Matthew 9:27-31

Jesus: The Real Eye Opener

Introduction: There are all kinds of soaps in the store.  There is Irish Spring, Dial, Ivory, Zest, Safeguard, Lever 2000, Dove, and then there is Coast.  Coast has its slogan, “The Eye Opener.”  When commercials come on t.v. they show how a person is using the soap when they first wake up and they come out of some deep trance while using Coast: The Eye Opener.  However, in this sermon I intend to show that Coast is just what it is…soap; but Jesus is the real eye opener.

I. The Condition of the Men (v.27a)

·         Blindness was a common malady in Egypt, Israel, and Arabian countries. In fact, the gospel records include more healings of blind people than any other type of healing, which may be an indication of its commonness. There were several causes of blindness: poverty and the unsanitary conditions that went with it, brilliant sunlight, excessive heat, blowing sand, accidents, war, and infectious organisms. Many people were blind from birth because of a form of gonorrhea, which sometimes was not even known to be existing in the mother. There were also infective organisms that were the common cause of trachoma, a type of blindness that has been almost eliminated through the use of sulfa drugs. But in Jesus' time, such drugs were not available and therefore blindness was a major problem.

·         Job knew about the condition of men, “Man that is born of a woman, is of a few days, and full of trouble.”  Paul knew the condition of man, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

II. The Cry of the Men (v.27b)

·         The blind man and his friend were yelling or shrieking

·         The Greek word is used in the gospels of insane, epileptic, or demon- possessed people who scream

·         The two blind men were shrieking and crying out in agony and desperation, pleading for help in the midst of their deep need. That is the desperation that often results in spiritual regeneration

·         The title Son of David was the common Jewish designation for the Messiah. Matthew, aware that it would be recognized by His Jewish readers

·         They came to the right person for mercy, because Christ was so merciful.  (the blind, deaf, dumb, children, prostitutes, bereaved)

III.  The Confrontation and Conversion of the Men

·         (v.28) Confrontation was evident as they went through the crowd to the house where Jesus was.  They were persistent.

·         (v.28b-30a) Conversion/change took place; they had the faith

Conclusion – Rests in the Command to the Men

·         He told them not to tell it because of personal, publicity and political problems.

·         He told them not to tell…they did…Before the resurrection…he told them not to tell…but after the resurrection…he says go ye therefore…

·         In fact, I said I wasn’t gonna tell nobody, but I couldn’t keep it to myself.