Matthew 9:32
Thursday, 1 May 2025
As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed. Matthew 9:32
“And they, departing – you behold – they presented Him a man, mute – demon-possessings.” (CG).
In the previous verse, the two men healed from blindness disregarded Jesus’ admonition and then went out and divulged Him in all the land. Now, the narrative focuses on a new subject, found only in Matthew’s gospel. The words begin with, “And they, departing – you behold.”
In other words, no sooner had the two healed men left than this event took place. Understanding this, it next says, “They presented Him a man, mute.”
The word “they” is not referring to the two healed men who just departed, but either the friends of the man being presented, or maybe the apostles, or even the multitudes who will next be mentioned. Jesus was in “the house” noted in verse 9:28. While he was inside healing the two blind men, the man next to be presented had arrived outside and was promptly brought before Him.
This man is described as kóphos, mute. It is a new word in the New Testament. It is derived from the verb koptó, a word signifying to cut off or sever. In this case, it is used to describe one whose speech had been cut off. Vincent’s Word Studies notes –
“The word is also used of deafness (Matthew 11:5; Mark 7:32; Luke 7:22). It means dull or blunted. Thus Homer applies it to the earth; the dull, senseless earth ("Iliad," xxiv., 25). Also to a blunted dart ("Iliad," xi., 390). The classical writers use it of speech, hearing, sight, and mental perception. In the New Testament, only of hearing and speech, the meaning in each case being determined by the context.”
Because he is mute, he would be unable to describe any affliction that could go beyond his inability to speak. Thus, Jesus would have to determine anything else wrong, maybe by asking those with him. Seeing he was mute, Jesus also discovered he was “demon-possessings.”
In other words, Matthew is connecting the man’s being demon-possessed to his being mute. One led to the other. This account is very similar to that of Matthew 12. Some even say it is the same account from different sources.
That is a rather inane proposition when the man there is said to be blind, and Matthew says nothing of the accounts being the same. It would have to assume that Matthew was not the only author, something not hinted at by the contents of the gospel.
Life application: The previous account was equated to the doctrine of eternal salvation. People can believe in Jesus, be saved and healed by Him, and yet demonstrate disobedience to Him without being “unsaved.” This happens in all of us at one time or another.
However, the men being brought from blindness to seeing can also be equated to those Jews who were blinded to the gospel. Eventually, someone tells them that Jesus is the Messiah and He can heal them. With that, they ask for sight in order to see. In essence, “We have heard and we believe. Now show us the truth.” In that, the blindness Paul refers to in Romans 11 will end, and the veil that he refers to in 2 Corinthians 3 will be lifted. Israel’s spiritual sight will be restored.
The next logical step is that they go out and tell the world what they know. The healing of the mute, though a different account, would be a logical next step in the proclamation concerning Jesus. Israel is unable to see Jesus for who He is. Because of that, they are unable to speak about Him. In fact, to this day, Jesus is the great unmentionable in Jewish society.
The only times He is brought up, it is usually in a very negative way. This anti-Christian sentiment is so profound, it is as if the society is mute in its ability to speak. But this, too, will be healed in Israel. One step at a time, they are being presented with this truth. The young girl is raised, the blind see, and now the mute are brought before Him for healing.
Though the accounts seem arbitrary and random, they do show a process that seems logical in how the nation will be healed of its great malady. Restoration is promised, and it will come about in God’s pre-determined timing.
Lord God, though we may not understand everything concerning the blindness of Israel, Your word speaks of it as a truth that exists. But the veil will be lifted, the people will see, and then they will be brought to speak. We know it is coming. We pray for the nation to see the truth about Jesus that they have rejected for so long. Amen.
