UASV’s Daily Devotional All Things Bible, Sunday, April 13, 2025

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What Do the Miracles of Jesus Reveal About the Response of a Faithful Heart?

A Study of Matthew 15:31 and the Right Reaction to Divine Power

Matthew 15:31 offers a snapshot of the response of the crowd who witnessed Jesus’ miraculous healing power firsthand. The verse reads: “So that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel.” This passage captures a moment of amazement, joy, and reverence as Jesus performed a series of extraordinary healings that were both immediate and undeniable. But beyond the physical restoration of those healed, this verse speaks volumes about the identity of Jesus, the nature of true miracles, and the appropriate response when God’s power is revealed.

To understand the context, we must consider the setting of this event. The miracles described here follow Jesus’ departure from Galilee to the region of the Decapolis—a largely Gentile area east of the Sea of Galilee. In Matthew 15:29–30, we read, “Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee. And he went up on the mountain and sat down there. And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them.” This mass healing event involves numerous individuals with a variety of ailments, and all of them are healed completely and publicly.

The first phrase in verse 31 says, “So that the crowd wondered…” The Greek verb used here is θαυμάζω (thaumazō), which denotes being astonished or filled with awe. This is not casual interest or superficial amazement—it is deep, overwhelming astonishment at what was taking place before their eyes. The healing of those who were mute, crippled, lame, and blind was beyond natural explanation. The effects were immediate and total. There was no recovery period, no gradual improvement—these were complete, miraculous restorations that demonstrated the power of Jehovah working through Jesus, the promised Messiah.

The list of those healed—“the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing”—is not only descriptive but significant. These categories of affliction were often viewed in first-century Jewish thinking as incurable, deeply debilitating, and in some cases, indicative of divine judgment. In John 9:2, the disciples ask Jesus, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” This mindset made miraculous healing not just physically significant but spiritually profound. For the crowd to witness such complete reversals of human suffering provoked a powerful realization: only divine authority could accomplish such things.

Importantly, this type of healing was foretold in the Hebrew Scriptures as a sign of the coming Messianic age. Isaiah 35:5–6 declared, “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.” The miracles Jesus performed were not arbitrary or merely compassionate gestures—they were confirmations of his identity and fulfillment of prophetic expectation. His actions proved that the kingdom of God had drawn near and that Jehovah was once again visiting his people through his appointed Servant.

The final phrase of the verse—“and they glorified the God of Israel”—is especially notable. These words suggest that the crowd recognized the source of this power was not merely human. They did not respond by praising Jesus as a magician or charismatic leader. Instead, they turned their praise toward the God of Israel, Jehovah, acknowledging that such power could only come from the Creator himself. This response is theologically significant, particularly in a Gentile region, where polytheism and pagan religious systems were common. To “glorify the God of Israel” meant to recognize the uniqueness and supremacy of the one true God.

In Scripture, the act of glorifying God means to recognize his greatness, to honor his name, and to declare his majesty. Psalm 115:1 says, “Not to us, O Jehovah, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!” The crowd in Matthew 15:31 did just that. They did not merely marvel at the miracles—they worshiped the One from whom the power originated. This is the appropriate response whenever God’s power is displayed. Worship, not curiosity; reverence, not spectacle-seeking.

Furthermore, this response reveals that the purpose of miracles in Scripture was never entertainment or mere demonstration of supernatural power. True miracles authenticated divine messengers, confirmed the truth of their message, and provoked worship of the one true God. This is why Jesus, though capable of performing endless signs, often refused to do so for those who demanded miracles without faith (Matthew 12:39). Miracles were never meant to satisfy unbelieving demands—they were to affirm God’s Word and draw men to reverent obedience.

This passage also speaks to the exclusivity of Jesus’ power. There is no indication that anyone else could perform such healing. The multitude brought the afflicted to him, and the healing occurred when they were placed at his feet. This detail reinforces that Jesus was not simply a healer among others but the one through whom God’s power was uniquely and definitively revealed. Acts 10:38 affirms, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”

The reverence expressed by the crowd is also a model for believers today. Though we no longer witness miracles in the same form as the apostolic era—since the miraculous age served its confirmatory purpose and has ceased with the completion of divine revelation—the works of God are still evident in the creation, the unfolding of providence, the spread of the gospel, and the transformation of lives through obedience to the Word. Every display of God’s faithfulness and every fulfillment of his promises should lead to the same outcome: the glorification of the God of Israel.

Jesus himself summarized this principle in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” All divine works—whether miracles in Scripture or transformed lives today—are meant to bring glory to Jehovah. The purpose is never the exaltation of man, personality, or ministry, but the exaltation of God.

In conclusion, Matthew 15:31 is more than a record of physical healing—it is a witness to the response that genuine revelation of God’s power should produce. The amazement of the crowd, the completeness of the healing, and the resulting glorification of Jehovah all underscore the reality that God acts to draw worship to himself. The faithful heart does not merely admire what God does—it reverently responds in praise, humility, and submission. As the mute speak, the lame walk, and the blind see, the only fitting response is to glorify the God of Israel, who alone is worthy of such honor.

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).