#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
