sermon: When You Look at Jesus What Do You See Matthew 9:27–34
Truth Taught- Jesus is the Messiah King, the merciful Son of David
Introduction
Today we are going to look at two miracles of Jesus. The first is the healing of two blind men and the second we will Jesus casting out a demon from a man who because of the demon could not speak.
These miracles are reported to show us that the Kingdom of God has come. It’s come because the King is here.
Matthew 9:27–34 (ESV)
27 And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” 28 When he entered 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 be it done to you.” 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it.” 31 But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.
32 As they were going away, behold, a demon-oppressed man who was mute was brought to him. 33 And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.” 34 But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.”
1. Blind Men, See
27 And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” 28 When he entered 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 be it done to you.” 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it.” 31 But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.
A study of the Old Testament will show that there are no examples of blind people being healed. None. In the New Testament other than in the Gospels there are no examples of anyone being healed from blindness. In Acts we do have the account of Paul whom Jesus strikes with blindness for three days.
Acts 9:8–9 (ESV)
8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
This, however, is different. So, only in the Gospels do we see blindness being healed. In the ministry of Jesus healing blindness is the most predominant of all Jesus’ healings, more than healing the lame, demon possessed, mute, deaf or any other miracle.
Restoring sight to the blind is the miracle that points the most to Jesus being God and the Messiah.
Isaiah 35:5–6 (ESV)
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.
For waters break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;
Exodus 4:11 (ESV)
11 Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?
Psalm 146:8 (ESV)
8 the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
the Lord loves the righteous.
Isaiah 29:18 (ESV)
18 In that day the deaf shall hear
the words of a book,
and out of their gloom and darkness
the eyes of the blind shall see.
As we look to our text this morning we see two blind men following Jesus for the purpose of being healed.
I want to ask you today, what do these two blind men see? You might say well that’s a foolish question, they don’t see anything, they’re blind. Actually, these two blind men see more than many in Palestine in those days.
Now, they do see a few things about our Lord. They know. Buy their words we notice at least three truths that to some degree, they understood.
They realized that Jesus is merciful, kind, and compassionate. He is willing to save them.
They also realize Jesus is powerful. He is able to save them.
They believed that Jesus is more than a healer but is, in fact, the Son of David. Here is something very amazing. No one yet in the gospels has called Jesus by this title. In other words they didn’t pick up on a buzzword or chatter from the crowd, no they somehow perceived that Jesus is the Messiah King, the Son of David. He has the authority to heal. The title Son of David is a Messianic distinction. Jesus does not need help here. He alone can do it.
These two blind men perceive that Jesus is the promised Son of David…
2 Samuel 7:11–17 (ESV)
11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’ ” 17 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.
These two blind men knew that Jesus was the Son of David this also means Messiah. They also knew that when the Messiah King comes one of the great miracles He will do is give sight to the blind.
Isaiah 42:7 (ESV)
7 to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
from the prison those who sit in darkness.
Matthew also records that they were continually crying out and even when Jesus went into a house they went in with Him. Do you see how determined they were?
Why did Jesus wait to heal them? Why did He want to see persistence? Beloved when we go to God in prayer and we don’t receive what we for immediately our faith grows as we keep praying. For the elect, waiting grows faith through struggle and trial. We don’t always get the things we pray for quickly do we? This is God’s kindness to cause us to be persistent and our faith will grow.
What is it that you’ve been praying for? Keep praying.
Luke 11:8–10 (ESV)
8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
These men were persistent because they knew who Jesus was. They knew that He was the King of 2 Sameul. They knew He would sit on His eternal throne and that He is a King of mercy and compassion.
Then after they are healed by Jesus touching them our Lord declares that like those from last week, their faith has healed 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 be it done to you.” 30 And their eyes were opened
Then Jesus gives them a stern warning to not say anything about this to anyone. Why would He say that? People will get the wrong idea about what kind of King Jesus is. They thought He would be some sort of military leader. It’s not until the cross that we see exactly what kind of King Jesus truly is. He’s the King who is crucified for His people. He is the King who is willing to die for His people. Until the cross, Jesus often told those whom He healed not to tell anyone. Well they couldn’t contain themselves, they told everyone.
2. The Seeing are Often Blind
32 As they were going away, behold, a demon-oppressed man who was mute was brought to him. 33 And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.” 34 But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.”
This second miracle is not as detailed. Matthew simply reports that the demon-possessed man was brought to Jesus. Because of the demon possession the man could not speak. Once Jesus cast the demon out the man began to talk freely.
Here Matthew gives us two opposed views of who Jesus is.
And the crowds marveled, saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.”
The crowd saw the miracle and they concluded that this miracle has amazing effects. Their statement is we’ve never seen anything like this in Israel. Not just Israel a place but what they mean is that they’ve never seen anything like this among God’s people, His covenant people. They’ve never seen anything like this among the leaders, the teachers, the Scribes or the Pharisees. This is something altogether new.
The people saw that Jesus was the Messiah King. The two options here are either Jesus is Messianic or Satanic. The two blind men saw so much clearer even while blind that the Pharisees could see with their eyes.
34 But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.”
One thing about the Pharisees you can always depend on them to get it wrong. This time they couldn’t be more wrong.
They were so concerned with their tradition that they were always missing it when it came to Jesus.
What was their response when Jesus declare that the paralytic’s sins were forgiven? They said Jesus was blaspheming because only God can forgive sin.
Their traditions had to be upheld at all costs. They had the Messiah King right before them doing exactly what the Bible said He would be doing and they concluded that Jesus is not Messianic but Satanic.
When a person places tradition over the Word of God then they feel required to defend their tradition especially when God’s Word goes a different direction.
They were looking for another type of Messiah. They were not looking for a merciful King. Jesus’ love, mercy and compassion disturbed their theology.
When we read the fact that they concluded Jesus was demonic we rightly gasp in horror.
When you look at Jesus what do you see?
*Resources Used:
Matthew by D A Carson in the Expositor’s Bible Commentary
A Theology of Matthew by Charles Quarles
A Gospel of Matthew by France
Matthew by Craig Bloomberg
Matthew by Doriani
Matthew by Charles Price
Matthew by Leon Morris
Blue Letter Bible
