Jesus Heals Physically and Spiritually (Mt. 9:27-34)

And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed [him], crying out, “Son of David, have pity on us!” 28 When he entered the house, the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I can do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they said to him. 29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” 30 And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” 31 But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.  32 As they were going out, a demoniac who could not speak was brought to him, 33 and when the demon was driven out the mute person spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” 34 But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the prince of demons.”

In Matthew chapters eight and nine, Jesus showed that he is a healer of all things physical and spiritual.  In these two passages, Jesus gave sight to the blind and cast out a demon from a mute person.  

As Jesus was leaving the house of Jairus, two blind men followed him and addressed him as “Son of David (Mt. 12:23),” the Messiah.  When Jesus did not answer them, the blind men followed him into the house of one of the disciples.  Jesus asked them if they truly believed that he was the Messiah and that he had the power to heal them, to give them the gift of sight, and they answered him with profound respect, “Yes, Lord (v. 28).”  Jesus touched their eyes and they were immediately healed.  Faith in Jesus was a requirement for healing and both their physical and spiritual sight were healed.  Jesus told them not to speak about their cure, but the men could not keep the miracle secret.

When the men who were cured were leaving the house, another man who was rendered dumb by demonic possession was brought to Jesus who performed an exorcism, and the man was freed from the demon and able to speak.  The crowds were amazed at Jesus’ miracles.  The evil demons recognized Jesus’ divinity (Lk. 4:34; Mt. 8:29) and the crowd recognized that there was something special about Jesus, but the obstinate spiritual leaders were filled with pride and arrogance and rejected Jesus.  In an effort to cast doubt and discredit his authority, the Pharisees accused Jesus of doing his signs and wonders through the power of Beelzebul, the Prince of demons.  

 

Almighty God, open the eyes of our understanding that we may walk in your ways and not grow weary of doing good.  Help us to trust in your power and to believe in the miracles you can work in our lives.  Grant us patience and perseverance as we live in the hope of your glory.  This we pray through Christ our Lord.  Amen!

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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.

                Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.