Two Blind Men Healed

Matthew 9:27-34

-Introduction

-The Galilean Ministry was drawing to a close.

            -This period in the life of Christ lasted approx. 18 months.

            -a time of great public popularity for Jesus

            -Multitudes continuously flocked to Jesus.

                        -He healed them and taught them.

-During this time period, several developments unfolded in a progressive manner.

            -Jesus’ revealing of Himself, abilities and teachings

            -Jesus’ development of the apostles (seen in 3 tours of Galilee)

            -opposition of the Jewish leaders (some publicly, more so under the surface)

-The Faith of the Blind Men - Matt 9:27-31

-context of what had been happening:

            -Matt 9:18-26 - Healing of Jairus’ daughter and the woman who touched Jesus’

        garment

            -In each of these cases, Jesus placed additional emphasis on faith - important to

              keep in mind for this passage.

-Matt 9:27-31

-Notice, the two blind men had followed Jesus.

            -That in itself was a display of a certain degree of faith, was it not?

            -Would it have been easy for these blind men to follow Jesus physically?

-They cried out to Jesus, “Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.”

            -“Son of David” - words of great emphasis and meaning

            -Matt 12:22-24 - passage which occurs after the passage we’re considering in terms of

                                       arrangement, yet the events within it happened before Matt 9:27-34

                                       chronologically

                        -When the people asked, “Is not this the son of David?” the Pharisees seemed to be

                          very uncomfortable and quickly tried to counter.

                        -They knew the phrase “son of David” was synonymous with the Messiah.

                                    -John 7:40-42

-In the fact that these two blind men cried out with such words revealed a degree of faith

  within them.

-Yet, notice, Jesus did not immediately fulfill their request.  Instead, He continued to a house.

-The Persistent Faith of these Blind Men

-Were these blind men discouraged?  Were they disgruntled?  Were they disheartened?

-Did they say, “Well, if that’s the way it’s going to be, then forget it”? 

            -Isn’t that what some people do today when confronted with the truth of God’s word?

            -You see, they’ve formulated something in their own minds about what they have to

              do (or not do) in order to be a Christian.

            -Yet, when presented with the truth of God’s word that presents something else, they say,

              “Well, forget that.”

            -In other words, they’re saying, “It’s my way or the highway.”

-I can’t tell you what those blind men initially thought or even said.  But, I can tell you this: 

 They didn’t desert Christ.  They didn’t give up.

-vs 28 - “...the blind men came to him...” - Again, not an easy task.

-This time, Jesus speaks to them - “Believe ye that I am able to do this?”

            -What had Jesus done by waiting to heal these men? 

            -Had he not tested their faith?

                        -see Gen 22:1

                        -Our faith is tested at times by various means.  We need to hold fast to our faith and

                          pass those tests.

                        -By doing so, we stay in the faith and grow in faith.

-These blind men answered Jesus in the affirmative, expressing their faith.

-Jesus then healed them - “...According to your faith be it unto you.”

-The Blindness of the Pharisees - Matt 9:32-34

-In these verses, we find Jesus healing another individual possessed by a demon.

-The crowds marveled.  The Pharisees criticized.

-In these two events, we find quite a contrast:  2 men who were blind (physically) yet could

  see (spiritually); Pharisees who could see (physically) but yet were blind (spiritually)

-The two physically blind men were healed through their faith, the spiritually blinded

  Pharisees chose to remain in darkness.

-Summary and Invitation

-God doesn’t want us in spiritual darkness.  Instead, He wants us to “...walk in the light, as he

  is in the light...” (1 Jn 1:7).

            -Col 1:13

-Yet, to be in the light, we must conform to God’s will.  We must be willing to serve God His

  way - His way or the highway.

-It’s not a matter of what we formulate in our own minds.  It’s a matter of what is in the mind

  of God. 

            -How can we know the mind of God?  -  1 Cor 2:9-11

-How strong is your faith?  Are you dependant upon God’s word?

-Have you obeyed the Gospel?  If not, have faith in Christ (Jn 3:16, 8:24), confess that faith

  (Mt 10:32, Rm 10:9-10), repent (Lk 13:3,5; Acts 17:30), be baptized for the forgiveness of

  sins (Mk 16:16, Acts 2:38).

-If you’ve obeyed the Gospel, have you remained faithful?  Have you continued to conform

  your will to God’s will?  If not, confess your shortcomings, repent of them and pray for

  forgiveness - 1 Jn 1:7-9, Acts 8:22-24.