Matthew 9:28 - Printer Friendly

ESV: 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.”

NIV: When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, 'Do you believe that I am able to do this?' 'Yes, Lord,' they replied.

NASB: And after He entered the house, the men who were blind came up to Him, and Jesus *said to them, 'Do you believe that I am able to do this?' They *said to Him, 'Yes, Lord.'

CSB: When he entered the house, the blind men approached him, and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I can do this? "They said to him, "Yes, Lord."

NLT: They went right into the house where he was staying, and Jesus asked them, 'Do you believe I can make you see?' 'Yes, Lord,' they told him, 'we do.'

KJV: And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

NKJV: And when He had come into 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.”

Two blind men have followed Jesus to a house, perhaps His own or maybe Matthew's house in Capernaum. They have called out to Him for mercy, addressing Him as the Son of David, the name for the long-promised Messiah (Matthew 9:27). The fact that this was understood by two blind men while being missed by many others is not lost on Jesus.

Jesus does not heal the blind men out in the open. Perhaps He is trying to keep the crowds following Him from growing even larger. Perhaps He is not ready for everyone to accept that He is the Messiah who will save Israel. After He has healed them, Jesus will command the men to tell nobody (Matthew 9:30).

When Jesus reaches the house, the blind men follow Him inside and only then does He turn to them. He asks them one question: whether they sincerely believe He has the power to heal. Christ seems to have wanted the blind men to express their faith in Him, personally and directly.

Their answer is firm: they believed He could heal them, both calling Him "Lord." In many of His reported healings, Jesus is drawn to the faith of those seeking to be made well. He wants the seeker to believe He is able to do what they are asking.

Matthew 9:27–34 describes the healing of two blind men and one mute man. The blind men follow Jesus in the crowd, crying out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David." They believe Jesus is the Messiah and that He can make them see. Jesus does so, but they disobey His command not to tell anyone. Next, a demon-oppressed man is brought to Jesus. The demon has made the man unable to speak. Jesus casts out the demon, and the man starts talking. The crowds marvel at this, but the Pharisees decide Jesus' power over demons comes from Satan.

Matthew 9 continues to show how Jesus authenticated His claims to be the Messiah by powerful miracles of healing and casting out demons. He heals a paralyzed man after telling the man his sins are forgiven. He calls Matthew to follow Him and eats dinner with Matthew and other tax collectors. He answers questions from Pharisees and others. A woman who touches His cloak is healed from a 12–year illness, and Jesus raises a dead girl back to life. He restores sight to blind men and speech to one who is demon oppressed. He is filled with compassion for the crowds.

Matthew 9 follows the same pattern of Matthew 8, showing through miraculous works of healing that Jesus is truly the Messiah. Christ forgives the sins of a paralyzed man and heals him. He calls Matthew to follow Him and eats with tax collectors and sinners. A woman is healed by touching His garment and a dead girl is given life by the touch of His hand. Two blind men see, and Jesus casts out a demon, restoring speech to its victim. Finally, Jesus declares that the harvest is plentiful and tells His followers to pray for workers. Chapter 10 builds on this compassion as Jesus commissions the Twelve to go and deliver His gospel to the people.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.