Matthew 9:27-31 Meaning: Faith in the Son of David
27As Jesus passed by from there, two blind men followed him, calling out and saying, “Have mercy on us, son of David!”
28When he had come into the house, the blind men came to him. Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They told him, “Yes, Lord.”
29Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.”
30Then their eyes were opened. Jesus strictly commanded them, saying, “See that no one knows about this.”
31But they went out and spread abroad his fame in all that land.
27And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.
28And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
29Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
30And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.
31But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.
27And as Jesus passed by from thence, two blind men followed him, crying out, and saying, Have mercy on us, thou son of David.
28And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.
29Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it done unto you.
30And their eyes were opened. And Jesus strictly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.
31But they went forth, and spread abroad his fame in all that land.
27And Jesus passing on thence, two blind men followed him, calling and saying, `Deal kindly with us, Son of David.'
28And he having come to the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus saith to them, `Believe ye that I am able to do this?' They say to him, `Yes, sir.'
29Then touched he their eyes, saying, `According to your faith let it be to you,'
30and their eyes were opened, and Jesus strictly charged them, saying, `See, let no one know;'
31but they, having gone forth, did spread his fame in all that land.
27And as Jesus passed on thence, two blind [men] followed him, crying and saying, Have mercy on us, Son of David.
28And when he was come to the house, the blind [men] came to him. And Jesus says to them, Do ye believe that I am able to do this? They say to him, Yea, Lord.
29Then he touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith, be it unto you.
30And their eyes were opened; and Jesus charged them sharply, saying, See, let no man know it.
31But they, when they were gone out, spread his name abroad in all that land.
Meaning in one sentence
Two blind men call Jesus 'Son of David,' a messianic title. Jesus asks if they believe He can heal them. Their faith opens their eyes and reveals His identity.
Context
This passage sits early in Matthew's gospel, in a chapter where Jesus is showing His authority over sickness, death, and demons. He has just raised the daughter of a synagogue leader from death. As He leaves that house, two blind men begin to follow Him. They shout a title that every Jew would recognize: Son of David. That was the name for the promised Messiah. They keep crying out even when Jesus enters a house and seems to ignore them. Inside, He turns to them with a direct question about their faith. Their simple answer leads to their sight being restored. Then Jesus gives them a very strong warning not to tell anyone. But they go out and spread the news anyway. This story sits between two other miracles and shows that even when the religious leaders resist Jesus, the desperate and humble recognize who He is.
Key Words
Three words carry the weight here. First, “Son of David” (huios Dauid) was not just a family name, it was a loaded title. The prophets had promised that the Messiah would come from David’s line. When the blind men used these words, they were announcing their hope: Jesus was the One who was supposed to come. They didn’t call out for a healer; they called out for a king.
Second, “believe” (pisteuō) is a verb that means to trust, to rely on, to be convinced. Jesus asks not just if they think He can, but if they trust Him personally. Their answer, “Yes, Lord,” uses “Lord” (kurios), a word for master or owner. They give Him authority over their situation.
Third, the Greek word for “strictly charged” (embrimaomai) is intense. It means to snort with strong feeling, like a horse. This was no gentle request. Jesus had deep reasons for wanting the news contained for now, perhaps to control the growing frenzy around His miracles. The word shows how seriously He took the timing of His mission.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read this story as a demonstration of messianic faith. Adam Clarke, a Methodist commentator, points out that calling Jesus “Son of David” was the same as calling Him Messiah, a public confession of His identity. John Calvin notes that Jesus tests their faith with a question, not because He needed to know, but to strengthen their trust and to make them confess it. Albert Barnes observes that Jesus seemed to ignore them at first, allowing their faith to be tested by delay. Many commentators also wrestle with the strict command to be silent. Some see it as Jesus controlling the pace of revelation; others note that the blind men’s joyful disobedience, while wrong, shows how powerful the experience was. All agree that the healing is a sign of the kingdom arriving in Jesus.
A common misunderstanding
Some believe that Jesus’ words “According to your faith be it done to you” mean the blind men healed themselves by the force of their own positive thinking. In fact, Jesus is the one who heals. Their faith does not create the miracle; it is the channel through which they receive His mercy. He says “be it done to you”, He is actively granting the healing in response to their trust.
Living This Out
This week, you may face a situation that feels as hopeless as blindness. A relationship that seems broken, a health issue that won’t improve, a prayer that feels unanswered. These blind men show you what to do: follow Jesus persistently, use the right name for who He is, and answer His question with a simple yes. He asks, “Do you believe I am able?” Not do you hope so, but do you trust Me with this. Take that need to Him today. And if He asks you to wait or to keep quiet about something, trust His timing. But when He works, let your joy overflow, tell someone what He has done for you.
Main takeaway: Jesus responds to persistent faith that recognizes Him as the promised Messiah, and He is able to do what we trust Him for.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Two blind men called Jesus the Son of David. They believed He could make them see. Jesus touched their eyes and they could see! They were so happy they told everyone.
For ages 9, 12
These blind men knew Jesus was the promised Messiah, so they called Him Son of David. They followed Him even when He didn’t answer right away. Jesus asked if they believed He could heal them, and they said yes. Their faith led to their healing, and then they couldn’t stop talking about it. Sometimes we need to be persistent in prayer and trust that Jesus hears us.
Questions People Ask
Why did the blind men call Jesus 'Son of David'?
The title 'Son of David' was a well-known way to refer to the promised Messiah, the descendant of King David. By using this title, the blind men were publicly declaring that they believed Jesus was the Messiah who had the power to heal and save.
Why did Jesus ask them if they believed He could heal them?
Jesus often asked for a confession of faith before performing a miracle. He wanted them to express their trust in His ability and goodness. Their faith did not create the healing, but it opened the door for Jesus to work in their lives.
Why did Jesus tell them not to tell anyone about the miracle?
Jesus had a purpose and timing for revealing His identity. At this point, He wanted to avoid overwhelming crowds that could hinder His ministry or provoke early opposition. He also wanted people to understand His message before the miracles became the main focus.
Did the blind men do wrong by spreading the news?
Many commentators note that they disobeyed Jesus' direct command. They were filled with joy and could not contain themselves, but obedience is important. Jesus was not responsible for their actions, but He used it anyway for His glory.
What does 'according to your faith be it done to you' mean?
This phrase links the outcome to the measure of their trust in Jesus. It does not mean they earned the healing by strong belief. Rather, their faith was the means through which they received God's mercy. Jesus honors sincere faith, even when it is small.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study