Matthew 9:27–31 NIV
27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”
28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”
“Yes, Lord,” they replied.
29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; 30 and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” 31 But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.
Just one touch from Jesus can change your life! Faith is the key to get you close enough to receive that touch. What do you have faith for? Are believing for the best outcome, or are you expecting things to go downhill? When I was growing up, we would use this phrase, "According to your faith, be it unto you." Sometimes we were sarcastically replying to someone's negative confession. They would groan, “I think I’m coming down with something!” The reply: According to your faith… Sometimes we were simply trying to encourage each other to keep a positive confession.
The faith or doubt in someone’s heart will come out in (Proverbs 18:21). We need to have faith and speak life into our daily existence. This passage in Matthew is the context of the phrase. Let’s look at some insights from this incident with the blind men.
Have Mercy!
The phrase "have mercy" in Matthew 9:27 is a common expression used in the Bible, especially in the Psalms and the New Testament. In the context of Matthew 9:27-31, the two blind men cried out to Jesus, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" as they sought His help in healing their blindness.
The phrase "have mercy" is a plea for compassion and grace from God, and it acknowledges our need for His help and intervention in our lives. It is an admission of our own weakness and a recognition of God's power and sovereignty; and sometimes its the most fitting, the only thing we can cry!
Son of David
The title "Son of David" is significant because it establishes Jesus' royal lineage as the rightful heir to David's throne (2Samuel 7:12-13) and identifies Him as the promised Messiah (Isaiah 11:1-2) who would bring salvation and establish God's kingdom on earth (Isaiah 9:6-7). It is a powerful declaration of faith in Jesus as the fulfillment of God's promises to His people.
The fact that these men cried out “Son of David” shows that they had an understanding of Jesus’ mission and purpose. Maybe they had heard stories growing up about what the Messiah would be like, and when they heard about the teachings and miracles of Jesus that connected the dots. Or maybe God supernaturally revealed to these men, that Jesus was the Messiah, and the only one who could help them.
They Kept Following
I wonder if there is significance to the men continuing to follow Jesus as he “went indoors” (Matthew 9:28). Maybe, like the 4 friends earlier in the same chapter of Matthew, this demonstrated the tenacity of their faith. Or like the story of the friend at midnight who comes knocking on the door, and continues to knock until his friend gets up and gives him his request. The NIV says the man had, “shameless audacity!” Faith like that doesn’t give up!
According to Your Faith
Jesus' response to the two blind men, "According to your faith be it unto you," emphasizes the importance of faith in the healing process. He did not heal them based on their good works, their social status, or any other external factor. Instead, He responded to their faith and rewarded it with healing.
This statement from Jesus is also a reminder that our faith has the power to shape our lives and experiences. If we have faith in God's promises and trust in His goodness, we can experience the fullness of His blessings in our lives. However, if we lack faith and allow fear or doubt to control us, we may miss out on the abundant life that God has for us.
Ultimately, "according to your faith be it unto you" is a powerful statement that reminds us of the essential role that faith plays in our relationship with God. Our words and our faith will help to shape our reality.
As we seek to grow in our faith and trust in Him, we can be confident that He will reward us with His blessings and grace.
One of the things that keeps the Good News of the Gospel both Good and New is when the power of God touches someone’s life, and suddenly they have a story to tell. Prayer was answered, sickness was healed, a life was changed. They have something new that happened in their life and it was good! That’s how, after 2,000 years, it continues to be Good News! Are you expecting something new that’s coming your way, and believe it’s going to be really good? According to your faith, be it unto you!
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