And as Jesus passed on thence, two blind [men] followed him, crying and saying, Have mercy on us, Son of David.
Two men who cannot see follow Jesus from the house where He has just raised a dead girl, shouting a royal title joined to a beggar's plea. Why does Matthew count two men, why that title, and what happens when Jesus asks them to say what they believe?
Matthew alone tells this story, and he counts the men. One writer ties that detail to a rule of the law.
This miracle is also unique to the first Gospel. The account names two blind men — a fact that suits the writer inspired to testify of Jehovah-Messiah to the Jewish people. For it was a well-established maxim of the law for them to look for at least two witnesses. This is why Matthew mentions the two demoniacs in his account of the last event in Matthew 8. For Mark and Luke it was enough to dwell on the more striking of the two.
The men were not flattering Him. They were standing on Scripture.
The Lord was leaving the place where He had raised the Jewish ruler's daughter. Two blind men followed Him, crying aloud, "Have mercy on us, Son of David." Mark and Luke record a similar appeal in their account of a similar miracle later on. In every case it clearly shows that these men confessed Him as the Messiah. Above all, He was that Son of David who alone could help those so afflicted. So they could appeal to Him with confidence, on the ground of plain and positive warrant of Scripture.
Others in this Gospel cry out in very different words.
Even the Jewish leper of Matthew 8 made no such appeal; still less the centurion, recorded next… The call of those in danger in the boat during the storm on the lake was, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing."
The same cry, made by someone else, once met total silence. A woman from Canaan — outside Israel — later addressed Jesus in almost these words and got no reply, which shows how much the men's standing mattered here.
Was it then hopeless for the woman of Canaan? Not at all. But He answered her not a word when she cried out much as the blind men did… So there was an answer for the blind men who cried out this way, and none for her as yet. She was not only a Gentile but from a race under a special curse. So she drops a claim of relationship that was valid for the most wretched person in Israel, but completely void for her, and pays homage, saying, "Lord, help me."
He does not heal them on the spot. First He puts a question to them.
The cry of the two blind men had in it the accents of faith. They recognised Him as the promised Son of David. He recognised their faith, and challenged it. They responded and affirmed their belief in His power. So in this case He granted their prayer, according to their faith. He knew their faith was real; and we know it was, for at once their eyes were opened. Let each of us ask: if my requests are to be answered according to my faith, what will I get?
Jesus accepts the title but forbids the men to publicise the cure — a restraint one writer traces to what crowds do with a royal name.
Blindness was on Israel, and there could be no remedy for it until they felt it and cried to Him. Here, as with the leper, He heals by touch, and forbids them to make it known… One would say it must have been because the testimony to the Son of David was open to special abuse among a worldly people. They could be attracted by miracles and displays of power while their hearts were far from God. For this reason the acknowledgment of the Son of God must come before that of the Son of David. He never uses the title Son of David Himself. Yet He could not fail to accept it where, as here, true faith expressed itself in it.
The healing is also a preview. It shows what God still intends for the nation that was rejecting Him.
The Lord was giving picture after picture, and pledge upon pledge, that Israel would not be forgotten. Israel would be raised out of death. However blind they were, they would see; however mute, they would speak. The Pharisees and scribes may be completely unbelieving and blasphemous, ready to turn everyone away from Christ. Let it be so now. But a day was coming when death would give way, blindness would go, and Israel would speak.
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- Need — Two men who cannot see the One they follow cry for mercy. Their cry itself carries the accents of faith.
- Warrant — "Son of David" is not a compliment. They appeal on the plain warrant of Scripture, and He answers.
- Limit — The Canaanite woman had no such claim. She dropped it, bowed, and simply asked for help.
- Measure — He asks them to state their faith, then answers according to it. Ask what your own faith would receive.
- Preview — Two witnesses to a healing that pictures a whole nation: blind now, not forgotten, and one day they will see.
And when he was come to the house, the blind [men] came to him. And Jesus says to them, Do ye believe that I am able to do this? They say to him, Yea, Lord.
Two blind men had followed Jesus through the street, shouting for mercy from the Son of David. He gave them no answer until He was indoors. Only there does He ask whether they believe He is able, and their two-word reply is enough.
The name they cried out rested on written promise. That is why they could press it with confidence.
The Lord was leaving the place where He had raised up the Jewish ruler's daughter. Two blind men followed Him, crying aloud, "Have mercy on us, Son of David." Even Mark and Luke record a similar appeal in their account of a like miracle at the close. In every case it clearly shows that they owned Him as the Messiah. Above all, He was that Son of David who alone could help people so afflicted. So they could appeal to Him with confidence, on the plain and clear warrant of Scripture: "Have mercy on us, Son of David."
That warrant belonged to Israel and to no one else. When a Canaanite woman later used the same title, the contrast is sharp.
Scripture predicts judgment for the Canaanite, not mercy... So there was an answer for the blind men who cried out that way, and none for her yet. She was not only a Gentile but from a race under a special curse. So she gives up a claim of relationship. It was valid for the poorest Israelite, but void for her.
One writer reads the house as the place of relationship, and links that room to a future day.
"When He entered the house (which always stands for relationship), the blind men came to Him... Then He touched their eyes." So He healed them by coming into contact with them — not absent and unseen, but present and touching them. He is absent from the earth now, unseen by the eyes of men, yet we believe in Him and through Him in God... But He who is absent will come back to earth again. He will come back into definite relationship with His earthly people. Only then will Israel's blindness end.
His question had a purpose.
He questions the two blind men: do they believe He is able to do what they ask? No doubt He does this to draw out the decision of their faith. They answer yes. So He speaks and acts according to their faith, and their eyes are opened.
Their reply is short, but the Greek word carries more than a bare agreement.
The Greek word nai is used for "yes," as in Matthew 9:28, but it means something more, as "yea" does in English. It states a thing firmly when someone might think it is in doubt, or repeats it as a certainty that cannot fail... In Matthew 15:27, Mark 7:28, it is simply "yes, Lord," that is, "yes, Lord, you can do it" even on your own ground... It calls any opposition into question.
The healing came with a striking phrase: their faith set the measure.
"According to your faith, be it to you!" was the Lord's word to the two blind men. How wonderful and blessed it is! In some way our Lord lets our faith, or patience, or expectation of hope measure His own active and generous power. But so it was.
One writer turns the question on the reader.
They recognized Him as the promised Son of David. He recognized their faith, and challenged it. They responded and affirmed their belief in His power. So in this case He granted their prayer, according to their faith. He knew their faith was real; and we know it was real, for their eyes were opened at once. Let each of us ask: if He answers what I ask according to my faith, what shall I get?
Commentators read the miracle as a picture of more than damaged eyes.
There is only One who can open blind eyes and set free tongues that are dumb... The blind men replied, "Yes, Lord," and He gave the healing touch at once... Men who are spiritually blind and dumb are just as welcome to the Saviour. One touch of His gracious hand, sought in faith, and everything looks new. The freed soul feels like someone brought into a new world.
- Cry. They came with a claim Scripture gave them: mercy from the Son of David. That claim belonged to Israel, and it secured them an answer.
- Question. He asked what He already knew, to draw out the decision of their faith before He acted.
- Answer. "Yes, Lord" is more than agreement; it affirms as certain the very thing others would doubt.
- Measure. He healed according to their faith. He lets our faith measure how much of His power we receive.
- Reach. He offers the same touch to the spiritually blind today. It points on to the day when Israel's blindness ends at His return.
Then he touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith, be it unto you.
Two blind men have followed Jesus through the streets, calling Him Son of David. He waits until they are indoors with Him. Then comes a question, a touch, and a word that ties the result to their believing.
Before He heals, the Lord asks whether they believe He can. He wants their conviction spoken, not assumed.
He asks the two blind men whether they believe He is able to give them what they ask. No doubt He does this to draw out the decision of their faith. When they answer yes, He speaks and acts according to their faith, and their eyes are opened. He is indeed the Son of David, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 42:7.
The cure comes by touch, and the place matters too.
He did not pass by the two blind men. "When He was come to the house (which always stands for relationship), the blind men came to Him, and Jesus says to them, Do you believe that I am able to do this? They say to Him, Yes, Lord. Then He touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it done to you. And their eyes were opened." So He healed them by coming in touch with them — not absent and unseen, but present and touching them. He is absent from the earth now, unseen to human eyes. Yet we believe in Him, and through Him we believe on God. We believe, too, that He is able, and that all power is given to Him in heaven and on earth. It is also now "according to your faith."
The Lord lets their believing set the terms. Bellett notes that He had spoken the same way before.
"According to your faith be it done to you!" was the Lord's word to the two blind men. How wonderful and blessed, that our Lord lets our faith, or patience, or expectation of hope measure His active and generous power! But so it was. "According to your faith be it done to you"; and again, "As you have believed, so be it done to you" (Matt. 8, 9).
If faith is the measure, the measure can stretch.
There is no limit to the blessing which we might enjoy, if only we counted on God more. "All things are possible for one who believes." Our God will never say, "You have drawn on Me too heavily; you expect too much." Impossible. It is the joy of His loving heart to answer the very largest expectations of faith.
Anyone who has said "my faith is too weak" hears a warning here. But notice what the blind men were thinking about.
Probably they never thought about their faith, and certainly did not speak about it. What engrossed them was just this — we have a need, and He is able to meet it. If they had put their conviction in the Lord's own style of words, it would have been this: "According to Your ability be it done to us."
Cutting points to a second "according" that runs the other way.
It springs from what He is. So it is important to see that there is another "according" to consider. It looks in another direction — not at your faith, but at His faithfulness.
They call Him Son of David, the title that ties Him to Israel. The healing points beyond these two men.
They cry and say to Him, "You Son of David, have mercy on us." It is the confession of Christ as connected with Israel… The Lord was giving picture after picture, and pledge upon pledge. Israel would not be forgotten. Israel would be raised out of death. However blind they were, they would see; however unable to speak, they would speak.
Their faith was real, and the result proved it.
He knew their faith was real; and we know it was, for at once their eyes were opened. Let each of us ask ourselves: if God answers my requests according to my faith, what will I get?
- Faith questioned — He first asks, "Do you believe that I am able?" He wants their faith spoken before He acts.
- Faith touched — He healed them by touch, inside the house. He is unseen now, yet all power is His.
- Faith measured — He lets our believing measure His power. He never tells anyone they have asked for too much.
- Faith's object — the blind men thought about His ability, not their faith. Assurance rests on His faithfulness, not on the strength of yours.
- Faith's outcome — their eyes opened at once, a pledge that blind Israel will one day see. So the question stands: if answers come according to my faith, what will I receive?
And their eyes were opened; and Jesus charged them sharply, saying, See, let no man know it.
Two blind men called Jesus the Son of David, Israel's promised King, and He has just given them their sight. Then He presses them hard to tell no one. Why hide a gift like that?
Jesus first challenged their faith. They said out loud that He could heal them, and their opened eyes proved they meant it.
The cry of the two blind men had in it the accents of faith. They recognised Him as the promised Son of David. He recognised their faith, and challenged it. They responded and affirmed their belief in His power. So in this case He granted their prayer, according to their faith. He knew their faith was real, and we know it was real, because at once their eyes were opened. Let each of us ask: if my requests are to be answered according to my faith, what shall I get?
The word behind "sternly warned" carries real force. In other places translators render it "deeply moved."
The word translated "deeply moved" is used elsewhere for a strict or stern charge, as in Matthew 9:30, Mark 1:43, or for an angry speech, as in Mark 14:5.
Commentators differ on the reason. Some tie it to the stage His ministry had reached.
The Lord had His own fitting reason for telling them not to advertise it. But they were disobedient... I judge the Lord's reason was that He knew He had come to that part of His ministry in which He was rejected as Messiah. And just afterwards we find the rulers attributing His wonderful works to the devil himself; they could not deny them.
Others say the rejection was not yet final. They point instead to what the title "Son of David" would stir up in the crowd.
Here, as with the leper, He heals by touch, and forbids them to make it known. Later on such an order would be given because the people had rejected Him. That reason cannot apply here, for the decisive rejection had not yet come. He was Himself about to send out a testimony far and wide among them. One would say it must have been because the testimony to the Son of David was especially open to abuse. The people were ruled by their appetites. Miracles and displays of power could attract them while their hearts were far from God. For this reason the acknowledgment of the Son of God must come before that of the Son of David.
He would not take the fame that came with the miracle. He knew what lay ahead of Him.
Two blind men pleaded for mercy from the Son of David and obtained it... Jesus did not seek public acclaim. He knew well the dark days that lay ahead of Him. The cross at Golgotha would show how unreliable public praise was. The time to display the kingdom for a thousand years had not yet come. Until then the Son of David went on in His humble but powerful witness as to who He was.
They disobeyed at once. Both the command and their failure had a reason behind them.
His forbidding them to tell the matter is clearly connected with their recognising Him as Son of David; for though He is King, He had not come to reign, and He wants no advertising of a kind that would make people think the kingdom had arrived. But the men did not have the simple faith that obeys His word, though they admired Him for what He had done. They spread His fame abroad as though He had come to reign, which He had not. May we remember not only to admire our Lord, but to obey Him fully.
One writer sees the two men as a picture. What happened to their eyes will one day happen to Israel.
The two blind men were healed and followed Him. Their eyes were suddenly opened. So shall the remnant behold Him. These two no doubt witnessed His triumphant entry into Jerusalem and shouted out the praise and glory of His name. In the same way the delivered remnant of Israel will sing forth His praises.
- Faith asks. They told Jesus they believed He could heal them. He opened their eyes according to their faith.
- Christ charges. The warning was no gentle hint. The word carries the weight of a stern, forceful command.
- Christ hides. Commentators differ on why He called for silence. Some point to His growing rejection as Messiah. Others point to the danger of a crowd drawn by miracles instead of by God.
- Christ waits. He refused the applause on purpose. The cross would prove how worthless public praise was.
- Faith obeys. The two men admired Him and broke His command in the same breath. Praising Christ is not the same as doing what He says.