2. As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" "Yes, Lord," they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you"; and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, "See that no one knows about this." But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.

3. While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel." But the Pharisees said, "It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons."

4. Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.“ Matthew 9: 27-38 (NIV)

5. As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" "Yes, Lord," they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you"; and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, "See that no one knows about this." But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.

6. A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham: Matthew 1:1 (NIV)

7. Blindness was a common malady in the ancient world.

8. No Old Testament prophet ever healed the blind, neither did any New Testament figure after Jesus.

9. Blindness was a common malady in the ancient world. No Old Testament prophet ever healed the blind, neither did any New Testament figure after Jesus. Healing the blind was a sign that one was the Messiah.

10. say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you." Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. Isaiah 35:4-6 (NIV)

11. Blindness was a common malady in the ancient world. No Old Testament prophet ever healed the blind, neither did any New Testament figure after Jesus. Healing the blind was a sign that one was the Messiah. This is the reason for Jesus’ warning to them to keep this quiet. He did not want people forming a political movement around him in order to have him become a king.

12. While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel." But the Pharisees said, "It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons."

13. Demon Possession takes on a number of forms.

14. In this case it rendered the man unable to speak.

15. Demon Possession takes on a number of forms. In this case it rendered the man unable to speak. The Pharisees are simply unable to accept what Jesus is doing. They assume that since Jesus touches the unclean, hangs out with undesirables, and has power over evil spirits that this makes him evil himself.

16. Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.“ Matthew 9: 35-38 (NIV)

17. Galilee was a rather large area.

18. As Jesus moved around large crowds came to him.

19. Galilee was a rather large area. As Jesus moved around large crowds came to him. The passage points out that Jesus had compassion on the people.

20. Galilee was a rather large area. As Jesus moved around large crowds came to him. The passage points out that Jesus had compassion on the people. Yet in this passage Jesus acknowledges his own limitations in helping the people.

21. Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.“ Matthew 9: 35-38 (NIV)

22. With this prayer request, Jesus announced that it is his intention to work through us.

23. Thus, we can see that nothing in the kingdom of God will come unless we do it.

24. At the same time Jesus starts with God.

25. Unless God empowers the work, the work will be fruitless.

26. At the same time Jesus starts with God. Unless God empowers the work, the work will be fruitless. Thus it is God who calls, equips, empowers, and sends.

27. Thus, we can see that nothing in the kingdom of God will come unless we do it. Thus it is God who calls, equips, empowers, and sends.