Two blind men

[Bezant]

Now that I have your attention have a look at Matthew 9:27-31. Two blind mind follow Jesus, begging him to heal them. After doing so in private,

"Jesus spoke sternly, ‘Don’t tell this to anyone!’ But they left and spread the news about Jesus all over that part of the country.

However, Jesus has already become well-known in his travels, and he has performed a number of public miracles:

“Jesus went all over Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, preaching the Good News about the Kingdom, and healing people who had all kinds of disease and sickness. The news about him spread through the whole country of Syria, so that people brought him all those who were sick…and Jesus healed them all.”

(Matthew 4:23-24)

When Jesus came down from the hill, large crowds followed him. Then a man suffering from a dreaded skin disease came to him, knelt down before him, and said, ‘Sir, if you want to, you can make me clean.’…At once the man was healed of his disease."

(Matthew 8:1-4)

It’s also interesting that, unlike in the previous miracles, Jesus questions the faith of the blind men.

" ‘Have mercy on us, Son of David’! they shouted. When Jesus had gone indoors, the two blind men came to him, and he asked them, ‘Do you believe that I can heal you?’ ‘Yes, sir!’ they answered."

(Matthew 9:27-28)

My question is, given the previous events, 1) why do you think Jesus insisted that the miracle be kept a secret, and 2) why did he question their expressed faith?

 

[Della]

The more miracles Jesus performed the more the push to make his an earthly king was rising among the people. He did not want this and avoided giving people this idea as often as he felt it was needed. This may have been one of those occasions.

As to why he questioned their faith–it was either because of something he sensed in them or because he wished those witnessing it to understand that we cannot presume upon God but must ask in faith for what we need.

It’s hard for us who were not there and cannot picture the full situation of each of these encounters to fully grasp what was going on and why Our Lord did what he did. It’s good to read a reliable commentary, such as Haydock’s Catholic Bible Commentary or other such resources to help us with such questions.

 

[dshix]

That was an interesting choice of title. Is that legal?

 

[Glacies]

St. John Chrysostom gives one explanation for the silence requirement saying that Christ manifests His humility by this conduct. As for questions God knows everything including the past, the present and the future (The First Vatican Council 1869-1870, Session III, Chapter 1) wherefore He does not need to inquire for knowledge while He can do it to reveal the interior motivations of people. Accordingly Remigius states it was done here for this purpose.

Chrys.: Jesus when healing his body bids him tell no man; “Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man.” Some say that He gave this command that they might, not through malice distrust his cure. But this is said foolishly, for He did not so cure him as that his purity should be called in question: but He bids him “tell no man,” to teach that He does not love ostentation and glory.

How is it then that to another to whom He had healed He gives command to go and tell it? What He taught in that was only that we should have a thankful heart; for He does not command that it should be published abroad, but that glory should be given to God. He teaches us then through this leper not to be desirous of empty honour; by the other, not to be ungrateful, but to refer all things to the praise of God.

Remig.: He who was able to give sight to the blind, was not ignorant whether they believed; but He asked them, in order that the faith which they bare in their hearts, being confessed by their mouth might be made deserving of a higher reward, according to that of the Apostle, “By the mouth of confession is made unto salvation.” [Rom 10:10]

 

[Fr_of_Jazz]

Now that I have your attention have a look at Matthew 9:27-31. Two blind mind follow Jesus, begging him to heal them. After doing so in private,

However, Jesus has already become well-known in his travels, and he has performed a number of public miracles:

(Matthew 4:23-24)

(Matthew 8:1-4)

It’s also interesting that, unlike in the previous miracles, Jesus questions the faith of the blind men.

(Matthew 9:27-28)

My question is, given the previous events, 1) why do you think Jesus insisted that the miracle be kept a secret, and 2) why did he question their expressed faith?

My take, based on the commentaries I have read, would be this:

Question 1
In Mt Jesus often asks people to keep His identity and works quiet [8:4; 9:30; 12:16; **16:20 (// Jn 6:14-15); 17:9]. Mt 16:20 seems to contain the gist of it: “Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Messiah.” This parallels Jn (6:14-15): “When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, ‘This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.’ Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.”

The same is true in Mk (1:24-25; 32-34; 43-45; 3:11-12; 4:10-12; 5.43; 7:36-37; 8:25; 29-30; 9:9; 10:48)

This seems to be a real part of Jesus ministry to the crowds.

Question 2
Mt 4:23-24 is a summary statement which does not convey a great deal of detail. There are several other of these in Mt (9:35-36; 14:34-36; 19:1-2; 21:14).

Other passages in Mt do mention faith in connection with accounts of individual healings (8:18; 9:2; 22; 13:38).

Mk is especially emphasizes the role of faith. The section 5:21-43 has one account sandwiched in to another and both deal with faith: “Daughter, your faith has saved you.” (v 34) and “Jesus said to the synagogue official, ‘Do not be afraid; just have faith.’” (v 36)

Also especially powerful in Mk are (6:23-24; 7:24-30; 11:22-24).

I think Jesus is drawing attention to the need for and the power of faith.

 

[po18guy]

I think Jesus is drawing attention to the need for and the power of faith.

Exactly. Jesus’ power is manifested through faith.

Mark 5:34
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)
34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

Matthew 13:58
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)
58 And he did not do many deeds of power there, because of their unbelief.

 

[empantarhei]

The more miracles Jesus performed the more the push to make his an earthly king was rising among the people. He did not want this and avoided giving people this idea as often as he felt it was needed. This may have been one of those occasions.

As to why he questioned their faith–it was either because of something he sensed in them or because he wished those witnessing it to understand that we cannot presume upon God but must ask in faith for what we need.

…one explanation for the silence requirement saying that Christ manifests His humility by this conduct. As for questions God knows everything including the past, the present and the future …wherefore He does not need to inquire for knowledge while He can do it to reveal the interior motivations of people. Accordingly Remigius… it was done here for this purpose.

My take, based on the commentaries I have read, would be this:

Question 1
In Mt Jesus often asks people to keep His identity and works quiet …Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.”

I think Jesus is drawing attention to the need for and the power of faith.

Exactly. Jesus’ power is manifested through faith.

all good. Thank you