Matthew 12:22

22 Then they brought to him a demoniac who was blind and mute; and he cured him, so that the one who had been mute could speak and see.

Matthew 12:22 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 12:22

Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil
About this time, or some little time after, when he was returned from the sea of Galilee, and was come into a certain house; see ( Mark 3:19 ) ( Matthew 12:46 Matthew 13:1 ) some persons brought him a demoniac, in compassion to the possessed man, and being persuaded of the power of Christ to heal him by the late cures he had performed. A like instance we have in ( Matthew 9:32 Matthew 9:33 Matthew 9:34 ) ( Luke 11:14 Luke 11:15 ) , which had a like effect upon the people, and cavilled at by the Pharisees in much the same way; and which cavils were answered in much the same words; and yet the case is not the same; for that man was only dumb, but this both

blind and dumb;
not by birth, or through the defect of nature, or by any natural distemper that had attended him, but through the malice of Satan, by divine permission; his blindness, and dumbness, were the effects of his being possessed with a devil, who had deprived him of his sight, and speech. The word rendered "dumb", signifies both deaf and dumb, and answers to the Hebrew word (vrx) , which sometimes F13 is used of a deaf man only, who can speak, but not hear; and often of one that can neither speak, nor hear; which is the case of such as are born deaf: it seems as if this man could hear, though he could not speak; since no mention is made of his want of hearing, or of Christ's restoring it to him; for it follows,

and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb, both spake and
saw.
This he did, not by making use of medicines, but by a word speaking, dispossessing Satan; so that the cause of blindness and dumbness being removed, the effects ceased, and the man was restored to his sight, and speech, as before. He had his sight to behold his Saviour, and a tongue to praise his name: so when men are turned from Satan unto God, and are delivered from his thraldom and bondage, they are brought into marvellous light, and put into a capacity of showing forth the praises of God.


FOOTNOTES:

F13 Maimon. & Bartenora in Misn. Trumot, c. 1. sect. 2.

Matthew 12:22 In-Context

20 He will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick until he brings justice to victory.
21 And in his name the Gentiles will hope."
22 Then they brought to him a demoniac who was blind and mute; and he cured him, so that the one who had been mute could speak and see.
23 All the crowds were amazed and said, "Can this be the Son of David?"
24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "It is only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, that this fellow casts out the demons."
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.