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Matthew 9:32-34 - As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil. 33 And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel. 34 But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.

Notice the various forms of belief.

I. They have faith Christ can heal this dumb man who is demon possessed.

A. There is no record as to who these people are.

1. Mark 2:3,4 – And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

2. There is also no record of who brought the impotent man to Christ.

3. There are many faithful people in the Bible that we do not know.

4. It is more important that Christ know them than we know them.

B. Much of God’s work is done by people "behind the scenes", witnessing, preaching, testifying, doing thousands of jobs in the church that make the services more enjoyable and profitable for all.

1. Witnessing to people that nobody knows about.

2. Praying for God’s blessings upon various ministries and various people in the church.

3. Janitorial work.

4. Sound work and producing CDs to pass out.

5. Printing work.

II. The dumb man apparently wanted to be healed, therefore he came with "them", and the demon did not resist.

A. Every dumb or deaf person is not demon possessed.

1. Mark 7:31-37 – This person is deaf, with an impediment in his speech, who was healed, but there was no demon possession.

B. A normal person with an affliction wants to be healed of that affliction, and will do almost anything to be healed.

C. This demon possessed man came immediately to Christ, and made no effort to run away.

1. Mark 5:1,2 – And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. 2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit.

a. The demons understand they are under the power of God, therefore they understand there is no need of resisting.

b. These demons had to ask permission of Christ to go into the swine.

2. They are not like people, in that people often resist the leadership of God.

III. The multitudes marvelled.

A. The word "marvelled" means they wondered, or they had an admiration for.

1. They did marvel, but there is no record they truly believed.

a. People today marvel at magic (sleight of hand), but they do not believe to the saving of the soul.

b. Many people have heroes they "worship", such as ball players, or NASCAR drivers.

2. Acts 14:8-16 – Paul and Barnabas at Lystra telling the people to worship God, not men.

B. Acts 17:32-34 –When Paul preached the gospel there were three reactions:

1. Verse 34 – Some believed to the salvation of their sols and continued with Paul.

2. Verse 32 – Some said they needed to hear more.

3. Verse 32 – Some mocked.

C. John 2:23-25 - 23 states, Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. 24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

1. Matthew 8:27 – But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

2. Matthew 9:8 states, But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

D. We never saw it like this!

1. Matthew 9:33 – When the demon was cast out of this dumb man, the people said, "It was never so seen in Israel."

2. Mark 2:12 – When the palsied man was healed, the people said, "We never saw it on this fashion."

3. Both of these statements indicate they had seen other healings, but not like the healings Jesus did.

4. Matthew 7:28,29 – Jesus did not preach as the scribes, for he preached with authority.

5. John 7:46 - The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.

IV. The Pharisees said, "The devils made him do it!"

A. This accusation is the beginning of this line of rejecting Christ.

1. Matthew 12:24 states, But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

2. The occasion is when Christ cast out a demon from a man who was both blind and dumb.

3. The statement by the Jews is their position because:

a. They see the common people are beginning to believe Jesus is the Messiah.

b. They see their power slipping away.

c. They cannot deny the miracles of Christ are happening, therefore they claim the power of Satan is behind the miracles.

B. There is a gradual development of criticism about Christ until the pinnacle is reached and Christ is crucified.