Matthew 12:23 Meaning: Can This Be the Son of David?
All the multitudes were amazed, and said, “Can this be the son of David?”
And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?
And all the multitudes were amazed, and said, Can this be the son of David?
And all the multitudes were amazed, and said, `Is this the Son of David?'
And all the crowds were amazed and said, Is this [man] the Son of David?
Meaning in one sentence
The crowd's amazed question reveals how ordinary people began to see Jesus as the promised Messiah through a miracle.
Context
Matthew 12 sits at a turning point. Opposition from the religious leaders is growing, yet Jesus keeps doing what he came to do. A man who is blind and mute because of a demon is brought to him. Jesus heals him so completely that the man both speaks and sees. The crowds are stunned. They have heard the old prophecies about the coming Son of David, the Messiah who would open blind eyes and loose the tongue of the mute. Now that promise is standing right in front of them in the person of Jesus. The question that escapes their lips is cautious but charged with hope. It is the kind of question that can either blossom into faith or wither under pressure. The Pharisees choose the opposite path, claiming Jesus works by Satan’s power.
Key Words
The Greek verb behind “were amazed” (existanto) means something stronger: to be thrown out of your normal position, jolted into wonder. This crowd was not mildly impressed. The miracle knocked them loose from their assumptions. And the question itself carries its own weight. The tiny Greek word mēti introduces a question that expects “no” for an answer, but the crowd does not mean “no.” They mean “can it really be?” Their hesitation is honest, not hostile. They are holding the evidence in their hands and trying to believe it. “Son of David” was not just a family line. It was the title of the promised king who would rescue God’s people (see Psalm 89:3, 4, Isaiah 11:1, 2). Calling Jesus that meant everything. The crowd sensed the weight of it, and they dared to ask.
How Christians Read This Verse
Calvin, writing from the Reformed tradition, says the crowd spoke doubtfully but were “aroused to consider more attentively the glory of Christ.” He sees their hesitation as the start of faith, not its opposite. The Baptist expositor John Gill notes that the question shows they were “inclining, at least, to believe it,” and that they rightly concluded from the miracles who Jesus must be. Barnes, from a Protestant background, contrasts the common people’s plain sense with the pride of the Pharisees who explained away the miracle. Matthew Henry, writing in the Presbyterian tradition, sets this question right before the warning about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, showing how the same miracle drew both wonder and hostility. Across these traditions, the crowd’s question is seen as an honest step, not a failure of faith.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers hear the crowd’s question and think they are dismissing Jesus, saying, “Surely this cannot be the Son of David.” But the Greek word mēti and the tone of the passage point the other way. The people are not denying; they are wondering. They have seen the prophecy come true in front of them, and they are trying to make sense of it. In fact, the commentaries consistently describe this as a hesitant hope, a question that leans toward belief even as it holds back from a full confession.
Living This Out
You may have seen God do something real, a prayer answered in an unexpected way, a relationship restored, a moment of clarity when you needed direction. And maybe your first reaction was not certainty but a quiet question: “Can this really be from him?” That is not a lack of faith. It is the honest place where faith often starts. The crowd did not rush to a confident confession. They paused, wondered, and let the miracle work on them. This week, when you sense God moving, do not rush past the wonder. Ask the question openly. Let it lead you where the crowd’s question was meant to lead them: closer to Jesus.
Main takeaway: Honest wonder about Jesus can be the beginning of faith, not a sign of doubt.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Jesus healed a man who could not see or talk. The people saw this and asked, “Could this be the special King God promised?” They were amazed because they saw God doing something wonderful.
For ages 9, 12
The crowd had heard the Scriptures say the Messiah would open blind eyes. When Jesus did exactly that, they did not instantly shout that he was the Messiah. They paused and asked, “Can this be him?” That question was not doubt; it was wonder. They were letting the evidence sink in. Sometimes you have questions about Jesus too. That is okay. Keep watching. Keep listening. The point is not to have all the answers right away, but to let what you see lead you to him.
Questions People Ask
Why did the crowd ask 'Can this be' instead of declaring Jesus is the Son of David?
The Greek word mēti suggests a question that expects 'no' but the crowd was not denying. They were hesitant, amazed, and leaning toward belief. Several commentators note that the common people were drawn to faith but spoke cautiously, perhaps because the religious leaders were already hostile to Jesus.
What does 'Son of David' mean in this verse?
It was a well-known title for the Messiah, the promised king descended from David. Prophecies like Isaiah 35:5, 6 said the Messiah would make the blind see and the mute speak. When Jesus did those things, the crowd connected the miracle to the promise.
How did the Pharisees respond compared to the crowd?
The Pharisees heard the same miracle but accused Jesus of using Satan’s power (Beelzebul). The crowd wondered and questioned. The Pharisees hardened and opposed. Jesus then taught about the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, warning against calling the Spirit’s work evil.
Is the crowd’s question a sign of doubt or of faith?
It is closer to the beginning of faith. Calvin wrote that the crowd was 'aroused to consider more attentively the glory of Christ.' They were not yet certain, but they were open. Wonder is often the door faith walks through.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study