The Opened Eye: Faith as the Measure of Divine Gift

When Jesus touched the blind men's eyes in Matthew 9:29, He demonstrated a principle that runs through the entire gospel: the measure of faith determines the measure of the gift. These men's healing was not incidental to their belief—it was its direct fruit.

Their faith possessed five essential marks. First, it arose from genuine wretchedness and darkness; they knew their need. Second, it was intelligent conviction: they had settled in their minds that Jesus was the Son of David, come to open blind eyes. They comprehended His mission's grandeur. Third, their faith was eager and importunate—they followed Jesus without being crushed by delay. Fourth, it was deeply personal, not borrowed from others. Fifth, it appropriated Divine Power to their own case.

Jesus' question—"Believe ye that I am able to do this?"—reveals His requirement: not personal worthiness, but faith alone. The Adonai (Lord*) required nothing else from those He healed. He touched their eyes immediately upon their profession of faith, accompanying the act with words of affirmation.

The chief ways to multiply faith remain unchanged: dwell much upon God's promises; cherish the inward voices of the Holy Spirit in your heart; act upon whatever grace Elohim (God*) has already given you. Faith and gift move together—not capriciously, but by the broad law of the gospel itself.