St Matthew, Chapter 9, verses: 34, The Dumb Speak.

Our paragraph topic is:  (A dumb demoniac) Part 2. 

Christ has cast out the devil in the dumb man who was then able to speak.  He did not speak before.  But the removal of the demon gave him his speech.  Many of the onlookers were in awe.  Many did not know what to make, of what they saw.  Never before has this been told of in all of Israel.  Never before has such a miracle been seen.  But then there are the wise Pharisees who are learned in the scriptures.   But then there are the Pharisees who had an explanation for this miracle.  They said,  "By the prince of devils he casts out devils."  

The Pharisees were not like the ordinary.  They were educated.  They had learning.  They were above the people.  They ruled the people.  They handed down the laws to the people.  So their statement about how Christ performed this miracle was a statement of knowledge.  It was a statement of insight.  It was a statement of understanding.  This statement assumed that there was a relationship between Christ and the prince of devils.  It implies that Christ obtained  his
power from the prince of devils and that the prince gave him the authority to cast out devils.  

The Pharisees saw what had happened with the man possessed by the demon.  They understood within themselves that Jesus had power to cast out demons but they could not accept that the 
authority came from God.  This was their reasoning.  If that power did come from God then this Christ could place himself above them.  If this power that Christ possessed did come from God then the people would no longer believe in them.  The people would no longer follow them.  The people would no longer provide for them as they had in the past. 

Christ had just previously spoken to the Pharisees and told them to learn about mercy instead of sacrifice.  He had just publicly spoken to the scribes and told them about the evil that was in their hearts.  He had indicated to the followers of John the Baptist that his disciples were different and did not follow the same precepts as they and the Pharisees.  So on three public occasions Christ had rebuked the Pharisees and the Scribes.  They were beginning to find him irritating.  So their explanation of this miracle stated that Christ had a relationship with the devil who gave him the power to cast out demons.  They could not accept him as the Messiah.  They could not believe that he was sent by God.  They could not allow the people to believe that they knew who he was.  So they conceived of this statement so that others would believe in them and follow their explanation.  They provided a basis to preserve their authority.  They decided to mislead the people with a statement of falsehood.

St Matthew gives us this statement here to show us how the separation began.  He demonstrates to us that a rift is taking place and the devil is working on the people around Christ.  The crowd is amazed at his miracles and the demons are finding ways to undermine those miracles.  There is a need for a physician to help the injured.  There is a need for a physician to heal the sick.  There is a need for a physician to cure the ills of society, and the demons are retaliating.  They are deceiving the minds of the Pharisees.  They are bringing about strife.  They are causing false statements to be spoken.  The battle has begun.  The sides are being drawn.  And the players are taking position.  Which side will you take, the side of Christ or the side of the Pharisees and the prince of the devils?

St Matthew, Chapter 9, verses:32-33, The Dumb Speak.

Our paragraph topic is:  (A dumb demoniac) Part 1.  

Christ has just now finished opening the eyes of the two blind men.  He gave them instructions to see, that no one knows of this.  But no one found out about the miracle and the two blind men did not follow the instructions they were given.  They did not see, even though they had sight. 

As they are leaving the house where Jesus stayed, there was brought to him another man possessed by a devil.  Now this man was dumb.  He could not here or speak, but he was possessed by a devil.  He was taken up by an evil spirit.  His friends knew that he was possessed.  His family knew that he was possessed.  Everyone knew that he was possessed even though he could not tell them so.  And, after Christ had cast out the devil, he spoke.  After the devil had left him, he opened his mouth and words came out.  After the demon was gone, he was able to hear himself speak.  

The crowd marvelled at his words.  They were in awe that he spoke.  They were stunned that he spoke, for, they expected the demon to be cast out, but they did not expect him to speak.  Shouts and praises went up.  Joy and gladness filled the room.  And all were filled with the spirit of amazement as the looked upon Christ.  They had not seen such miracles before.  They had not known such a person before.  They had not experienced a presences such as his before.  They did not know how to respond around him.  For he was the anointed one.  He was the miracle worker.  He was the blessed one.  He was the Messiah.

Some said,  "Never has the like been seen in Israel."   For they knew not what to make of what they had seen.  The knew not how to accept what their senses had perceived.  They knew not how to rationalize, within themselves, this man called Jesus.  He speaks to demons and they obey him.  He touches the eyes of the blind and they see.  He forgives the sins of the lame and they walk.  What manner of man is this?  What will he do to us, they wondered?  With such powers, who can be against him.  With such powers, what is his purpose?  With such powers, we are afraid of him.  They marvelled at what they had seen, and their minds wondered.

Many still wonder today about  Christ.  They still do not know what to make of him.  All his history has been written in the Gospel by St Matthew, St Mark, St Luke, and St John, but many still do not know, how to accept Christ.  Many have turned away.  Many refuse to accept.  Many deny he existed.  Many blaspheme against him.  There minds will not allow them to accept.  Reason tries to become the basis of their beliefs.  Denial is the foundation of their actions.  Hatred comes forth from their hearts.  Doubt pervades their being blinding them to the truth.  To support their positions then, attacks take place upon those who do accept.  And logic is the yardstick by which is measured the intelligence of oneself.  Yet still, Christ existed.  Christ lived on this earth.  Christ walked among us.  Christ performed miracles.  Christ taught us how to live.  Christ died for us.  Christ saved us from damnation.  Christ gave us the Holy Spirit to guide us on this earth.  And Christ lives today in heaven.  Why do you marvel at the things that Christ did?  Why do you not believe?

St Matthew, Chapter 9, verse: 30-31, The Blind believe

Our paragraph topic is:  (Two blind men) Part 4.  

Jesus touches the eyes of the two blind men and immediately they gain their sight.  They have persevered for success.  They were persistent for their reward.  They believed for the transformation.  Christ healed them.  Jesus then gives them strict instructions saying,  "See that no one knows of this!"   Christ gave them sight and he gave them instructions.  The instructions were to see.  He had just given sight to two blind men who badly wanted to see.  He had caused their eyes to be opened that they may experience the world as others.  He had given them joy that they could now walk upright without the assistance of others.  He had given them sight so that now they did not have to depend upon the words of others but could see and believe for themselves.  And he told them to SEE!  

He told them to SEE that no one knows of this.  And so they left with those instructions to see that no one knows.  But they did not see no one.  They did not know no one.  So they did not heed his instructions and told no one.  And no one told someone.  And someone told someone else.  And someone else told another someone.  And another someone told another, and another, and another and before it was all over they had become celebrities.  They had become like anchormen in the field telling the story of how Christ gave them sight.  They told their story of how they heard about him.  They gave detailed information on how they got to meet Christ.  They talked about the journey that they had to make with him before he saw them.  They also repeated phrase for phrase the words that he said to them to make the drama more exciting and the capture the attention of the public that listened to their story.  They spread the fame of Christ throughout all the district, contrary to what he had instructed them to do.  And no one made them someone.  And no one made sure that all knew of this Christ.  They were blind and Christ told them to see that no one knows of this.

No one wants to be someone.  No one wants to have fame.  No one wants to be popular.  No one wants to have success.  No one wants people to know him.  No one wants people to like him and to he wants to be in the spot light.  And Christ told them to see.  Yet they were blind and did not see.  For no one took their hand and led them.  No one led them down the wide path of destruction.  They did not have to follow.  They did not have to see.  They could have not seen no one and kept the miracle to themselves.  They could have not spoken to no one and not spread the news.  They could have not told someone and been wise as Christ had instructed them.  But no one compelled them to act.  No one opened the door for them to speak.  No one brought them forth before the people and moved them to tell someone.  And they were blind and could not see.

It seems insane to not want to be known, to not want fame and fortune.  Today in our society no one want to be unknown.  No one wants to be not liked.  No one wants to be loved by many.  No one wants to not be popular.  No one wants to not have money.  No one wants to not have fame and fortune.  And no one will not do anything to get it.  So in our societal structure no one will tell lies to get to the top.  No one will deceive to get to the top.  No one will steal to get where they want to go.  No one will kill to get money.  No one will destroy to get what it wants.  No one will manipulate.  No one will lust and use sexual gratitude to seduce what it wants.  No one will forsake values and morals to get to the top.  NO ONE will do anything to succeed in this societal structure.  And Christ told the two blind men to SEE that NO ONE knows.  All they had to do was to not tell no one.  If Christ gave you a miracle today would you tell no one?