Two Blind Men

Returning homeward from the house of Jairus He is Matt. ix. 27-31. followed by two blind men, saying, ^a Son of David, have mercy on us." They enter His house and are healed, and He charges them that they should not speak of what He had done; but they, going forth, everywhere proclaim it. As they departed, a dumb possessed was Matt. ix. 32-34. brought to Him, whom He healed, to the astonishment of the multitude. This gave the Pharisees new occasion to say that He cast out devils through Satan.

These cases of healing are mentioned only by Matthew, and by him in immediate connection with the raising to life of the daughter of Jairus. We assume that he here narrates in chronological order.¹ Some² identify Matt. ix. 32-34 with Luke xi. 14, 15; and as the healing of the possessed was immediately after that of the blind, place all these miracles at a much later period, and after the sending of the Seventy.

¹ Robinson, Greswell, Lichtenstein, Lange, Ebrard. Alford, however, observes that " 7ra/>' e/cei0ej/ is too vague to be taken as a fixed note of sequence; for €Kel6ev, ' thence/ may mean the house of Jairus, or the town itself, or even that part of the country, as v. 26 has generalized the locality, and implied some pause of time."

2 Krafi't, Tischendorf.

By these blind men was Jesus for the first time addressed as " the Son of David." This shows that His descent from that royal house was known and recognized. Already the people had asked of Him, (Matt. xii. 23,) " Is this the Son of David ? " and the use of the title by the blind men shows their disposition to honor Him whose help they sought.¹

The impression which the miracle of healing the dumb possessed made upon the multitude, was very great, and explains why the Pharisees should repeat the charge that He cast out devils through the prince of the devils.

Winter, 782. A. D. 29.

Leaving Capernaum Jesus goes, accompanied by Matt. xiii. 53-58.

His disciples, into lower Galilee, and again visits Naza- Mark vi. 1-6.

reth. Rejected here the second time, He goes about Matt. ix. 35-38.

through the cities and villages in that region. During Makk vi. 7-11.

this circuit He commissions and sends out the Twelve. Matt. X. 1-42.

In their absence He continues His work. About this Luke ix. 1-9.

time John is beheaded in prison, and the news of his Matt. xiv. 1-12.

death is brought to Jesus by some of John's disciples. Maek vi. 14-30. Herod now hears of Christ, and expresses a desire to see Him. Jesus returns to Capernaum, and the Twelve gather to Him there.

In the order of events we follow Mark : " And He went out from thence, and came into His own country; and His disciples follow Him." The place of departure was the house of Jairus, (Meyer,) or Capernaum and its neighborhood, (Alexander.) Matthew (xiii. 53-58) narrates this visit to Nazareth immediately after his account of the teaching in parables: " And it came to pass when Jesus had finished these parables He departed thence. And when He was come into His own country," &c. Here it is not

¹ Compare (Matt. xx. 30) the healing of the two blind men at Jericho, when-the same title was used; as also by the woman of Canaan, (xv. 22.)