Catholic Bible Study: Matthew 9:27-38

Podcast: Catholic Bible Study – Augustine Institute
Date: November 17, 2025
Hosts: Dr. Tim Gray (A), Dr. Michael Barber (B)

Overview

This episode delves into Matthew 9:27-38, examining Jesus' mighty deeds—particularly the healing of two blind men and a mute, demon-oppressed man. The discussion focuses on Jesus’ identity as the “Son of David,” his authority, the connection between faith and healing, the meaning of the “Messianic secret,” the political undertones of Messiahship, and the transition from Jesus’ acts to discipleship and mission. The hosts connect this Gospel passage to sacramental theology and the church’s mission while weaving in Jewish tradition and broader Scriptural contexts.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Structure of Matthew’s Gospel and Jesus’ Authority

• Narrative and Discourse: Matthew alternates between narrative (actions/miracles) and discourse (teachings). Chapters 8-9 highlight Jesus' 10 mighty deeds, establishing his authority, which sets the stage for his major discourse in chapter 10.
  • “So as we walk through these 10 mighty deeds, we keep seeing in different angles and views, Jesus’ authority illustrated and manifest for us.” (A, 00:38)

2. Healing of Two Blind Men (Matthew 9:27-31)

• The blind men call out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David,” recognizing Jesus as both a healer and the promised king from David's line.
• Exploration of the Messianic expectation: In the 1st century, “Son of David” invoked hopes for a new, healing king like Solomon, who was also regarded as a healer and exorcist in both Scripture and Jewish tradition.
  • “In the Old Testament…David actually had healing abilities…his son Solomon was known as a great healer as well as an exorcist.” (B, 01:34)
• The role of the Book of Wisdom (especially 7:17-20) and extra-Biblical traditions regarding Solomon’s healing powers highlighted.
  • “Catholics don’t know about this book because…well, they don’t know about all the books in the Bible too.” (B, 03:24)

3. Faith and Healing

• Jesus heals by touch, underlining that power flows directly from him as the Son of God—and healing is granted “according to your faith.”
  • “If our faith is small, the impact of God's grace will be small in our life.” (A, 10:20)
• Analogy to the sacraments: While grace is always offered (“ex opere operato”), its fruitfulness depends on the recipient’s disposition and faith.
  • “Whether [the sacraments] bear fruit in your life depends on your receptivity, your heart being receptive to the grace of Christ.” (A, 11:53)

4. The Messianic Secret

• Jesus’ request to keep the healing quiet is connected to the dangers of political misunderstanding.
• “Messiah” was a political term, not just religious—and open self-identification could have led to premature conflict with Roman and Jewish authorities.
  • “Messiah…that’s a political title, right? … if Jesus goes around throwing around a political title like the Christ/Messiah, well, he won’t be long for this world.” (A, 14:35)
• Notably, Jesus is explicit about his messiahship only in Samaria, not in Israel (John 4).

5. Healing the Mute, Demon-possessed Man (Matthew 9:32-34)

• The miracle is contrasted by the Pharisees’ accusation that Jesus has demonic power—foreshadowing the "blasphemy against the Holy Spirit" (to be discussed in Matthew 12).
  • “They attribute that work to Satan. This is what Jesus will go on to describe in terms of the unforgivable sin, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.” (B, 17:25)

6. The Kingdom, the Messiah, and the Church

• Explores how “Christ” is a kingly title, and the Gospel message is about the “Kingdom of God.”
• Faith in Christ cannot be separated from participation in the kingdom—i.e., the Church.
  • “You can’t have a king without a kingdom, and you can’t have a Christ without a church.” (A, 21:52)
• Personal anecdotes illustrate the necessity of ecclesial belonging; loyalty to Christ is intertwined with loyalty to his kingdom (the Church).

7. Images of Shepherd and Harvest (Matthew 9:35-38)

• Jesus sees the crowds as “sheep without a shepherd”—echoing Ezekiel 34 and Jeremiah 23—linking back to Israel’s failed leaders and a prophecy of new, true shepherds.
• The call to mission: Jesus says, “The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few,” applying this to both priestly vocations and the universal call of all baptized Catholics to evangelize.
  • “We all, the laity, are to be the laborers...Who in your life can you witness this faith to share the hope and the grace of Jesus Christ with?” (A, 26:06)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If our faith is small, the impact of God's grace will be small in our life.” – Dr. Tim Gray (10:20)
• “You can’t have a king without a kingdom, and you can’t have a Christ without a church. That’s so important for people to get to know.” – Dr. Tim Gray (21:52)
• “Instead…they attribute that work to Satan. This is what Jesus will go on to describe in terms of the unforgivable sin, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.” – Dr. Michael Barber (17:32)
• “Many people touched Jesus that day…but the hemorrhaging woman touched him with faith…And power goes forth from Jesus and heals her.” – Dr. Tim Gray (10:47)
• “Jesus is Messiah, but he’s not king in the way David was. His kingdom is not of this world.” – Dr. Michael Barber (13:37)
• “We all…are to be the laborers. And so what’s the harvest? It could be your neighbor next door. It could be…a co-worker. It could be a nephew…So what we have to realize is that…the harvest is plentiful, as God says. And what is required…is the harvesters.” – Dr. Tim Gray (26:06)

Important Timestamps

• 00:00-01:34: Introduction, context of Matthew 9:27-38, Jesus’ mighty deeds.
• 01:34-06:49: Discussion on “Son of David,” healing in Jewish tradition, Book of Wisdom, and Jesus’ identity.
• 08:15-10:20: The connection between faith and healing—personal disposition and grace.
• 10:20-13:37: Faith, sacraments, and applying the stories to Eucharistic theology.
• 13:37-16:17: The Messianic secret and the political charge of “Messiah.”
• 16:22-18:09: Healing the mute man; accusation by religious leaders; preview of “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.”
• 18:54-22:55: Jesus’ kingship, the parables on the kingdom, necessity of the Church, and ecclesial anecdotes.
• 22:55-26:06: Jesus’ compassion, “sheep without a shepherd,” call for laborers, and universal mission of the laity.
• 26:06-end: Transition to Matthew 10, preview of topics for next episode (Ezekiel 34, Jeremiah 23, and addressing corruption in the Church).

Conclusion & Next Steps

The episode underscores how Matthew 9:27-38 reveals the nature of Jesus’ authority, the essential link between faith and divine healing, the significance of understanding Jesus as the Son of David, and the inseparability of Christ, the kingdom, and the Church. The hosts urge listeners to reflect on their call to evangelize—and recommend reading Matthew 10 and Ezekiel 34 to prepare for the next study, which will discuss shepherd-leadership and the Church’s response to scandal.