Question 1

What does Matthew 9:31 mean?

Accepted Answer

Matthew 9:31 says that after Jesus healed two blind men, they left and spread news about him throughout the whole region, making his reputation widely known. Even though Jesus had instructed them not to tell anyone, they could not keep quiet about what he had done for them. In this verse, Matthew is describing the actions of the two men who had just received their sight from Jesus. The setting is in Galilee, where Jesus is performing miracles and gaining attention. Their excitement and gratitude led them to tell everyone about Jesus, which increased his fame in that area.

Question 2

The Greek behind Matthew 9:31

Accepted Answer

The word for "spread abroad" and "fame" is διαφημίζω (diaphēmizō), which means to spread news widely or to make something known everywhere. The repetition of this idea in the verse shows how quickly and thoroughly the news about Jesus traveled. The word for "country" is γῆ (gē), which often means "land" or "region." Here, it emphasizes that the news about Jesus was not just local but reached the entire surrounding area.

Question 3

Why Matthew 9:31 matters

Accepted Answer

Matthew 9:31 shows how people responded to Jesus’s miracles with enthusiasm that could not be contained, even when he asked for secrecy. This verse highlights the growing public awareness of Jesus’s identity and works, setting the stage for both increased interest and opposition in the chapters that follow. It helps clarify that Jesus’s fame was not the result of self-promotion, but rather the natural reaction of those who experienced his power firsthand.

Matthew 9:31 (KJV)