32 As they were going out, a mute , demon-possessed man was brought to Him. 33 After the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke ; and the crowds were amazed , and were saying , " Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel ." 34 But the Pharisees were saying , "He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons ."
35 Jesus was going through all the cities and villages , teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom , and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness . 36 Seeing the people , He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without e a shepherd .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 9:32-36
Commentary on Matthew 9:32-34
(Read Matthew 9:32-34)
Of the two, better a dumb devil than a blaspheming one. Christ's cures strike at the root, and remove the effect by taking away the cause; they open the lips, by breaking Satan's power in the soul. Nothing can convince those who are under the power of pride. They will believe anything, however false or absurd, rather than the Holy Scriptures; thus they show the enmity of their hearts against a holy God.
Commentary on Matthew 9:35-38
(Read Matthew 9:35-38)
Jesus visited not only the great and wealthy cities, but the poor, obscure villages; and there he preached, there he healed. The souls of the meanest in the world are as precious to Christ, and should be so to us, as the souls of those who make the greatest figure. There were priests, Levites, and scribes, all over the land; but they were idol shepherds, Zechariah 11:17; therefore Christ had compassion on the people as sheep scattered, as men perishing for lack of knowledge. To this day vast multitudes are as sheep not having a shepherd, and we should have compassion and do all we can to help them. The multitudes desirous of spiritual instruction formed a plenteous harvest, needing many active labourers; but few deserved that character. Christ is the Lord of the harvest. Let us pray that many may be raised up and sent forth, who will labour in bringing souls to Christ. It is a sign that God is about to bestow some special mercy upon a people, when he stirs them up to pray for it. And commissions given to labourers in answer to prayer, are most likely to be successful.