Matthew 9:18-34
Q.1. What made the synagogue official believe that Jesus could raise his dead daughter? How was Christ’s mission interrupted? How did Jesus encourage her? – (Mt.9:18-22 c.f. Mk.5:21-43; Lk.7:3-4)
The synagogue ruler showed great faith when he declared – … My daughter has just died; but come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live (Mt.9:18). It is almost certain that Jairus was one of the Jewish elders from the synagogue in Capernaum who had asked Jesus to intervene in the plight of the centurion’s servant boy, and whom Jesus had highly commended (Lk.7:3-4). That miracle must have made a great impression on him. However, his desperately urgent mission was interrupted by a sad woman who had experienced twelve years of bleeding and had spent all she had (Mt.9:20 c.f. Mk.5:26). This was not something she would want to advertise, but she believed – … If I only touch His garment, I will get well (Mt.9:21). Jesus was conscious of her smallest heart cry and urged her to publicly testify to her amazing miracle (Mk.5:33).
Q.2. What was the role of the flute players? How did they respond to the claim by Jesus that the girl was asleep? What did Jesus do? – (Mt.9:23-26 c.f. Lk.8:49-56)
The delay must have been excruciating for Jairus. However, God is never in a hurry and is not confined to our timetables. By the time Jairus and Jesus arrived there was an entourage of professional mourners, complete with flute players. They knew that she was dead and thought it laughable that Jesus would announce without examination that the little girl was asleep, not dead. He revealed His power over life and death when He simply raised her to life (Mt.9:24-25)
Q.3. Whom did the blind men think Jesus was? What do we learn about the need for faith? Why did the healed men spread the news that Jesus asked them to keep private? – (Mt.9:27-31)
The blind men were extremely desperate – … crying out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” (Mt.9:27). When they addressed Jesus as the Son of David, they were confessing their belief in Him as the Messiah. Jesus did not doubt their faith in His ability to heal their blindness – He wanted them to declare it. Their faith in Jesus as the Messiah was richly rewarded (Mt.9:29). Why did Jesus sternly warn them not to publicize their healing? News like this would cause a stampede of people wanting healing. That was not primarily why Jesus came. He did not want healing to derail His true mission (Mt.9:30-31 c.f. Mt.4:17; 9:6,13).
Q.4. Why was the mute man unable to speak? What was the impact of his healing? Did all rejoice at Christ’s power and authority? – (Mt9:32-34)
Matthew informed us that the man was demon-possessed, and for that reason was unable to speak (Mt.9:32). As soon as Jesus had cast out the demon, the mute man spoke. Not surprisingly, the crowds were amazed, saying – … Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel (Mt.9:33). However, there was evil in the hearts of the Pharisees, so they attributed His power to a demonic source – … He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons (Mt.9:34 c.f. Jn.8:43-44).