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In his study of Matthew's five-discourse structure, BW Bacon mentions commentators who connect the miracles of Matt 8-9 with the ancient idea that there were 10 plagues, 10 miracles by the sea, and 10 miracles in the sanctuary. His main reasin for disputing this interpretation is that the sequence, in his mind, should end with the raising of Jairus' daughter, since that's the greatest of miracles. But Matthew, clumsily and as a kind of "afterthought," includes two additional miracles.
Exactly wrong. What needs to take place for Jesus to complete His work is not only to rise from the dead. He could rise from the dead a thousand times, but it would have no appreciable effect on the world unless there were people who could understand what it meant and proclaim it to the nations. He needs to have disciples who can see, and disciples who can talk. That's the final sequence of miracles in Mat 9: Jairus' daughter is raised, Jesus heals the blind, and Jesus looses the tongue of a dumb man. The Son's rising must be completed by the blessing of the Spirit, who opens eyes and offers the gift of tongues.
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Monday, July 31, 2006 at 07:34 PM
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