Matthew 9:27
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As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
TWO BLIND MEN AND A DUMB DEMONIAC HEALED. (Mat 9:27-34) And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him--hearing, doubtless, as in a later case is expressed, "that Jesus passed by" (Mat 20:30). crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us--It is remarkable that in the only other recorded case in which the blind applied to Jesus for their sight, and obtained it, they addressed Him, over and over again, by this one Messianic title, so well known--"Son of David" (Mat 20:30). Can there be a doubt that their faith fastened on such great Messianic promises as this, "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened," &c. (Isa 35:5)? and if so, this appeal to Him, as the Consolation of Israel, to do His predicted office, would fall with great weight upon the ears of Jesus.
Open source ↗In these verses we have an account of two more miracles wrought together by our Saviour. I. The giving of sight to two blind men, Mat 9:27-31. Christ is the Fountain of light as well as life; and as, by raising the dead, he showed himself to be the same that at first breathed into man the breath of life, so, by giving sight to the blind, he showed himself to be the same that at first commanded the light to shine out of darkness. Observe, 1. The importunate address of the blind men to Christ. He was returning from the ruler's house to his own lodgings, and these blind men followed him, as beggars do, with their incessant cries, Mat 9:27. He that cured diseases so easily, so effectually, and, withal, at so cheap a rate, shall have patients enough. As for other things, so he is famed for an Oculist. Observe, (1.) The title which these blind men gave to Christ; Thou Son of David, have mercy on us. The promise made to David, that of his loins the Messiah should come, was well known, and the Messiah was therefore commonly called the Son of David. At this time there was a general expectation of his appearing; these blind men know, and own, and proclaim it in the streets of Capernaum, that he is come, and that this is he; which aggravates the folly and sin of the chief priests and Pharisees who denied and opposed him. They could not see him and his miracles, but faith comes by hearing. Note, They who, by the providence of God, are deprived of bodily sight, may yet, by the grace of God, have the eyes of their understanding so enlightened, as to discern those great things of God, which are hid from the wise and prudent. (2.) Their petition, Have mercy on us. It was foretold that the Son of David should be merciful (Psa 72:12, Psa 72:13), and in him shines the tender mercy of our…
Open source ↗9:27 Eye diseases were common in the ancient world. Blindness was often considered to be divine punishment (see Exod 4:11; Deut 28:28; 2 Kgs 6:18; John 9:2-3). The Old Testament predicts that the Messiah’s coming would bring restoration of sight for the blind (Matt 11:4-5; Isa 29:18-19; 35:5-6). • Son of David is a messianic title particularly associated with miraculous healings (see Matt 1:1; 12:23; 15:22; 20:30-31; 2 Sam 7:12-16).
Open source ↗Cross-references
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And a Canaanite woman from that region came to Him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is miserably possessed by a demon.”
The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.
“Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.
Doesn’t the Scripture say that the Christ will come from the line of David and from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?”
“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest!”
At that very hour Jesus healed many people of their diseases, afflictions, and evil spirits, and He gave sight to many who were blind.
“It often throws him into the fire or into the water, trying to kill him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed were shouting: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!”
This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:
But the chief priests and scribes were indignant when they saw the wonders He performed and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David!”