Matthew 12:22 kjv
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 nkjv
Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.
Matthew 12:22 niv
Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see.
Matthew 12:22 esv
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.
Matthew 12:22 nlt
Then a demon-possessed man, who was blind and couldn't speak, was brought to Jesus. He healed the man so that he could both speak and see.
Matthew 12 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 29:18 | "In that day the deaf shall hear the words... out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see." | Prophecy of spiritual/physical restoration by Messiah. |
| Isa 35:5-6 | "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap... and the tongue of the mute sing." | Prophecy of Messiah's signs: healing. |
| Isa 42:7 | "...to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon..." | Messiah's role in spiritual and physical liberation. |
| Mt 8:16 | "That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word..." | Jesus' power over demons and illnesses. |
| Mt 9:27-31 | "And when Jesus entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, 'Do you believe that I am able to do this?'... then their eyes were opened." | Jesus heals two blind men by faith. |
| Mt 9:32-33 | "As they went away, behold, a demon-oppressed man who was mute was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke..." | Jesus heals another mute demon-oppressed man. |
| Mt 10:1 | "And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction." | Jesus empowers disciples for similar works. |
| Mt 11:4-5 | "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them." | Signs confirming Jesus as the Expected One. |
| Mk 7:31-37 | "And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment... And his ears were opened, his tongue was released..." | Jesus heals a deaf man with a speech impediment. |
| Mk 9:17-29 | "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute... And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out..." | Jesus heals a demon-possessed mute boy. |
| Lk 4:40 | "Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them." | Jesus' widespread healing ministry. |
| Lk 11:14 | "Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the crowds marveled." | Parallel account of this specific healing in Luke. |
| Lk 11:20 | "But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you." | Direct context: Healing demonstrates Kingdom power. |
| Jn 9:1-7 | "As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth... He spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes... and said to him, 'Go, wash in the pool of Siloam'... So he went and washed and came back seeing." | Jesus heals a man born blind. |
| Jn 10:37-38 | "If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I in the Father." | Works validate Jesus' claims and origin. |
| Acts 10:38 | "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him." | Summary of Jesus' ministry: healing from devil's oppression. |
| Col 2:15 | "He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him." | Christ's victory over spiritual powers. |
| Heb 2:14 | "Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil..." | Jesus' mission includes destroying the devil's works. |
| 1 Jn 3:8 | "Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil." | Jesus came to undo Satan's works. |
| Rev 12:9 | "And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him." | Satan as the ultimate oppressor. |
Matthew 12 verses
Matthew 12 22 Meaning
In Matthew 12:22, Jesus performs a profound miracle, healing a man who was suffering from a dual affliction: he was demon-oppressed, which manifested as both blindness and muteness. The verse concisely states that once healed by Jesus, the man immediately recovered his ability to speak and see. This act demonstrates Jesus' supreme authority over evil spirits and physical ailments, linking spiritual oppression to its physical manifestations and providing undeniable evidence of His divine power.
Matthew 12 22 Context
This healing miracle occurs within a crucial chapter (Matthew 12) that intensifies the conflict between Jesus and the religious authorities, particularly the Pharisees. Earlier in the chapter, Jesus challenged their interpretation of the Sabbath law by allowing His disciples to pluck grain and by healing a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath (Mt 12:1-13), demonstrating His authority over the Law. The healing of the demon-oppressed blind and mute man is presented as another compelling display of divine power and mercy. However, instead of glorifying God, the Pharisees immediately attribute Jesus' power to Beelzebul, the prince of demons (Mt 12:24). This accusation sets the stage for Jesus' teaching on the Kingdom of God and the unpardonable sin (Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit), as the Pharisees willfully reject undeniable evidence of divine presence and work. Culturally, the immediate restoration of sight and speech from such severe demonic affliction was an extraordinary event, directly fulfilling Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah's coming, thus leaving the Pharisees without excuse for their opposition.
Matthew 12 22 Word analysis
- Then (Tote - Τότε): A transitional adverb, indicating the sequence of events. It connects this significant miracle to the preceding Sabbath controversies, highlighting that Jesus' mighty deeds were often a response to or provoked further conflict with the religious leaders.
- a demon-oppressed man (daimonizomenos - δαιμονιζόμενος): Denotes someone under the power or influence of a demon, resulting in significant suffering. This term distinguishes him from someone merely sick or physically disabled, implying direct satanic involvement in his affliction. The passive participle stresses his state of being subjected to demonic power.
- who was blind (tuphlos - τυφλός): Literally, without physical sight. In ancient times, this was a debilitating condition leading to dependency. Biblically, blindness also often carries a symbolic meaning of spiritual inability to perceive truth (cf. Isa 6:10; Jn 9:41).
- and mute (kōphos - κωφός): Unable to speak. This condition isolated individuals from societal and religious participation. Sometimes also includes deafness, but here clearly focuses on the inability to speak, complementing the blindness as another profound communication barrier.
- was brought to him (prosenéchthē - προσηνέχθη): Passive voice. Implies that others (friends, family, or compassionate bystanders) brought the afflicted man to Jesus. This indicates either an act of communal faith, desperation, or simply recognition of Jesus' growing reputation as a healer.
- and he healed him (kai etherapeusen auton - καὶ ἐθεράπευσεν αὐτόν): Jesus is the active agent. "Therapeusen" signifies a thorough, complete restoration or curing, implying care and wholeness beyond mere removal of symptoms. It highlights Jesus' direct and efficacious power.
- so that (hōste - ὥστε): A conjunction introducing a result clause. It emphasizes the immediate, direct, and complete consequence of Jesus' healing power.
- the man spoke (ton anthrōpon lalēsai): Indicates the full recovery of speech, enabling articulate communication. The muteness was completely reversed.
- and saw (kai blepein): Indicates the full restoration of physical sight. The blindness was completely undone.
Words-group Analysis
- "a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute": This specific compound affliction highlights the severity and the comprehensive nature of the evil forces at work. The physical impairments (blindness, muteness) are explicitly presented as manifestations of demonic oppression, indicating that Jesus addresses the root cause rather than just the symptoms. This particular combination of afflictions sets the stage for a truly undeniable and spectacular miracle.
- "was brought to him, and he healed him": This phrase succinctly portrays the interaction: human need (represented by others bringing the man) meeting divine power (Jesus' healing action). The act of being "brought" signifies dependency and often trust, while "healed" denotes immediate, authoritative, and compassionate intervention by Jesus.
- "he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw": This confirms the instant and perfect efficacy of Jesus' power. The effect is immediately visible and audible, leaving no doubt about the reality of the miracle. The double restoration emphasizes the completeness of the cure, impacting two vital human faculties that had been seized by demonic influence.
Matthew 12 22 Bonus section
The healing of the demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute holds significant symbolic weight within the Gospel narratives. Beyond the literal physical restoration, it illustrates Christ's power to free individuals from spiritual blindness (inability to perceive God's truth) and spiritual muteness (inability to proclaim God's praise or speak His truth). Just as the man was unable to interact with the world through sight and speech due to demonic oppression, so too can sin and evil spirits hinder humanity's relationship with God. Jesus' act of healing provides a compelling demonstration of the basileia tou theou (Kingdom of God) actively invading and undoing the works of the archōn tōn daimoniōn (prince of demons). This miracle also serves as a strong Christological statement, placing Jesus squarely in the role of the Anointed One who performs signs uniquely attributed to the Messiah.
Matthew 12 22 Commentary
Matthew 12:22 encapsulates the essence of Jesus' messianic ministry: delivering humanity from the power of evil and restoring brokenness. The dual affliction of blindness and muteness, caused by demonic oppression, presented a profound challenge to any human healer. However, Jesus' command results in instantaneous and complete recovery. This miracle serves as powerful, undeniable evidence of Jesus' identity and divine authority. It visibly demonstrates that the Kingdom of God has arrived, manifested in His power over evil spirits and physical maladies, thereby fulfilling ancient prophecies of the Messiah's coming. Crucially, this event precipitates the direct accusation from the Pharisees that Jesus casts out demons by the power of Beelzebul (Mt 12:24). This hardened response highlights their willful rejection of divine truth, underscoring the spiritual battle at play and the blinding effect of unbelief even in the face of the miraculous. Practically, this verse teaches that Jesus addresses the deepest spiritual roots of human suffering, offering holistic liberation.