Matthew 9:35-38 – Looking at Jesus our shepherd

Matthew 9:36 (translation by Allen Browne)
Seeing the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and thrown down like sheep with no shepherd.

Can you imagine how a flock sheep would behave when there is no leader around them or no shepherd?

The people listening to Jesus knew about harvesting. But we can wonder if the fishermen would have understood Jesus talking about a master of the harvest and a harvest truly being plenteous, but only having a few labourers. We can look forward to a rich harvest but still have to see that the workers are few.

People should come to see that the son of man, who is also the son of David and the son of God at the same time, as the sent one from God is next to the King also the Good Shepherd who wants all his sheep to be saved. Just as a shepherd looks after his flock when he finds himself among his scattered sheep, so Jesus also will look after his sheep, the people who God has given him. Though at his time like in our time they need rescue from all the places where they were or are scattered when it was or is cloudy and dark. (Ezechiel 34:11–12, 15–17) Like the Adonai Elohim will seek the lost, bring back the outcasts, bandage the broken, and strengthen the sick, He has given the world His only begotten beloved son to heal them and to gather them.

In this ninth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew we could see how Jesus takes care of those who are willing to belief in him and for those who put their hope in him. He is there for the needy and helpless people. Throughout the gospels we can see that Jesus was patient to listen to people and to answer their questions. He spoke to crowds, fed them, healed the sick and reached out to outcasts, even not to be afraid to mingle with them or to eat with them. Therefore he got criticized (Matthew 9 & 15)

In this world people could see many kings. But none of them managed to be as good as the king God would provide from the seed of king David.

Among the scattered sheep in exile, Ezekiel explained that God had to remove the bad kings; yet he also promised that God would raise up a son of David to rule over them again:

Ezekiel 34:10, 23 (NIV)
¹⁰ This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. …
²³ I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. {Jesus our shepherd (Matthew 9:35-38)}

Jesus looked at the people around him and could feel their agony.

Allen Browne writes

sheep harassed (skullō) and thrown down (rhiptō) under empire after empire (9:36).

But just as God had said, the promised king now stood among them in the person of Jesus. He was the ruler anointed to restore David’s kingship, the shepherd of Israel. Matthew has already used that language to describe Jesus as their king:

Matthew 2:6 (NIV)
But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.

When Matthew speaks of Jesus’ authority, this is what he means. He is Israel’s shepherd. That’s what Jesus was doing:

• announcing the good news of the kingdom;
• being the shepherd who restores his people (9:35).

That’s what he’s been doing since the start (compare 4:23).

The unshepherded sheep of Israel were scattered all over the ancient world in Jesus’ time. Drawing them back into the care of the Davidic shepherd would be a massive task.

For Jesus, it felt like standing in a field with a massive crop around him, and only a few workers to help bring them in (9:37). That’s why he asked his disciples to go and petition the Lord of the harvest to send out workers right across the harvest field, to every corner where the sheep were scattered (9:38).

The king will not complete this harvest alone. He appoints workers for his government, delegating his regal authority to those who ask him for help to harvest, to bring the earth back under his kingship (10:1).

We are not individual sheep, searching for existence in postmodern isolation for fear of being harassed and mistreated. We belong to the shepherd. He’s everyone’s shepherd. And the shepherd is drawing the scattered sheep together into a kingdom where we belong, a community where we care for each other the way the shepherd cares for us.

 

What others are saying

G. K. Beale, The Temple and the Church’s Mission: A Biblical Theology of the Dwelling Place of God (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2004), 174:

The miracles were a sign of the inbreaking new creation, where people would be completely healed.

Craig Blomberg, Matthew, New American Commentary (Nashville: B & H, 1992), 166:

The language of “sheep without a shepherd” echoes Num 27:17 and Ezek 34:5, in which the shepherd is most likely messianic (cf. Ezek 34:23). Similar sentiments will well up in Jesus again at the feeding of the five thousand (Mark 6:34). As in the days of the prophets, the rightful leadership of Israel had abdicated its responsibility, as demonstrated by its inability or unwillingness to recognize God’s true spokesmen. “Harassed and helpless” literally means torn and thrown down (cf. Berkeley, “mangled and thrown to the ground”). Predators, and possibly even unscrupulous shepherds (Zech 10:2–3; 11:16) have ravaged the sheep. Verse 36 provides a stinging rebuke to the Pharisees, scribes, and Sadducees.

Craig S. Keener, The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2009), 309:

The term Jesus uses for “workers” here recurs in 10:10 (cf. 20:1), indicating that the workers Jesus wished to send forth into the harvest were his own disciples. … After commissioning them to pray for “workers,” Jesus commissioned them as “workers” (10:10).

 

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Preceding articles

More than just a man with authority of speaking

Nazarene Commentary Matthew 4:23-25 – Kingdom Preaching and Healing Draws Crowds

Matthew 7:13-23 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The True Disciple #5 Matthew 7:28-29 – The Crowd’s Reaction

Matthew 9:27-31 – Blind Men Healed

Matthew 9:27-31 – What others are saying about the blind men recognising the son of David

Matthew 9:32-34 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Speechless Demoniac Healed

Matthew 9:32-34 – How others look at the blind, speechless and demoniac being healed

Matthew 9:35-38 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: A Preaching Tour in a Great Harvest

Authority from the One God to one mediator between God and men

Hebraic Roots Bible Matthew Chapter 28

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Additional reading

1. Written down in God’s Name for righteousness
2. Bible, helmet of health, salvation and sword of the spirit
3. Counterfeit Gospels
4. Many forgot how Christ should be our anchor and our focus
5. A birthday passed nearly unnoticed
6. Missional hermeneutics 4/5
7. Atonement And Fellowship 2/8
8. Looking for a shepherd for the sheep and goats
9. Others that hinder the message
10. Learn how to go out into the world and proclaim the Good News of the coming Kingdom
11. Which Christians Actually Evangelize
12. Jesus … will come in the same way as you saw him go

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Further related articles

1. Jesus!
2. Solemnity of Jesus Christ the king- (A): Jesus is King, Shepherd and Judge.
3. Jesus-Shepherd for All Who Believe
4. Names of Jesus – The Good Shepherd
5. “Why Is Jesus the Good Shepherd?”
6. Jesus: The Good Shepherd (ready writer)
7. Jesus The Good Shepherd (by Grace Apocalypse)
8. The Sheep of God’s Pasture
9. The Good Shepherd
10. Jesus – My Good Shepherd
11. Jesus is for Kings and Shepherds
12. The Compassionate Jesus
13. Called by Jesus the shepherd of your soul
14. How does Jesus meet our needs?
15. Every Good Work
16. What They Really Need
17. All You Have to do is Follow Jesus!

Matthew 9:35-38 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: A Preaching Tour in a Great Harvest

Matthew 9:35-38 – A Preaching Tour in a Great Harvest

MT9:35 Then Jesus went around all the towns and villages, preaching in their synagogues[1] the good news[2] of the Kingdom,[3] curing every disease and malady. MT9:36 But, observing the crowds Jesus felt sympathy[4] for them because they were torn and downtrodden[5] as if they were sheep without a shepherd. MT9:37 Then Jesus told his disciples,

“Surely, the harvest is huge, but the workers few. MT9:38 So, you disciples beg[6] the Master of the harvest[7] so that He might push[8] workers into His harvest.”

*

[1] Synagogues: Like Paul after him, Jesus uses the Jewish synagogue to spread his Gospel.

[2] Good news: The Greek is EUANGELION which means “good angel” or “good message” and thus “Gospel” or Evangel. RHM: glad-message.

[3] Of the Kingdom: The entire phrase, “the good news of the Kingdom,” occurs 6 times in the Christian Bible (Matthew 4:23; 9:35; 24:14; Luke 4:43; 8:1; Acts 8:12). This Gospel of the Kingdom may include the Father’s Kingdom but it may possibly be limited to that opportunity to enter the Realm of Profession, the Son’s kingdom (Matthew 13:41-43; Colossians 1:13).

[4] Sympathy: The Greek is ESPLAGKHNISTHE and is rendered: KJV: compassion; WEY: pity; PME: deeply moved.

[5] Torn and downtrodden: The Greek text of the KJV is slightly different than W&H and N&A. The whole phrase is also rendered: KJV: fainted, and were scattered; ASV: distressed and scattered; BER: mangled and thrown to the ground; WEY: distracted and dejected. The image of confused and frightened sheep, mistreated and abused, and abandoned by the shepherds is starkly clear.

[6] Beg: The word is rendered: KJV: pray; LAM: urge.

[7] The Master of the harvest: The Greek is KURIOU and may be rendered “master.” LAM: owner. Jesus means his Father.

[8] Push: The Greek is EKBALA and is related to the same word for casting out or exorcising demons. The word “send” seems to gentle for the meaning here. KIT: thrust out; RHM: thrust forth.

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Preceding articles

More than just a man with authority of speaking

Nazarene Commentary Matthew 4:23-25 – Kingdom Preaching and Healing Draws Crowds

Matthew 7:13-23 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The True Disciple #5 Matthew 7:28-29 – The Crowd’s Reaction

Matthew 9:27-31 – Blind Men Healed

Matthew 9:27-31 – What others are saying about the blind men recognising the son of David

Matthew 9:32-34 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Speechless Demoniac Healed

Matthew 9:32-34 – How others look at the blind, speechless and demoniac being healed

Authority from the One God to one mediator between God and men

Hebraic Roots Bible Matthew Chapter 28

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Additional reading

1. The Right One to follow and to worship
2. The saviour Jesus his human side
3. Authority given to him To give eternal life
4. Necessity of a revelation of creation 10 Instructions for insight and wisdom
5. Not following the tradition of man

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1. Fishers of Men
2. We See Your Salvation
3. The beginning of the good news of …
4. The Gospel Is Supposed To Be Good News
5. Gospel of The Kingdom
6. The Gospel of the Kingdom
7. The Gospel of the Kingdom at Hand
8. New Beginning Again for the First Time!
9. The Kingdom Of God: Luke’s Gospel
10. The Power of the Gospel and the Kingdom of God
11. The Kingdom of God | Gospel Video | “My Dream of the Heavenly Kingdom” | Gospel of the Kingdom
12. Why the NAR & its NARpostles are hostile towards Christ, His Church and the Gospel.
13. A Little Farther Down the Path: The Very Good Gospel
14. Being Justified by Grace
15. Resurrection Grace and Glory

Matthew 9:32-34 – How others look at the blind, speechless and demoniac being healed

In this chapter we find Matthew attempting to present Jesus as a unique person who is the long-awaited son of David, the Messiah who performed miracles by the power of God.

Christ heals a demoniac; a demon is expelled into the air.

In Matthew 4 we came already to read that reports about Jesus circulated as far as Syria and that lots of people wanted to come to see Jesus for his miracles. All sorts of ill people where also brought to Jesus, those faring badly, having a variety of diseases and afflicted with torments, the demon-possessed, the moonstruck and paralytics – so that Jesus could cure them.

Allen Browne in his writing of September 18, 2017 looks at this miracle worker who does not seek people’s approval so he can become their king. Marcus Ampe talking on that subject asks us also to look at Jesus who knows very well his position to be the sent one from God, the heavenly Father Who is greater than Jesus, and without Him Jesus can do nothing.

“Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” (Joh 5:19 NIV)

“”You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.” (Joh 14:28 NIV)

Jesus may see himself as the divinely appointed king (like Browne writes), but he is aware that it is God Who gave him this authority to take on that position. In a way, to show his position, so that people could recognise him as the Messiah and future king he uses his regal authority to remove every form of oppression from his people.

Browne asks us to look at Jesus his track record:

• He brings lepers back into the community (8:1).

• He helps a Roman officer who recognizes his authority (9:5-13).

• He lifts sickness and spiritual oppression from his people (8:14-17).

• He stills the storm that threatens his followers (8:23-27).

• He takes someone who was financing Israel’s oppression, giving him an appointment in his own government (9:9-13).

• He restores a dead daughter to her grieving parents (9:18-26).

• He restores sight to blind people (9:27-31).

• He sets free someone whose speech was bound (9:32-34). {Do you recognize the king’s authority? (Matthew 9:32-34)}

Can you imagine how people would be astonished seeing such incredible things?

Elisha raising the Shunammite’s Son, early 1900s Bible Card illustration

The crowds marvel at this concerted effort by their anointed king to release God’s people from every form of oppression. They can’t recall ever seeing anything like it. There’s been nothing like this since the exile 600 years ago. They recall the days of Elijah and Elisha when God had done astounding miracles to challenge Israel’s evil rulers like Ahab and Jezebel. They consider the days of Moses when God led them out of Egypt and created them as his nation. No, there had never been such a demonstration of divinely delegated authority: {Do you recognize the king’s authority? (Matthew 9:32-34)}

Matthew 9:33 The crowds marvelled:

“Nothing like this has ever been brought to light in Israel.”

In front of them is there that promised one from God, the son of David who would reign over God’s people in every generation (Matthew 9:27; 2 Samuel 7:16). His house and his kingdom was to be made sure forever, his throne established forever. Whilst people yearned for the Son of David to restore the kingdom to Israel (Psalm 89:49; Isaiah 9:7; Ezekiel 37:24). Now the people of Israel have a shepherd in their midst who walked in the ordinances of God. Now they could hear those who got a huge change in their life, even blind people came to “see” what Jesus was doing, and publicly proclaiming him as Israel’s long-awaited king.

The king is present. His authority — his appointment by God as ruler of his people — is evident to everyone.

Well, almost everyone. There are sour grapes:

Matthew 9:34 But the Pharisees were going,

“It’s by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.”

Later the Pharisees would repeat that it was by “Beelzebub the prince of the devils” Jesus was casting out devils.

“22  Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. 23 All the people were astonished and said,

“Could this be the Son of David?”

24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said,

“It is only by Beelzebub, {Greek Beezeboul or Beelzeboul; also in verse 27 } the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”

25 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them

“Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.” (Mt 12:22-27 NIV)

Browne asks us to remember how

the Pharisees were upset with Jesus for hanging around with “sinners,” sharing meals with them (9:9-13). That makes Jesus unclean in their view. How could an unclean person have authority over unclean spirits? Presumably the head of the unclean spirits could tell the spirits where to go, so they figure he must be in league with Satan (9:34).

Why were the Pharisees so blind? Why couldn’t they see what was obvious to everyone else? Jesus is liberating his people from every form or oppression, across such a wide spectrum. How could they miss all the colours of God’s liberating power at work in him, and imagine that he was in league with the enemy that wanted to destroy God’s people?

The Pharisees had a certain authority over the communities of Israel (to the extent that you could say they had authority while under foreign rule). They need to quash Jesus’ authority if they don’t want to yield theirs. They must paint him as a traitor; otherwise they themselves will be seen as traitors for failing to recognize his authority.

This confrontation increases exponentially from this point. On one side stands the king appointed by God. On the other side stand the self-appointed shepherds of Israel. They accused Jesus of siding with God’s enemy, but who are the real traitors who want to bring down God’s appointed king?

The kingdom conflict has begun. Either you recognize Jesus’ authority, or you oppose him. There is no neutral ground.

What others are saying

Michael J. Wilkins, Matthew, NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2004), 374:

Without eyes of faith the Pharisees cannot see beyond their parochial experience that God is doing something unique in Israel in the word and work of Jesus. So they gather their opposition to Jesus, both protecting their religious domain and thinking they are protecting the people from Jesus. This is an ominous tone, which tragically sets a trajectory for the cross that will inevitably come.

R. T. France, The Gospel of Matthew, New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2007), 369:

But perhaps, as this is the final crowd reaction in this anthology of works of power, we should read it as an evaluation not merely of this one exorcism but of the whole range of Jesus’ miracles which these two chapters have set out: others might perform the occasional exorcism, but this man’s ministry of deliverance is on an altogether different scale. A similarly climactic effect, but in an ominously different direction, is achieved by the Pharisees’ accusation. They do not deny Jesus’ power, but question its source. Such a total and offensive repudiation of his authority brings the growing hostility to a new level, and suggests a breach which is now irreparable.

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Preceding articles

More than just a man with authority of speaking

Nazarene Commentary Matthew 4:23-25 – Kingdom Preaching and Healing Draws Crowds

Matthew 7:13-23 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The True Disciple #5 Matthew 7:28-29 – The Crowd’s Reaction

Matthew 9:27-31 – Blind Men Healed

Matthew 9:27-31 – What others are saying about the blind men recognising the son of David

Matthew 9:32-34 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Speechless Demoniac Healed

Authority from the One God to one mediator between God and men

Hebraic Roots Bible Matthew Chapter 28

Hebrew inscriptions on ancient slab of marble near Lake Kinneret

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Additional reading

1. The 1st Adam in the Hebrew Scriptures #8 Looking for the 2nd Adam
2. A birthday passed nearly unnoticed
3. A god who gave his people commandments and laws he knew they never could keep to it
4. This is an amazing thing
5. I can’t believe that … (3) miracles can happen
6. Why think that (2) … Jesus claimed to be something special
7. Truth, doubt or blindness
8. 1,500-year-old marble tablet at the Sea of Galilee suggesting place was once a Jewish or Jewish-Christian settlement
9. Newly-found document describing a miracle by Iēsous de Nazarenus
10. Servant of his Father
11. Memorizing wonderfully 31 Son of David and God’s Kingdom
12. Marriage of Jesus 2 Standard writings about Jesus
13. Patriarch Abraham, Muslims, Christians and the son of God
14. Entrance of a king to question our position #1 Coming in the Name of the Lord
15. Entrance of a king to question our position #2 Who do we want to see and to be
16. Infinite payment of sin by the son of God
17. Authority given to him To give eternal life
18. Blindness in the Christian world

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1. The Miraculous Conception and Birth of Christ
2. Virgin birth shows us the gospel
3. “Put aside for a moment what you hear me say about myself and just take the evidence of the actions that are right before your eyes.” ~Jesus
4. Touched By God
5. “Do you see anything?” ~Jesus
6. Thoughts on Jesus and Miracles
7. Authority
8. By what authority?
9. The Authority of Jesus
10. Thirty Days of Jesus: Day 25, Jesus’ authority
11. Authority and Power or Authority or Power
12. By the Authority of Jesus Christ we bind the ministers of Satan.
13. Passion Week VI
14. The Authority of Jesus
15. The Authority Of Jesus~ Don Merritt
16. “The authority of Jesus” by Thomas Schreiner
17. Sermon: Jesus’ authority (K Pedersen)
18. The Power and Authority of Jesus (Revelation 1:15)
19. Jesus’ Authority
20. The authority of Jesus challenged?
21. Why the “Mythical Jesus” Claim Has No Traction with Scholars
22. Mark Lesson 8: The Nature and Authority of Jesus
23. the unique authority of Jesus
24. New Sermon – Jesus is Higher
25. Conquering!
26. Jesus, Please!
27. Phillip Medhurst’s Bible in pictures 173 Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead
28. “You haven’t a shred of authority over me except what has been given you from heaven.” ~Jesus
29. The terrible power of the angry mob and the God who stands firm
30. Jesus Christ Exercises Kingdom Authority Today
31. King of kings
32. A New Kingdom
33. We Might Have Missed Something in “Faith Like a Child”

Matthew 9:32-34 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Speechless Demoniac Healed

Matthew 9:32-34 – Speechless Demoniac Healed

A mediæval illustration of Jesus healing the Gerasene demon-possessed man.

MT9:32 Now as some of the people were leaving, look! others approached Jesus with a demon-possessed[1] man who was mute. MT9:33 After the demon was exorcised the mute man spoke.[2] And the crowds were awe-struck, saying,

“Never in Israel has such ever been seen.”[3]

MT9:34 However, the Pharisees said,

“He exorcises demons by demonic power!”[4]

*

[1] Demon-possessed: Or, WEY: dumb demoniac; LAM: demented; KJV: possessed with a devil.

[2] The mute man spoke: One can only wonder at his first words.

[3] Seen: The Greek is EPHANE which is rooted in a lighted candle. It may be rendered: manifest, appeared, make visible.

[4] By demonic power: The literal Greek is “in the ruler of the demons.” TCNT: by the help of the chief of the demons; PME: because he is in league with the devil himself; WEY: It is by the power of the Prince of the demons. The Pharisees begin to judge and slander Jesus.

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Preceding

Matthew 9:27-31 – Blind Men Healed

Matthew 9:27-31 – What others are saying about the blind men recognising the son of David

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Related articles

1. Matthew 8, the man with leprosy, the faith of the Centurion, the cost of following Jesus, the storm calmed, the demon possessed men.
2. Matthew 9:32-34
3. Matthew 9:32-34: Seek Consolation – Speechless
4. Do you recognize the king’s authority? (Matthew 9:32-34)
5. Particular: Just the Facts
6. 41. Mark : A Short Review
7. Why the “Mythical Jesus” Claim Has No Traction with Scholars
8. Healing the Sick

Matthew 9:27-31 – What others are saying about the blind men recognising the son of David

At the beginning of the first century  in Asia people started to hear about a special man, having such incredible gifts he could do wonders. The Nazarene knew he was send by the Only One True God, Who had given him authority to speak in His Name and to act in His Name. Jesus very well knew that he could do nothing without his heavenly Father.

“Jesus gave them this answer:

“I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” (Joh 5:19 NIV)

We do find the son of man to be the son of David and the son of God, being humble enough not to boast about his gifts (which he received from the Most Almighty). The Scriptures tell us that the Nazarene master in no way was a self-aggrandizing publicity glutton. At several occasions we even find Jesus requesting the recipients of his healing to keep their miracle discreet.  Now, anyone aiming to become a celebrity would do the opposite.

In the story for today we find two blind beggars who had heard that Jesus was going to pass. They waited for him in the hope the Nazarene miracle worker would heal them. However, Jesus walked right past, no sign giving to stop for healing them. The two blind beggars were so disillusioned that Matthew 9:27 tells us,

“As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out,

“Have mercy on us, Son of David!”” (Mt 9:27 NIV)

Jesus heals two blind men by Julius Schnorr, 19th century

In Matthew 7:8 we already got to know that those who ask shall receive and those who seek shall find. Here the blind man called Jesus “Son of David” in recognition of his Messianic position. Matthew notated it as a sign we may not overlook, having with this Nazarene master teacher the seed of David and the Word of God having come into the flesh (God’s promise in the garden of Eden).

The blind man calling for Jesus gave Jesus his proper title.

Allen Browne in his bible translation gives it this way:

Matthew 9:27-31
²⁷ As Jesus moved on from there, two blind people followed him shouting,

“Have mercy on us, son of David.”

²⁸ After entering the house, Jesus approached the blind people and said to them,

“Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

“Yes, Lord”

they replied. ²⁹ Then he touched their eyes saying,

“According to your faith, let it be to you.

  ³⁰ Their eyes were opened. Jesus strictly ordered them,

“Make sure no one knows!”

³¹ But when they went out, they spread news of him across that whole land.

Allen Browne in his posting of September 11, 2017 explains

They’re blind, but they see Jesus’ significance. He is Son of David (9:27). God had promised that a son of David would reign over God’s people in every generation (2 Samuel 7:16), though that had ceased to be 600 years before Jesus’ time. People yearned for the Son of David to restore the kingdom to Israel (Psalm 89:49; Isaiah 9:7; Ezekiel 37:24). These two blind people “see” what Jesus is doing, and publicly proclaim him as Israel’s long-awaited king.

For Matthew, this title has enormous significance. He opened his Gospel by pointing us to Jesus as the Messiah, the son of David (1:1). It’s a title he includes ten times (1:1, 20; 9:27; 12:23; 15:22; 20:30, 31; 21:9, 15; 22:42). Why is it so significant? Because the arrival of the king portends the restoration of the kingdom.

In the Old Testament several warnings are given to recognise the promised one from God. By now people had to be able to come to see who it would be or who was able to be that promised Ma·shiʹach (Messiah), in Greek the  Khri·stosʹ, meaning “Anointed One”, who was also recognised as such by Simon Peter (Mt 16:16). The Nazarene master teacher being the Heir of the Kingdom covenant that was to be fulfilled by someone in David’s lineage. Matthew also traces Joseph’s ancestry and shows that Jesus as Joseph’s adopted son was the legal heir to David’s kingship.

In the past was also written that the blind would come to see, indicating the literal and the spiritual blind people.

“4 say to those with fearful hearts,

“Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”

5  Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. 6 Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.” (Isa 35:4-6 NIV)

“In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see.” (Isa 29:18 NIV)

“6 Having said this, he spat on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.” (Joh 9:6-7 NIV)

“The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy {The Greek word was used for various diseases affecting the skin—not necessarily leprosy. } are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.” (Mt 11:5 NIV)

It would take some time before the apostles would be sure who Jesus is

“Simon Peter answered,

“You are the Christ, {Or Messiah; also in verse 20 } the Son of the living God.”” (Mt 16:16 NIV)

They looked forward to a ruler in their time to get rid of the Romans. For them it was still the worldly Kingdom having the Jews liberated from their oppressors.

Allen Browne looks also to what others are saying:

Michael J. Wilkins writes about the expression “son of David”, Matthew, NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2004), 372–373:

This expression [Son of David] refers to the promise of the messianic deliverer from the line of David whose kingdom will have no end (2 Sam. 7:12–16; cf. Pss. Sol. 17:23). The messianic age promised to bring healing to the blind (Isa. 29:18; 35:5; 42:7) … These men have profoundly connected Jesus with the prophecies of the Son of David who will heal blindness (cf. 12:22–23; 21:14–15), and they ask for that gift of messianic mercy.

Examples of the recent development of “personal saviour” language:

D. L. Moody, Life Words from Gospel Addresses of D. L. Moody, ed. G. F. G. Royle (London: John Snow & Co., 1875), 69 (emphasis original):

We must have Christ in our hearts as a personal Saviour, not only delivering us from the pit of hell, but saving us from our sins.

C. H. Spurgeon, “The Free-Agency of Christ,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 48 (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1902), 22:

Seek for personal faith in a personal Saviour. You were born alone; you will have to pass through the gates of death alone.

R. A. Torrey, How to Work for Christ a Compendium of Effective Methods. (Chicago; New York: James Nisbet & Company, 1901), 136–137:

If one is skeptical on this point [hell], though a Christian (in that he has accepted Christ as a personal Saviour) it is well to show him the teaching of God’s Word.

Allen Browne ends with saying

Some even equate Evangelicalism with “personal saviour” language e.g. George A. Rawlyk, Is Jesus Your Personal Saviour? In Search of Canadian Evangelicalism in the 1990s. (Montréal: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 1996).

When such special thing (a miracle) happened to them they could not stay quiet.

They couldn’t contain their excitement due to being healed. May we always share the Gospel with fervor and passion. {Faith for Healing}

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Preceding

Matthew 9:18-26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: On the Way to Raise a Ruler’s Daughter a Woman is Cured

Matthew 9:18-26 – What others say about Jesus knowing how to care for people

Matthew 9:27-31 – Blind Men Healed

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Related articles

1. Personal Saviour or Son of David? (Matthew 9:27-31)
2. Bonus Post: The Passion Narrative
3. Matthew 9:24
4. Faith for Healing
5. What Am I Grateful for Today? – Sight
6. Being Led by the Holy Spirit
7. Believe and Receive
8. Jesus’ Subtle Kingdom