The Mute Sing For Joy | Matthew

Introduction:
If anyone looks at Jesus HONESTLY - if they look at Jesus without the WILLFUL BLINDNESS that sin produces - His identity as the Son of David, the Son of God, is unmistakable.
He has done astounding things during the time that Matthew has presented to us so far.
He has given sight to the blind.
He has given the ability to walk to the lame.
He has given life to the dead.
And now we see that He gives speech to the mute -freedom to the demonized.
Our Lord demonstrates that He is the deliverer of sinners from the domain of darkness.
When the Lord of Glory was walking on the earth the kingdom of the prince of the power of the air (Eph 2:2) was meeting with the kingdom of God and the Author of life (Acts 3:14-15). There is a COSMIC CONFLICT on display.
And the ULTIMATE defeat of the prince of darkness was being put on display by IMMEDIATE deliverances.
As Jesus made His journey toward the cross, He made clear that Satan’s defeat was soon to be sealed.
ESV John 12:27 "Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven: "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." 29 The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him." 30 Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not mine. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." 33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
On display in the earthly ministry of the Messiah, was not only the power of God, but the reality that no less power could deliver the tormented prisoners - the sons of Adam. Men and women must be set free by the power of God - by the Son of God. Helpless people are in need of a deliverer.
The fall of Adam resulted in the imprisonment and the condemnation of all humanity.
AND AS JESUS WAS HELPING THESE PEOPLE, RELEASING THESE PEOPLE, WHAT HE DID WAS THE FULFILLMENT OF SCRIPTURE.
ESV Isaiah 35:4 Say to those who have an anxious heart, "Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you." 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;
The result of all of this, was that anyone HEARING the Word of God should be RECOGNIZING the Son of God.
Once again, Matthew presents our Lord to us in a way that we marvel at God’s grace to us in Him, and that we have confidence that our faith is safely invested in Him as the Messiah and the Savior of God’s people.
We look at this sign under three main headings.
I. COMPASSION FOR A MAN IN NEED (vs.32)
Once again we see our Lord’s compassion for sinners.
NAS Psalm 103:8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
There is a man in need. But this world is FULL of people in need.
A. OVERWHELMING NEED IN A FALLEN WORLD
This is the life of our Lord during His ministry on earth. He helps one person, only to immediately meet with the need of another person.
Indeed, He’s meeting with needs ON HIS WAY to meeting needs - as we saw with Jairus’ daughter, and the woman with the hemorrhage.
THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF NEED IN THIS FALLEN WORLD.
DO WE CARE ABOUT PEOPLE AS OUR LORD CARES FOR PEOPLE?
We recognize that we live in a world in rebellion against God.
Do we recognize that we also live in a world MISERABLE in its rebellion against God?
Miserable due to its own sin.
Miserable, even though it sometimes refuses to admit to its misery.
BUT MISERABLE WITHOUT A DOUBT.
Without satisfaction.
Without truth.
Without answers.
Hurting people. Depressed people. Bankrupt people. Hateful people. Miserable people.
Willful ignorance but not blissful ignorance.