Moment with the Gospel Series: The Blind men were healed Mt 9:27-31

 Moments with the Gospel

Moments with the Gospel 

MOMENTS WITH THE GOSPEL

 

Today is Friday of the First Week of Advent.  The Church offers us this Gospel.

I was meditating on Mt 9: 27-31 this morning and the I was curious that Jesus asked the blind men whom He had just healed to ‘not tell anyone about it’.  How is this possible when they had been healed and their sight returned. Let us consider what this might mean both for the blind men and for us during advent

. Why does Jesus tell the blind men not to tell anyone? (Mt 9:27–31)

This command—often called the “Messianic Secret”—appears several times in the Gospels. Jesus heals, then tells the person, “See that no one knows about this.”  At first glance it feels almost impossible…
How can two men who were known as blind suddenly appear sighted, and not draw attention?
Exactly. Jesus knew they couldn’t be invisible. But His instruction wasn’t meant to hide the miracle itself…it was meant to shape the meaning of the miracle.

Let’s look at the deeper layers.

1. Jesus did not want a “miracle circus”

Crowds often pursued Jesus not for His teaching but for spectacle, excitement, or curiosity.

If these men spoke freely, it would increase the number of people coming seeking power, not seeking conversion.

Jesus wants faith, not frenzy. Notice the key line in this passage:

“Do you believe I am able to do this?”

Faith first. Miracle second. He wanted to avoid a reputation that was only about wonders.

 

2. Jesus’ identity had to be revealed in God’s timing

If His fame grew too quickly as a miracle-worker:

• Religious leaders would move against Him prematurely.
• People might try to make Him an earthly king.
• The nature of His mission (the Cross) would be misunderstood.

He was not avoiding revelation; Jesus was controlling the timing so that the Father’s plan unfolded properly. He was being obedient to His Father.

3. The healing itself was already a silent proclamation

The blind men’s healing was obvious not only to the blind men but the whole town would notice.  Jesus was not asking them to pretend nothing happened.
He was asking them not to distort the meaning of the healing by talking about it carelessly, proudly, or in a way that fed the wrong kind of excitement.

Sometimes silence is the most reverent response to grace. It allows the grace to take root and be fully appreciated.

4. Jesus wanted their hearts more than their advertising

He was not recruiting “publicity agents.” He was forming disciples. He often tests people this way:  We may wish to ask ourselves:

Can I hold a grace quietly with humility?
Can I allow God to work in you without needing to broadcast it?
Do I truly want Jesus—or the miracle?

It is  a spiritual principle: What God does in us should first transform us before it becomes something we speak about.

 

5. The men’s reaction shows human enthusiasm… but also disobedience

The Gospel says:

“They went away and spread his fame throughout that whole district.”

Their joy is understandable.  However, Matthew subtly shows they did not listen to Jesus. The command of Jesus was not arbitrary—
it protected Jesus’ mission and their own spiritual purity. He did not ask them to do this just for Himself but it was also for their good too.

Disobedience, even joyful disobedience, can still create complications. Sadly people do not always rejoice in other people’s good fortune and when it comes to spiritual healing, may be jealous or allow the evil one to attack the person through them or even copy the person’s healing causing other falsehoods. Taking the root of disobedience will always have consequences.

6. A deeper meditation:

Some experiences of grace are meant to be held, not immediately spoken.

Sometimes God does something in our lives—healing, forgiveness, peace—and the impulse is to run and tell the world. Often God whispers:
“Let this work go deep in you first.”  Jesus’ instruction to the blind men mirrors that inner discipline of the spiritual life.

Summary:

The restored sight of the blind men would speak louder than any words. Even if they stayed silent, their lives would proclaim:

• God sees
• God acts
• God restores

Jesus often prefers witness by transformation over witness by publicity.

What does this mean for Me?

• What this passage teaches me personally about obedience, gratitude, and humility.
• Why Jesus heals in different ways in different stories.
• What “faith” means in this passage, where He asks them point-blank about belief before healing.