Faith, Healing, and the Call to Share
Summary
### Summary
In Matthew 9:27-31, we encounter the story of two blind men who follow Jesus, crying out for mercy. This passage is rich with themes of faith, persistence, and the kingdom of heaven. The Gospel of Matthew consistently emphasizes the kingdom of heaven, and this narrative is no exception. The blind men’s plea, "Have mercy on us, son of David," signifies their recognition of Jesus as the Messiah. Their persistence in following Jesus, despite their blindness, highlights their deep faith and desperation for healing.
Blindness in Jesus' time was a severe affliction, not just physically but also socially and spiritually. The blind were often stigmatized and seen as cursed by God. Yet, Jesus' response to their plea for mercy underscores God's compassion and willingness to heal. When Jesus asks, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" He is not seeking information but rather affirming their faith and making a profound theological point about spiritual sight. Faith is spiritual sight, and these men, though physically blind, could see spiritually.
Jesus' healing of the blind men is a testament to His divine power and authority. He touches their eyes and declares, "It shall be done to you according to your faith," emphasizing that their healing is a result of their faith in Him. This statement, often misused, is clarified here to mean that it is not the quantity of faith that heals but the object of faith—Jesus Himself.
The narrative also includes a stern warning from Jesus to the healed men to keep the miracle private, which they disobey by spreading the news. This disobedience serves as a rebuke to us, highlighting our responsibility to share the gospel. If we have been given spiritual sight, we should be even more eager to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.
### Key Takeaways
1. Faith as Spiritual Sight: Faith is the ability to see spiritual realities clearly. The blind men, though physically impaired, had spiritual sight that recognized Jesus as the Messiah. This teaches us that true faith allows us to see beyond our physical circumstances and understand deeper spiritual truths. [30:24]
2. Persistence in Seeking Jesus: The blind men’s relentless pursuit of Jesus, despite their physical limitations, exemplifies the kind of persistence we should have in our spiritual lives. Their determination to follow Jesus through the city, crying out for mercy, shows that true faith is persistent and unyielding. [12:32]
3. God’s Compassion and Mercy: Jesus’ willingness to heal the blind men underscores God’s compassionate nature. God delights in showing mercy and meeting the needs of His people. This narrative reminds us that we can always approach God with our needs, trusting in His mercy and compassion. [17:26]
4. The Misuse of Faith Statements: The phrase "according to your faith" is often misinterpreted to mean that healing depends on the amount of faith one has. However, this passage clarifies that it is not the quantity of faith but the object of faith—Jesus—that brings healing. This corrects a common misunderstanding and emphasizes the sovereignty of God in healing. [27:08]
5. The Responsibility to Share the Gospel: The blind men’s disobedience in spreading the news of their healing, despite Jesus’ command to keep it private, serves as a rebuke to us. Unlike them, we are commanded to share the gospel. If we have received spiritual sight, we should be eager to tell others about Jesus and the transformation He brings. [38:46]
### Youtube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[00:56] - Introduction to the Kingdom of Heaven
[01:40] - The Standard of Righteousness
[02:24] - Jesus' Miracles and Authority
[03:43] - Healing of the Blind Men
[04:27] - The Blind Men’s Plea for Mercy
[05:21] - The Pain and Stigma of Blindness
[06:11] - Causes and Prevalence of Blindness
[07:34] - Social and Emotional Impact of Blindness
[08:38] - God's Protections for the Blind
[10:14] - Misconceptions About Blindness
[12:32] - Persistence of the Blind Men
[14:37] - The Plea for Mercy
[18:13] - The Profession of Faith
[23:06] - Jesus’ Question and Pronouncement
[27:08] - Misuse of Faith Statements
[30:24] - Faith as Spiritual Sight
[38:46] - Responsibility to Share the Gospel
[45:29] - Assurance of Faith and Call to Action
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Matthew 9:27-31 (ESV): "And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, 'Have mercy on us, Son of David.' 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.' Then he touched their eyes, saying, 'According to your faith be it done to you.' And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, 'See that no one knows about it.' But they went away and spread his fame through all that district."
### Observation Questions
1. What did the two blind men cry out to Jesus as they followed Him? ([03:43])
2. How did Jesus respond to the blind men’s plea for mercy? ([04:27])
3. What did Jesus instruct the healed men to do after their sight was restored, and how did they respond? ([35:46])
### Interpretation Questions
1. What does the blind men’s recognition of Jesus as the "Son of David" signify about their understanding of His identity? ([18:53])
2. How does Jesus’ question, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" serve to affirm the faith of the blind men and the crowd? ([23:06])
3. Why is the phrase "according to your faith" often misunderstood, and what does it actually mean in the context of this passage? ([27:08])
### Application Questions
1. The blind men showed persistence in seeking Jesus despite their physical limitations. Reflect on a time when you had to persist in your faith despite challenges. How did you keep going? ([12:32])
2. Jesus’ willingness to heal the blind men underscores God’s compassionate nature. How can you approach God with your needs, trusting in His mercy and compassion? ([17:26])
3. The blind men disobeyed Jesus’ command to keep the miracle private and spread the news instead. How does this serve as a rebuke to us in our responsibility to share the gospel? ([38:46])
4. The sermon emphasized that faith is spiritual sight. How can you cultivate a deeper spiritual vision in your daily life to see beyond physical circumstances? ([30:24])
5. Reflect on the misuse of the phrase "according to your faith." How can you ensure that your understanding of faith aligns with the biblical teaching that it is the object of faith—Jesus—that brings healing? ([27:08])
6. The blind men’s recognition of Jesus as the Messiah was a profound act of faith. How can you publicly acknowledge Jesus in your life, and what steps can you take to share your faith with others? ([18:53])
7. Consider the social and emotional impact of blindness in Jesus’ time. How can you show compassion and support to those who are marginalized or stigmatized in today’s society? ([07:34])
Devotional
Day 1: Faith as Spiritual Sight
Faith is the ability to see spiritual realities clearly. The blind men in Matthew 9:27-31, though physically impaired, had spiritual sight that recognized Jesus as the Messiah. This teaches us that true faith allows us to see beyond our physical circumstances and understand deeper spiritual truths. Their plea, "Have mercy on us, son of David," signifies their recognition of Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus' question, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" is not seeking information but affirming their faith and making a profound theological point about spiritual sight. Faith is spiritual sight, and these men, though physically blind, could see spiritually. [30:24]
Isaiah 42:16 (ESV): "And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them."
Reflection: Think of a situation in your life where you feel "blind" or uncertain. How can you ask God to give you spiritual sight to see His truth and guidance in this situation today?
Day 2: Persistence in Seeking Jesus
The blind men’s relentless pursuit of Jesus, despite their physical limitations, exemplifies the kind of persistence we should have in our spiritual lives. Their determination to follow Jesus through the city, crying out for mercy, shows that true faith is persistent and unyielding. This persistence is a testament to their deep faith and desperation for healing. They did not let their physical blindness stop them from seeking Jesus, and their persistence was rewarded with healing. This teaches us the importance of being persistent in our pursuit of Jesus, no matter the obstacles we face. [12:32]
Luke 18:1-5 (ESV): "And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, 'In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, "Give me justice against my adversary." For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, "Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming."'"
Reflection: Identify an area in your spiritual life where you have been tempted to give up. How can you renew your persistence in seeking Jesus in this area today?
Day 3: God’s Compassion and Mercy
Jesus’ willingness to heal the blind men underscores God’s compassionate nature. God delights in showing mercy and meeting the needs of His people. This narrative reminds us that we can always approach God with our needs, trusting in His mercy and compassion. The blind men were socially and spiritually stigmatized, yet Jesus responded to their plea for mercy with compassion and healing. This act of healing is a testament to God's love and willingness to meet us in our brokenness and need. [17:26]
Psalm 103:13-14 (ESV): "As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust."
Reflection: Think of a need or burden you are carrying today. How can you approach God with this need, trusting in His compassion and mercy?
Day 4: The Misuse of Faith Statements
The phrase "according to your faith" is often misinterpreted to mean that healing depends on the amount of faith one has. However, this passage clarifies that it is not the quantity of faith but the object of faith—Jesus—that brings healing. This corrects a common misunderstanding and emphasizes the sovereignty of God in healing. Jesus' statement, "It shall be done to you according to your faith," emphasizes that their healing is a result of their faith in Him, not the amount of faith they possess. This teaches us to place our faith in Jesus, trusting in His power and authority. [27:08]
Mark 9:23-24 (ESV): "And Jesus said to him, 'If you can! All things are possible for one who believes.' Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, 'I believe; help my unbelief!'"
Reflection: Reflect on an area where you have been struggling with doubt. How can you shift your focus from the amount of your faith to the object of your faith—Jesus?
Day 5: The Responsibility to Share the Gospel
The blind men’s disobedience in spreading the news of their healing, despite Jesus’ command to keep it private, serves as a rebuke to us. Unlike them, we are commanded to share the gospel. If we have received spiritual sight, we should be eager to tell others about Jesus and the transformation He brings. This narrative highlights our responsibility to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others. If we have experienced His healing and transformation, we should be even more eager to proclaim His name and share the gospel with those around us. [38:46]
1 Peter 3:15 (ESV): "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect."
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who needs to hear the gospel. How can you share the good news of Jesus with them this week, in a way that is gentle and respectful?
Quotes
1. "One of the primary themes of the Gospel of Matthew overall is the kingdom of heaven. When John the Baptist came on the scene, do you remember what he preached? Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. When Jesus began his ministry, do you remember what he preached? Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. When Jesus preached his sermon in Matthew 5, he started with the Beatitudes, blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." [00:56] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Let me tell you, beloved, in the kingdom of heaven, disease is gone. Nature is not a threat. The enemy of Satan is defeated. Sin is removed. Death is no more. He is the king. And so now we come to this miracle this morning of these two blind men, where Jesus heals blindness, learning more and more about our great king, Jesus, about the Lord Jesus. Jesus Christ." [02:24] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When you hear somebody in the Bible cry out for mercy, the first thing you can know about that individual is they know they have a need. You don't cry out for mercy unless you have a need. Mercy requires a need on the part who's receiving mercy. That's compassion, mercy. And so these men know they have a need. You say that's obvious. They're blind. It's obvious. It's obvious that these men know that they have a need. But I want you to know they were unashamed to cry out, to screech out, have mercy on us." [16:34] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "God is a merciful God. God is a God of mercy. He's a God who delights. He delights to express his mercy, to display his great mercy. He loves to meet the needs of people. He delights in that. Ephesians chapter 2, 4 and 5. If you say you are a Christian today, then this is true of you. If you are a Christian. You could say you're a Christian. It might not be true of you. But if you are a Christian, this is true of you. But God, being rich in mercy because of the great love. With which he loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ. By grace, we have been saved." [17:26] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Faith is spiritual sight. Faith is spiritual sight. That's what faith is. It's being able to see the reality of the spiritual things. Everything else is natural, right? We can see around us. We can see the various material goods around us. But faith is being able to see spiritually. Being able to see clearly spiritually. Right? Faith is being able to see, and in fact they had material evidence of it, but these men were able to see he's the son of David. He's the Lord. Why? Because of their faith. They had spiritual sight." [31:03] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "You are not healed by your great faith. You're healed by the will of God. It is God's sovereign choice when to heal and when not to heal. And he heals when he wills. Every time he wills to heal, he heals. He never willed to heal and was prevented by your faith. That's another section of scripture that gets twisted. That we don't understand. Sometimes very easily we have to study it out. But if you study all of scripture, you see Jesus heals whenever he wants to heal. He is God. He does what he wants when he wants. The Lord sits in the heaven and he does what he pleases. He is God." [29:39] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "If Christ has made you see, if you were spiritually blind and now you have spiritual sight, I promise you this, he did not give you a command to say, make sure no one knows about this. He did not command you that. And yet some of us are acting like we've been given a command, make sure nobody knows about this. These men were commanded, and they couldn't keep their mouths shut. And spiritually, if we have been made to see, let me tell you, church, that's a far greater miracle than giving physical sight to a blind man, is giving spiritual sight." [38:46] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "I think the more assured we are that God has made us see, the more assured we are that we have spiritual sight, more bold we'll be to tell others about it. That makes sense, doesn't it? I mean, the more assured I am of what God has done for me, the more likely I'm going to tell other people He would do it for you too. Come to Him. Come to Him as a blind person and see." [42:10] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "And I would encourage you, if that's your response, then get all in. Then live as though you have spiritual sight. Live as one who has faith. Live in light of eternity. Live as one who has been redeemed because that's what you are. And go out and live it out for Christ. Live the rest of your days knowing, I'm assured. And I can share the gospel like these blind men with anybody because where did they go? They spread the news about him. Look what the text says. And they went out and spread the news about him. They didn't spread the news about him. They spread the news about their sight. They spread the news about Jesus." [44:58] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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