Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 9:31

"But they went forth, and spread abroad his fame in all that land." — Matthew 9:31 (ASV)

Jesus’ touching the blind men’s eyes—perhaps no more than a compassionate gesture to encourage faith—was not the sole means of this healing: it also depended on Jesus’ authoritative word. “According to your faith” means “since you believe, your request is granted” (cf. v.22). Jesus’ stern warning not to tell anyone reveals his intense desire to avoid a falsely based acclaim that would not only impede but also endanger his true mission . But the men whose faith brought them to Christ for healing did not stay with him to learn obedience. So the news spread throughout the region (cf. v.26).

c. Exorcising a mute man (9:32–34) 32–33 The man here may have been not only mute but a deaf mute. The NT frequently attributes various diseases to demonic activity; but since the same ailment mentioned here appears elsewhere without any suggestion of demonic activity (e.g., Mark 7:32–33), the connection between the two here presupposes a real ability Jesus had to distinguish between natural and demonic causes. The crowd’s amazement (v.33) climaxes the earlier excitement (vv.26, 31). Nothing has ever been seen like this in Israel—and, by implication, if not among God’s chosen people, then nowhere. But the same amazement ominously sets the stage for the Pharisees’ cynical response (v.34).