08.06.08 Mt. 9:32-34
MUTE MAN HEALED
32 Just as they were going out, a demon-possessed man who was unable to speak was brought to Him. 33 When the demon had been driven out, the man spoke. And the crowds were amazed, saying, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!”
34 But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the ruler of the demons!”
It was common opinion that those who were blind and/or mute, suffered in this condition because God cursed them or their parents. Regardless of how good and righteous the handicapped person and his family were, the social curse could not be removed. The idea that an accident or illness could be the natural result of living in a fallen world had never occurred to them.
The tradition had arisen that only the Messiah would be able to bring healing to those born with blindness became known as a “messianic miracle.” [1] It was based on the prophet Isaiah, who said that the Messiah would bring vision to the eyes of the blind and that the ears of the deaf would be opened (Isa. 35:5-6). This is precisely what Jesus did to demonstrate His Messianic authority. Once He captured people’s attention, He taught them the Kingdom of God.
“Unable to speak.” The Greek word kophos in all grammar forms refers to a deaf mute, indicating that the man could neither speak nor hear. These two ailments were commonly linked together.[2] The fact that Jesus healed this man was absolutely profound because in various Inter-Testamental Jewish writings, the advent of the Messiah meant that evil would be defeated.[3] Now they were witnesses of Jesus performing the acts that were predicted that the Messiah would perform.
[1]. Research on the “Messianic Miracles” is credited to Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum, a Messianic scholar and director of Ariel Ministries in San Antonio, TX, formerly of Tustin, CA. For more information on his excellent scholarship, see http://ariel.org/. Retrieved September 26, 2013. See also 06.03.08.V (Video), 06.01.03 and the comparison of Dead Sea Scroll fragments 4Q278 and 4Q521 with Luke 4:16-30 at 06.02.02; See also Fruchtenbaum, Messianic Miracles. 4.
[2]. Carson, “Matthew” 8:234.
[3]. 1 Enoch 55:4; Jubilees 23:29; Testament of Simeon 6:6; Testament of Judah 25:3; Testament of Moses 10:1, and the Testament of Solomon 20:16-17.