Matthew 15:30Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This encapsulates their belief: they ascended the mountain despite their disabilities, showing no signs of fatigue, and humbly prostrated themselves before Jesus, acknowledging His supremacy over humanity, and thus they experienced healing. Therefore, you too should ascend the mountain of commandments, where the Lord resides. Regardless of whether you find yourself blind, unable to perceive the goodness around you, or lame, incapable of approaching what is good, or mute, unable to heed the encouragement of others, or failing to encourage others yourself, or if you are incapacitated in any other way, know that you will find healing by bowing before Jesus and touching the remnants of His existence.

In the passage where the Latin translator opts for the term debiles, the Greek expression used is κυλλούς, which refers specifically to a particular condition rather than a general term for the infirm. Just as a lame person (claudus) is described as one who limps on a single leg, the term κυλλός signifies someone with a weak arm; there is no equivalent term in our language for this. Consequently, in the subsequent verses, the Evangelist highlights the healing of other afflictions.

A multitude approached Him, bringing along the lame, the blind, the mute, the impoverished, and many others. The poor, referred to as the 'crippled,' are primarily the handless, as will be elaborated in chapter 18. They placed them at the feet of Jesus, and He healed them. Observe their steadfast faith; instead of merely reaching for the fringe of His garments, they humbly laid their afflictions before Him, and He healed them instantly. This was not due to their superior faith compared to that of the Canaanite woman, but rather because they were of the Jewish people. Through this act, He intended to silence the ungrateful among the Jews and illustrate their deserving of greater condemnation. An ungrateful individual, as the favors received multiply, faces a more severe reckoning.

Wherever He arrived, He was acknowledged, and the afflicted were brought to Him. In this instance, as well, He graciously poured out His streams of compassion upon all who were in pain. A large crowd approached Him, bringing along the crippled, the blind, the mute, and many others, and laid them at the feet of JESUS. “At times, the Lord personally seeks out the ill, while at other moments, He allows them to come to Him. They no longer merely touch His garments; instead, their understanding deepens, revealing profound faith. Despite their inability to walk, they ascend the mountain, seeking nothing else but to surrender themselves at His feet” (St. Chrysostom). AND HE HEALED THEM.

The Lord could not conceal Himself in that place either, so He accompanied His disciples to the eastern region of Galilee, arriving at the lake of Gennesaret. No matter where He went, He was recognized, and as soon as people identified Him, they brought the sick before Him, knowing He would not send them away unhealed. The crowds were hungry to hear His teachings; silence was not an option for Him. Thus, people gathered around Him constantly, and all He needed to do was frequently change His location while keeping conversations about His miracles alive. His healing acts were unique in nature. One day, a man who was both deaf and mute was brought to Him. Unlike in other instances where He would simply speak a word or lay hands upon the afflicted, He first led the man away from the crowd.

Alongside the man who was deaf, mute, and unable to speak clearly, the Lord also restored many other individuals suffering from illness in the city of Tithegrad, which included those who were paralyzed, sightless, unable to speak, and disabled. The onlookers were astonished by these miracles and glorified the God of Israel. Yet, the Lord instructed those who received healing not to disclose what had transpired. Despite His commands, they could not help but share their experiences even more fervently.

After traveling through the Decapolis, Jesus arrived at the Sea of Galilee, likely on its eastern or northeastern shore. Large crowds continuously followed Him, and wherever He paused, throngs gathered around Him. This occasion was no different. Upon reaching the shoreline and climbing the mountain, He was instantly encircled by a vast assembly of individuals who brought the crippled, the blind, the mute, the injured, and those afflicted with various ailments. The faith in Jesus' miraculous abilities was so profound that none of those who brought their sick companions refrained from asking Him for a touch or even a word, hoping for restoration, just as they had witnessed before. Those who approached Jesus gently laid the sick at His feet, and He brought healing to them.

The duration of the Saviour’s stay in those regions and the specific locations of His visits remain unclear. His departure was expedited due to the widespread attention following the miracle, which disturbed the peace He sought. Consequently, He chose to retreat once more to the solitude beyond the Sea of Galilee. During His journey there, He accomplished two remarkable miracles; one of which involved healing a man who was deaf and unable to speak. As the Saviour commanded ‘ephphatha,’ meaning open, the man's hearing was instantly restored, the restraints on his tongue were lifted, and he began to articulate clearly, following the actions of placing fingers in his ears, spitting, and touching the man’s tongue. The witnesses were filled with amazement, exclaiming, “He has done everything well: He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

For the ailments referenced in this passage and their restoration, refer to the commentary on Matthew 4:24. The crowd was astonished; see the commentary on Matthew 9:33.

Jesus Christ departed from Tyre and Sidon and journeyed to the Sea of Galilee, passing through the region of the Tithegrad. There, individuals brought to Him a man who was both deaf and unable to speak, afflicted with a condition that was beyond the remedy of human skill. Those who accompanied the afflicted man earnestly requested the Lord to touch him, fully believing that this single gesture would be enough to restore him to health. It is likely they had heard of previous instances where Jesus had healed the sick through His touch. However, in this situation, He chose a unique method for the healing of the man’s ailment. To begin, He led the sufferer away from the crowd, aiming to redirect their idle curiosity.