Matthew 9:32 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Matthew 9:32

Comments

(Synoptics: Matthew 9:32-34) Matthew has already recorded the casting out of the demons from the demoniacs in the country of the Gergesenes (Matthew 8:28), and before that the many who were brought to Christ at the end of a day in Capernaum, some of whom were demon possessed (Matthew 8:16), but now a single case is related and the opposition which it provoked.Nobody was in any doubt that this man was demon possessed, certainly not Christ’s enemies who attributed the miracle to the power of the devil. They knew they could not do this themselves, and that the demon was truly responsible for the this man’s condition, but they came up with an absurd explanation for what had happened. In this case the demon caused the man to be dumb, mute. This was not some primitive understanding of disease, for, as Hendriksen points out, Matthew also describes others who were dumb who he does not say were demon possessed (Matthew 15:30), and he and the other Gospel writers elsewhere give lists of miracles, distinguishing between healings and casting out of demons (Matthew 10:8; Mark 1:32-34; 6:13; 16:17-18; Luke 4:40-41; 13:32). By no means every case of sickness or mania was treated as demon possession, and at times other accompanying indications of possession are given: superhuman strength, clairvoyant knowledge, and external effects of demonic activity outside of the possessed individual. It is a reductionist worldview which is dedicated to materialism that cannot accept the existence of the spirit world, even though man shares in it in his conscious experience. In this case the demon took away the power of speech. We know little about this world but the word of God give us a clear and trustworthy insight into it.

Application

All of Christ’s miracles depict conversion. The healing miracles address various physical afflictions, each of which relate to some aspect of spiritual incapacity. What is it for man not to be able to speak? It is to be without praise to God, without thanks for so many gifts received from him, without requests that look to him for help and guidance: it is to be prayerless. That prayerlessness comes from a lack of any relationship with God, and a fear to approach near to a holy God because of awareness of sin. It comes from a lack of appreciation of his attributes, his great being. We do not praise him because we do not know him. How wonderful is the first true prayer that comes from our souls following the new birth. It is a prayer that sees God as holy, but merciful. It approaches him through the only Mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ, and it comes to Christ as the only Saviour from sin, and to God as a loving heavenly Father who invites us to come in full awareness of what we are, and to the Holy Spirit who gives spiritual understanding.

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Matthew 9:32 Commentary and Bible Study