As is typical of Matthew, Matthew provides only one account of the specific miracle of a resurrection in Jesus’ ministry in his Gospel, in Matthew 9:18–26. This specific type of miracle shows Jesus’ power to revive dead sinners—ultimately also from eternal death.
One key aspect of the prophecies of the Messiah’s ministry was his opening of the eyes of the blind (see Matthew 11:5; Isaiah 35:5). In Matthew 9:27–31, Jesus’ miracle thus reveals him to be the Messiah, and also points to the salvation of sinners, since sinners are spiritually blind and thus unable to view either themselves or God rightly. As well, the disobedient response to this healing shows the break between God and man: wanting to be healed by Jesus, but not wanting to obey him (see John 6:26–27).
This episode thus shows something of Jesus’ suffering and death. While seeking to keep it secret, he does not deny that he is the Messiah, and will even perform miracles as the Son of David, but he does not want the applause and the honour that accompanies these miracles.
The narrative of the healing of the demon-oppressed mute (Matthew 9:32–34) focuses on the power of Jesus, but also clarifies that his power did not have the same impression upon everyone—causing both awe and enmity, thus making the dividing lines increasingly clear. This healing also again points to the redemption of sinners who cannot glorify God while they are under the influence of the power of the devil.
While, in Matthew 9:35–38, the crowds, due to the Pharisees' propaganda, were already leaving Jesus, he refuses to leave this wandering people, and so reveals to his apostles exactly how God wants to save them.
Matthew 9:18–26 contains the only episode of a miraculous resurrection by Jesus in Matthew’s Gospel (keep in mind that Matthew 27:52–53 does not speak of a miraculous resurrection as part of his ministry). This is very characteristic of Matthew the Evangelist, who only provides one example of every different type of miracle. With this example of a miraculous resurrection, Matthew desires to show how, in light of the preceding passage, Jesus has the power to revive dead sinners. The example shows that Jesus saves even from death, from temporal death, but especially from eternal death.1
One of the key aspects of the ministry of the Messiah that was prophesied is the opening of the eyes of the blind (seeMatthew 11:5; Isaiah 35:5). In Matthew 9:27–31, Jesus therefore conducts a miracle that reveals him to be the Messiah, even if the people fail to realize this. The healing of the blind also points to the salvation of sinners, in that sinners are spiritually blind and therefore unable to view either themselves or God rightly. Furthermore, this healing of disobedient sinners points to the divide and the break between God and man. People want to be healed by Jesus, but they do not want to obey him (see John 6:26–27).2
This episode therefore depicts something of Jesus’ own suffering and death. It is striking that despite still wanting to keep it secret, he does not deny that he is the Messiah, and when asked, will even perform miracles as the Son of David. But he does not desire the applause and the honour that accompanies this. The Son of David has come, but he strongly refuses to be honoured with palm branches. The story about the blind men who were healed causes a great marvelling among the people of the district.3
In the narrative of the healing of the demon-oppressed mute (Matthew 9:32–34) the evangelist specifically highlights the power of Jesus, but at the same time clarifies that his power did not have the same impression upon everyone. In fact, it causes both awe and enmity simultaneously. In this way the dividing lines become increasingly clear. This healing also once again points to the redemption of sinners who are unable to glorify God for as long as they are under the influence of the power of the devil.4
One can assume that in Matthew 9:35–38, the crowds, under the influence of the propaganda of the Pharisees, had already started to leave Jesus. Yet despite this Jesus refuses to leave this wandering people and proceeds to instruct his apostles with regard to the means by which God wants to save them.5
18 While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.”