Commentary

December 28

Commentary by Martin G. Collins

Matthew 9:27-30

“When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, Son of David, have mercy on us!"

"And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?

"They said to Him, Yes, Lord.

"Then He touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith let it be to you. And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, See that no one knows it."

With an attitude of humility, according to Proverbs 15:33, the blind men sought Jesus' mercy in healing, giving Him praise and honor. We have no merits for any blessing from God. As Paul writes in Ephesians 2:8-9, these things are given by grace, not because of anything we are or have done.

Just as Jesus came as a babe to save us from our sin because of His mercy to us, so He grants healing because of His mercy for “all our diseases,” according to Isaiah 53.

The blind men not only honor Christ in their request, but also humble themselves. They do not ask Him to be just to them, for all have sinned and deserve death, as we are told in Romans 3:23, but in their humility they ask for mercy. Had they asked for justice, they would have been asking for their "rights." Demanding rights is an arrogant approach, the opposite of humility.

Another positive characteristic the blind men exemplify is that they continue to follow Christ until they receive an answer to their request—they persevere.

In spite of the crowds, they keep following Him along the road, and when He stops and enters a house, they do not give up but go into the house after Him. When we do not receive an answer to a prayer the first few times we ask, we often quit praying and sometimes indirectly accuse God of failing to act on our behalf.

However, delay in answering prayer is not necessarily denial; rather, it may be to test our faith and it is designed to strengthen our faith.

If we desire blessings from God, we have to persevere in pursuing them. God does not usually give special blessings to those who seek them half-heartedly.