by the power of faith and in the authority of the priesthood. By doing these physical acts, however, the Master’s apparent purpose was to strengthen the faith of the blind or deaf person, persons who were denied the ability to gain increased assurance and resultant faith by seeing his countenance or hearing his words.”


Life and Words of Christ

Cunningham Geikie

Galilee was one of the most receptive areas for Jesus. Wherever he went multitudes sought after and followed him. He now returns to Peter’s house. Many greet him as the long-expected Messiah with “have mercy on us son of David.” Many lived under conditions that were deemed to be punishments from God against them for something done wrong. Destitute, uneducated, leprous, no family, childless, blind. Many of these were quick to profess faith that Jesus could heal and help them – and he did so. Many others considered them stricken of God, “dead,” by the hard Judaism of that day. Yet here is Jesus associating with them and healing all. “Either He or they must be totally wrong.”

Glenn R. McGettigan
June 2019

References


“Notes on the Miracles of Our Lord.” Trench
“The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah.” Volume 1. Edersheim

“Life and Words of Christ.” Geikie