Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
Jesus asked the two blind men whether they believed he was able to heal them, and when they affirmed their trust in his power he touched their eyes and opened them according to their faith. What is received from him accords with and is proportionate to the faith exercised, whether blessing, healing, help, grace, or power. Each person is given according to that person's own personal, daily faith, which no one can exercise for another, and weak, small faith expects little and receives little and limits what is done, while greater faith brings greater receiving. The faith meant is deep, trusting, active reliance that brings every need to him as the only source of help, resting on his word and promises and taking him at his word rather than following feeling, sight, or self-trust. In prayer this calls for earnest, sincere praying and believing, bringing life into harmony with the petitions, believing the request is received, and rejoicing because he has answered, and in sickness for trusting him as the great Physician who is willing and able to heal.
Healing Two Blind Men
The healing took place after returning across the sea with the disciples to a great crowd waiting to receive him with joy. Rich and poor, high and low were there, with Pharisees, doctors, and lawyers gathered to hear his teaching and witness his miracles, and many of the sick and variously afflicted entreating his mercy. Faint and weary with teaching and healing, he had left the multitude to eat in the house of Levi, yet the people pressed about the door bringing the sick, the deformed, and the lunatic for him to heal. They pressed forward on every side on the way to the ruler Jairus's home so that progress was very slow and he was nearly carried off his feet by the surging masses. He pitied the people and deplored their spiritual darkness and physical maladies, and stopped to minister to their wants.
Before healing them he asked the two blind men whether they believed he was able to heal them. They affirmed that they trusted his power to do it and to restore their sight, and their answer showed trust in his ability to heal them. After that affirmation of faith he touched their eyes and granted healing according to their faith. Their eyes were opened, for their trust in his power to heal was met by his healing, with his words linking what they received to their faith. His touch and a person's faith are thus joined in healing, as applied in prayer for him to heal troubled eyes with confidence that he will hear.
The opening of the blind men's eyes stands as an example of his power to open the eyes of the blind. That power stands in contrast to his willing sacrifice on the cross.
When the sick came for healing he asked them if they believed he could make them whole, making no division in his work and feeling no infringement on physicians in healing the sick. He proclaimed the truth while healing, just as ready to lay his hands in healing on the sick and afflicted as to preach the gospel, and just as much at home in one work as in the other, because healing the sick is a part of the gospel itself. Gospel ministry takes people right where they are, whatever their position and condition, and helps them in every way possible, even by going into the homes of the sick to help. Those sick in body are nearly always sick in soul, and when the soul is sick the body is made sick, so body and soul are to be helped together.
Faith Measures Receiving
What is received from Jesus accords with and is proportionate to the faith exercised, whether blessing, healing, help, grace, or power. Blessings received in answer to prayer are proportionate to faith, meaning to pray with earnestness, sincerity and faith, to not talk unbelief or let faith weaken, to bring life into harmony with the petitions in order to receive what is asked, to believe that what is asked for is received, and to rejoice and sing praises because He has answered. Faith is the key by which believers draw from the abundance of God's grace, so they need not remain in doubt or lack the Spirit, but are to put away sin and set their hearts in order, trusting God for the strength and blessings needed to prepare for eternal life, with faith needed to trust God's promises and carry out the work before them. Faith, rather than feeling or sight, is to guide believers, for faith rests on God's Word, believing its promises and trusting God for great things.
Each person is given according to that person's own faith, so to represent Christ to the world each must exercise personal faith in Him. That experience must be daily and gained in the things of God for oneself, instead of asking others to exercise faith on one's behalf, for no one can exercise it in another person's place. Weak, small faith expects little from God and receives little, limiting what God does for them, while greater faith in God with less confidence in self brings greater receiving and greater success in attaining perfection of character. Expecting too little reflects too little faith, and faithful dependence on God rather than trust in one's own plans or ideas opens the way for God to work. This calls for surrendering one's will to God and trusting Him to transform character and overcome sin.
The faith meant is deep, trusting, active reliance that brings every need to Him and depends on Him as the only source of help, not a casual belief that merely recognizes Him as Redeemer, and it is to govern what is received. Those who know they are sinful, poor, and helpless are to ask Him for help, entrust their helplessness and burdens to Him, and rely on His power rather than their own ability, claiming His promises by faith in every part of life. Enlightened faith of this kind should lead to practicing the principles of health reform, including careful, wholesome eating. Such faith takes Him at His word and is essential to spiritual strength and to pleasing God, guiding rather than feeling, sight, personal plans, or self-trust. Settling into gloom and despondency, with distrust and persistent complaints, displays a failure to trust Jesus and take God at His word despite the love God has shown in giving His Son, and does not bring strength from Heaven, whereas looking to Jesus in faith brings help and deliverance.
Through trusting the gospel, God supplies what people cannot produce by their own strength, including love, humility, meekness, and holiness, and as they trust, the righteousness required by the law is fulfilled in them through faith in Christ, with success in attaining perfection of character. Faith shapes expectation in the spiritual conflict: one who enters it expecting defeat will find it so, but faith in Christ gives reason to be hopeful and courageous. The verse therefore supports pressing on toward what Christ has called the believer to become, rather than treating the struggle as hopeless. Job illustrates the principle, as his faith was fulfilled when he endured trial, came forth as gold, vindicated his own and God's character, and was blessed with a latter end greater than his beginning.
Living Out Faith
In prayer the verse teaches that what is received in answer corresponds to and is proportioned to the faith exercised, so prayer is to be earnest, sincere, and believing. Unbelief is not to be talked and faith is not to be let weaken, but life is to be brought into harmony with the petitions in order to receive what is asked. The request is to be believed as received, with rejoicing and praise because God has answered, taking Him at His word. No sincere supplication is lost, and the open channel carries healing, health, life, and salvation, with faith bringing fullness of joy.
For character and preparation for eternal life, the verse teaches that blessings are received according to faith, and faith is the key by which to draw from the abundance of grace rather than remain in doubt or lack. Sin is to be put away and the heart set in order, trusting God for the strength and blessings needed. The will is to be surrendered to God in faithful dependence rather than trust in self, personal plans, or ideas, trusting Him to transform character and help overcome sin. Expecting too little reflects too little faith and brings too little, while dependence on God opens the way for Him to work.
In healing the verse teaches that Christ grants healing in keeping with the faith of those who come to Him, and more broadly that help from Him is received according to that deep, trusting faith. The sick are to trust Him as the great Physician and believe He is willing and able to heal, bringing every need to Him. Doubting His willingness to save dishonors God. His touch and a person's faith are joined in healing, as applied to prayer for troubled eyes with confidence that He will hear.
In gospel work the verse teaches that what is received is according to the measure of faith exercised, and God acts and blesses in proportion to faith and devotedness to advancing His cause. Faith that recognizes the great harvest leads to praying for more laborers and doing what can be done to support them and spread light to others. Faith is to lead to acting in accordance with His will, trusting He will bless the effort. Faith and devotedness must grow and go forward and upward for missionary labor to be extended and the message to go forth in power to Oregon, England, Australia, the islands of the sea, and to all nations, tongues, and peoples.
In health reform the verse teaches that faith is to govern the blessing received, so enlightened faith should lead to practicing its principles, including careful, wholesome eating.
Jesus asked the two blind men whether they believed he was able to heal them, and when they affirmed their trust in his power he touched their eyes and opened them according to their faith. What is received from him accords with and is proportionate to the faith exercised, whether blessing, healing, help, grace, or power. Each person is given according to that person's own personal, daily faith, which no one can exercise for another, and weak, small faith expects little and receives little and limits what is done, while greater faith brings greater receiving. The faith meant is deep, trusting, active reliance that brings every need to him as the only source of help, resting on his word and promises and taking him at his word rather than following feeling, sight, or self-trust. In prayer this calls for earnest, sincere praying and believing, bringing life into harmony with the petitions, believing the request is received, and rejoicing because he has answered, and in sickness for trusting him as the great Physician who is willing and able to heal.
Healing Two Blind Men
The healing took place after returning across the sea with the disciples to a great crowd waiting to receive him with joy. Rich and poor, high and low were there, with Pharisees, doctors, and lawyers gathered to hear his teaching and witness his miracles, and many of the sick and variously afflicted entreating his mercy. Faint and weary with teaching and healing, he had left the multitude to eat in the house of Levi, yet the people pressed about the door bringing the sick, the deformed, and the lunatic for him to heal. They pressed forward on every side on the way to the ruler Jairus's home so that progress was very slow and he was nearly carried off his feet by the surging masses. He pitied the people and deplored their spiritual darkness and physical maladies, and stopped to minister to their wants.
Before healing them he asked the two blind men whether they believed he was able to heal them. They affirmed that they trusted his power to do it and to restore their sight, and their answer showed trust in his ability to heal them. After that affirmation of faith he touched their eyes and granted healing according to their faith. Their eyes were opened, for their trust in his power to heal was met by his healing, with his words linking what they received to their faith. His touch and a person's faith are thus joined in healing, as applied in prayer for him to heal troubled eyes with confidence that he will hear.
The opening of the blind men's eyes stands as an example of his power to open the eyes of the blind. That power stands in contrast to his willing sacrifice on the cross.
When the sick came for healing he asked them if they believed he could make them whole, making no division in his work and feeling no infringement on physicians in healing the sick. He proclaimed the truth while healing, just as ready to lay his hands in healing on the sick and afflicted as to preach the gospel, and just as much at home in one work as in the other, because healing the sick is a part of the gospel itself. Gospel ministry takes people right where they are, whatever their position and condition, and helps them in every way possible, even by going into the homes of the sick to help. Those sick in body are nearly always sick in soul, and when the soul is sick the body is made sick, so body and soul are to be helped together.
Faith Measures Receiving
What is received from Jesus accords with and is proportionate to the faith exercised, whether blessing, healing, help, grace, or power. Blessings received in answer to prayer are proportionate to faith, meaning to pray with earnestness, sincerity and faith, to not talk unbelief or let faith weaken, to bring life into harmony with the petitions in order to receive what is asked, to believe that what is asked for is received, and to rejoice and sing praises because He has answered. Faith is the key by which believers draw from the abundance of God's grace, so they need not remain in doubt or lack the Spirit, but are to put away sin and set their hearts in order, trusting God for the strength and blessings needed to prepare for eternal life, with faith needed to trust God's promises and carry out the work before them. Faith, rather than feeling or sight, is to guide believers, for faith rests on God's Word, believing its promises and trusting God for great things.
Each person is given according to that person's own faith, so to represent Christ to the world each must exercise personal faith in Him. That experience must be daily and gained in the things of God for oneself, instead of asking others to exercise faith on one's behalf, for no one can exercise it in another person's place. Weak, small faith expects little from God and receives little, limiting what God does for them, while greater faith in God with less confidence in self brings greater receiving and greater success in attaining perfection of character. Expecting too little reflects too little faith, and faithful dependence on God rather than trust in one's own plans or ideas opens the way for God to work. This calls for surrendering one's will to God and trusting Him to transform character and overcome sin.
The faith meant is deep, trusting, active reliance that brings every need to Him and depends on Him as the only source of help, not a casual belief that merely recognizes Him as Redeemer, and it is to govern what is received. Those who know they are sinful, poor, and helpless are to ask Him for help, entrust their helplessness and burdens to Him, and rely on His power rather than their own ability, claiming His promises by faith in every part of life. Enlightened faith of this kind should lead to practicing the principles of health reform, including careful, wholesome eating. Such faith takes Him at His word and is essential to spiritual strength and to pleasing God, guiding rather than feeling, sight, personal plans, or self-trust. Settling into gloom and despondency, with distrust and persistent complaints, displays a failure to trust Jesus and take God at His word despite the love God has shown in giving His Son, and does not bring strength from Heaven, whereas looking to Jesus in faith brings help and deliverance.
Through trusting the gospel, God supplies what people cannot produce by their own strength, including love, humility, meekness, and holiness, and as they trust, the righteousness required by the law is fulfilled in them through faith in Christ, with success in attaining perfection of character. Faith shapes expectation in the spiritual conflict: one who enters it expecting defeat will find it so, but faith in Christ gives reason to be hopeful and courageous. The verse therefore supports pressing on toward what Christ has called the believer to become, rather than treating the struggle as hopeless. Job illustrates the principle, as his faith was fulfilled when he endured trial, came forth as gold, vindicated his own and God's character, and was blessed with a latter end greater than his beginning.
Living Out Faith
In prayer the verse teaches that what is received in answer corresponds to and is proportioned to the faith exercised, so prayer is to be earnest, sincere, and believing. Unbelief is not to be talked and faith is not to be let weaken, but life is to be brought into harmony with the petitions in order to receive what is asked. The request is to be believed as received, with rejoicing and praise because God has answered, taking Him at His word. No sincere supplication is lost, and the open channel carries healing, health, life, and salvation, with faith bringing fullness of joy.
For character and preparation for eternal life, the verse teaches that blessings are received according to faith, and faith is the key by which to draw from the abundance of grace rather than remain in doubt or lack. Sin is to be put away and the heart set in order, trusting God for the strength and blessings needed. The will is to be surrendered to God in faithful dependence rather than trust in self, personal plans, or ideas, trusting Him to transform character and help overcome sin. Expecting too little reflects too little faith and brings too little, while dependence on God opens the way for Him to work.
In healing the verse teaches that Christ grants healing in keeping with the faith of those who come to Him, and more broadly that help from Him is received according to that deep, trusting faith. The sick are to trust Him as the great Physician and believe He is willing and able to heal, bringing every need to Him. Doubting His willingness to save dishonors God. His touch and a person's faith are joined in healing, as applied to prayer for troubled eyes with confidence that He will hear.
In gospel work the verse teaches that what is received is according to the measure of faith exercised, and God acts and blesses in proportion to faith and devotedness to advancing His cause. Faith that recognizes the great harvest leads to praying for more laborers and doing what can be done to support them and spread light to others. Faith is to lead to acting in accordance with His will, trusting He will bless the effort. Faith and devotedness must grow and go forward and upward for missionary labor to be extended and the message to go forth in power to Oregon, England, Australia, the islands of the sea, and to all nations, tongues, and peoples.
In health reform the verse teaches that faith is to govern the blessing received, so enlightened faith should lead to practicing its principles, including careful, wholesome eating.