Do You Believe? Faith That Receives God's Mercy

Matthew shows two blind men who see more clearly than the crowd. Their cry, “Son of David, have mercy on us,” names Jesus as Messiah and reaches for mercy before demanding a miracle. The text sets favor alongside faith: favor is God’s covering that hides the mess and displays his grace, and grace is received through faith, not performance. Jesus asks the question that exposes either anxiety or trust: “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” and the men answer with the simplest theology that moves heaven, “Yes, Lord.”

The passage itself contrasts public and private moments. In chapter 9, Jesus heals in the house; in chapter 20, he heals in the street. God meets the sick both ways. Psalm 23’s table and Jairus’ closed room say the same thing: God can bless in the presence of enemies and also in a space he clears of doubt. Yet Jesus does not work by formula. In chapter 20, compassion and touch open eyes. In chapter 9, “according to your faith” comes before the touch. The result is the same because the actor is the same, but the route is tailored to stretch faith.

Faith here is not God explaining the plan in advance. Faith praises while the bank account is thin and the timeline is foggy. The blind men model “blind faith.” They cannot see, but they listen, ask, follow indoors with holy boldness, and keep calling on the name that can get them in trouble with the religious gatekeepers. They do not throw a pity party; they push through with a mercy plea that admits unworthiness and banks on covenant kindness.

Jesus then presses for “believing faith.” The Greek helps: pisteuo asks for trust, and dunamai says he has ability. With exousia, he also has authority. Mark’s wind and waves already know his voice. God’s power does not shrink when belief is small; yet the personal experience of that power grows where trust is operative. So the text moves to “because faith.” “According to your faith” is not measuring quantity; it is answering yes with action. The withered hand stretches, and healing meets the stretch. The lepers walk, and cleansing meets the steps. The woman reaches, and virtue meets her grip. Responsive obedience becomes the runway for grace to land.

Finally, Jesus hides his hand and they can’t hold their tongues. Real mercy creates witnesses. Gratitude writes its letter, not to get more, but to say thank you. The question still stands: Do you believe he is able, and will you move on that yes?

Key Takeaways

• 1. Faith must move beyond talk [01:10:14] Faith that only shouts on Sunday will fold on Tuesday. Jesus’ question aims at practiced trust, not churchy language. God’s ability is constant, but a believer’s lived experience of that ability grows where trust steps out. Praise before sight becomes the seed of sight. [70:14]
• 2. Blind faith follows with grit [01:02:25] The men cannot see, yet they listen, ask around, and press through a doorway uninvited. Disability does not become an excuse; it becomes a stage for determination. When sight is withheld, hearing grows, and holy stubbornness keeps moving toward Jesus instead of settling for the pity of the crowd. [62:25]
• 3. Mercy opens the door to miracles [01:07:17] “Son of David, have mercy on us” ties messianic hope to humble confession. Mercy admits unworthiness without despair and asks big because covenant love is bigger than shame. Risking reputation to call him Messiah becomes the very path where healing meets them. [67:17]
• 4. God’s ability stands, faith receives [01:13:20] Dunamai says he has power; exousia says he has the right to use it. Unbelief never lowers God’s voltage, but it often lowers a person’s capacity to receive what that power would give. Trust enlarges the vessel, and storms themselves start obeying when hearts do. [73:20]
• 5. Obedience activates the answer [01:18:10] “According to your faith” is responsive, not performative. Stretching a withered hand, walking while still spotted, or reaching through a crowd are small yeses that meet a great God. Steps taken on his word become the place where sight returns and wholeness arrives. [78:10]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [50:20] - But God kept me
• [51:01] - Reading Matthew 9:27-31
• [52:56] - What favor looks like
• [54:07] - Faith talked vs practiced
• [55:27] - Son of David confession
• [56:57] - Private and public healings
• [58:58] - Do you believe I am able?
• [61:03] - Faith before the details
• [62:25] - Blind faith follows anyway
• [67:17] - Asking for mercy first
• [73:02] - Do you trust his ability?
• [76:52] - According to your faith
• [78:10] - Stretch, walk, receive
• [88:52] - Invitation to know Jesus

1. What specific title did the blind men use when addressing Jesus, and why might this have been significant? (Matthew 9:27; [55:27])
2. How did Jesus respond to the blind men’s request before healing them, and what does this reveal about the role of faith? (Matthew 9:28-29)
3. In the sermon, what contrast was highlighted between Jesus’ healings in public versus private settings? ([56:57])
4. What did the blind men do after their healing, despite Jesus’ instruction, and why might this action matter? (Matthew 9:30-31)

1. Why might Jesus have asked the blind men, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” instead of immediately healing them? How does this question challenge assumptions about faith? ([58:58])
2. The blind men called Jesus “Son of David,” a messianic title. What risks or implications might this confession have carried in their cultural/religious context? ([07:17])
3. The sermon emphasized that faith is “responsive, not performative.” How does the phrase “according to your faith” (v. 29) reflect this idea? ([20:34])
4. Why do you think Jesus sometimes healed in public (e.g., Matthew 20) and other times in private (Matthew 9)? What does this suggest about how God works in different seasons of life? ([57:31])

1. The blind men cried out for mercy before asking for healing. What area of your life needs you to prioritize seeking God’s mercy over demanding a solution? How can you practice this? ([09:10])
2. “Blind faith follows anyway” ([02:25]). When has God called you to trust Him even when you couldn’t see the outcome? What practical step can you take this week to follow Him with “holy stubbornness”?
3. Jesus linked healing to the men’s faith: “According to your faith be it done to you.” What is one situation where you need to stretch your faith (like the withered hand or lepers walking) even before seeing results? ([18:10])
4. The healed men spread Jesus’ fame despite His warning. How can you share testimonies of God’s work in your life in a way that honors Him without seeking attention?
5. The sermon asked, “Do you believe He is able, and will you move on that yes?” What “yes” is God prompting you to act on, even if it feels risky or uncomfortable? ([10:14])
6. How can you cultivate gratitude as a daily practice (“writing a thank-you letter to God”) rather than only seeking Him in crisis? ([23:53])
7. In what areas do you tend to rely on “churchy language” rather than practiced trust? How can you turn one area of anxiety into an opportunity for active faith this week? ([10:14])