Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus doesn't just cure the man's blindness and muteness; He simultaneously restores the very faculties the demon had used to isolate him from God and others. The healing isn't just about restoring sight and speech, but about reintegrating the man into relationship, opening him up to experience and express God's love once more.
Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This healing occurs amidst growing opposition from the Pharisees, who are increasingly threatened by Jesus' growing popularity and the crowds' perception of Him as the Messiah. Immediately after Jesus performs this powerful miracle, casting out a demon that caused blindness and muteness, the people marvel and question if He is indeed the Son of David. However, the religious leaders, determined to discredit Him, twist the miracle into an accusation that Jesus works by the power of Satan, setting the stage for Jesus' teaching on blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
This man wasn't just sick; he was completely ensnared. What does this reveal about the enemy's tactics?
The text describes a man "possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb." This wasn't merely an illness; it was a profound state of oppression where a demonic force had seized control of his faculties, rendering him unable to see or speak.
Total Thralldom
Jesus' healing of this man wasn't just a physical cure; it was a forceful reclaiming of a life utterly held captive. It shows the devastating power of the enemy, but also the supreme power of Christ to liberate.
The healing wasn't gradual; it was instantaneous and total. What does this tell us about Jesus' authority?
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The account emphasizes the immediacy and completeness of Jesus' work. 'He healed him, so that the man spoke and saw.' There was no drawn-out process or partial recovery.
The Power of His Word
The people were amazed, but the religious leaders reacted with outright slander. Why such different responses to the same miracle?
This miracle sparked two very different reactions: awe from the crowd and malicious accusation from the Pharisees and scribes.
The Two Responses
This contrast highlights a critical spiritual principle: true encounters with divine power do not always lead to faith; they can also expose the hardness of a resistant heart.
Understand the original words
daimonizomai · Greek Verb/Participle
A malevolent spiritual entity in rebellion against God that seeks to inhabit, influence, or torment human beings, often causing physical or mental affliction.
This miracle occurred during a period of escalating tension between Jesus and the religious establishment. The healing, a clear demonstration of divine power, was met not with awe by the leaders, but with accusations intended to undermine Jesus' authority and turn people away from believing He was the Messiah.
c. AD 28-30— this verse
Jesus' Ministry in Galilee
Jesus traveled throughout Galilee, teaching, healing, and calling disciples. His fame spread rapidly, drawing large crowds but also attracting opposition from religious leaders.
c. AD 28-30
Pharisees and Scribes Observe Jesus
Religious leaders, including Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem, closely watched Jesus' ministry, seeking any grounds to discredit Him and His teachings.
c. AD 28-30
Jesus Confronts Religious Leaders
Jesus engaged in debates and confrontations with religious authorities, challenging their interpretations of the Law and their spiritual hypocrisy.
c. AD 28-30
Accusation of Beelzebub
Following Jesus' powerful miracles, such as healing the blind and mute man, the opposition accused Him of casting out demons by the power of Satan (Beelzebub).
This passage recounts the same healing of a blind and mute man, highlighting Jesus' power over demonic forces.
Isaiah 35:5-6This prophecy foretells the signs of the Messiah's coming, including the opening of eyes and ears, which Jesus fulfills in this healing.
Matthew 9:32-33This is a similar account of Jesus healing a mute man possessed by a demon, showing a pattern of His ministry and the people's reaction.
John 10:20-21This passage discusses the nature of demonic possession and the contrast between the works of the enemy and those of Jesus, providing context for the man's condition.
bensonMatthew 12:22: "Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw."
Matthew 12:22-24 . Then was brought unto him — Namely, By the person’s friends, one possessed with a devil, blind and dumb — Many, no doubt, supposed these defects to be merely natural: but the Spirit of God saw otherwise, and gives the true account, both of the disorder and the cure. How many other disorders, seemingly natural, may even…
barnesMatthew 12:22: "Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw."
Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil - See the notes at Matthew 4:24 . The same account, substantially, is found in Mark 3:22-27 , and Luke 11:14-26 .
Jesus doesn't just cure the man's blindness and muteness; He simultaneously restores the very faculties the demon had used to isolate him from God and others. The healing isn't just about restoring sight and speech, but about reintegrating the man into relationship, opening him up to experience and express God's love once more.
This healing occurs amidst growing opposition from the Pharisees, who are increasingly threatened by Jesus' growing popularity and the crowds' perception of Him as the Messiah. Immediately after Jesus performs this powerful miracle, casting out a demon that caused blindness and muteness, the people marvel and question if He is indeed the Son of David. However, the religious leaders, determined to discredit Him, twist the miracle into an accusation that Jesus works by the power of Satan, setting the stage for Jesus' teaching on blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
This healing occurs amidst growing opposition from the Pharisees, who are increasingly threatened by Jesus' growing popularity and the crowds' perception of Him as the Messiah. Immediately after Jesus performs this powerful miracle, casting out a demon that caused blindness and muteness, the people marvel and question if He is indeed the Son of David. However, the religious leaders, determined to discredit Him, twist the miracle into an accusation that Jesus works by the power of Satan, setting the stage for Jesus' teaching on blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
"Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw." — Jesus doesn't just cure the man's blindness and muteness; He simultaneously restores the very faculties the demon had used to isolate him from God and others. The healing isn't just about restoring s…
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Last reviewed October 2026