Why does Luke give a fuller description than Matthew?
Firstly, the book of Matthew is written around 37 AD, while Luke writes later in 57 AD. For twenty years the Pharisees’ false lie of Christ being in league with Beelzebub, filters down to the general population. As it is said “A lie repeated often enough soon becomes the truth.”

Secondly, Luke elaborates by giving a more detailed explanation to refute the Pharisees’ lie (Luke 11:17-20,21-23).

Thirdly, Luke, in writing about the kingdom of God, and never mentioning the phrase ‘the kingdom of heaven’, elaborates and reinforces the consequences of a unified house, or otherwise, as valid for both dispensations.

 Fourthly, so important is the fact that Christ is God and God is Christ (1John 5:7-9), two accounts are recorded to prove this, as“… in the mouth of two witnesses (in this case miracles) … every word may be established.” (Matthew 18:16)

TO BEGIN WITH …
From their history, Israel knew the following four scriptures about being dumb … and God being the ONLY one to open mouths …

“And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?” (Exodus 4:11)

“… God with a recompence; he will come and save you … and the tongue of the dumb sing:…” (Isaiah 35:4, 6)  

 “In that day shall thy mouth be opened … and thou shalt speak, and be no more dumb: … and they shall know that I am the LORD.” (Ezekiel 24:27)

“Now the hand of the LORD was upon me … and had opened my mouth … and I was no more dumb.” (Ezekiel 33:22) 

According to their own scriptures “ … when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.” (Matthew 9:33).

So the question needs be asked as to why Israel couldn’t see that Christ must be considered as God, as Christ shows up and gets a dumb man to talk again … ONLY GOD COULD OPEN MOUTHS!

This miracle pinpoints the very nature of Christ, the Word, as having power words, and over mouths and speech.

Furthermore, we have creation, where out of silence, words come forth (Genesis 1:3).

Indeed, with this miracle, where out of the silence of dumbness, words come forth (Luke 11:14).

THE CAUSE OF THIS MAN’S DUMBNESS
We are not told, but this miracle seems similar to the man born blind from birth … not the result of his sin or that of his parents, but that the works of God be made manifest in him (John 9:3). 

‘Dumb’ Israel are being shown, that through this miracle, they can be made to speak the words of God again, if they will believe in Christ … but they don’t.

However Israel will speak God’s words in the tribulation with the 144,000 (Revelation 14:3) … “In that day shall thy mouth be opened to him which is escaped, and thou shalt speak, and be no more dumb: and thou shalt be a sign unto them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.” (Ezekiel 24:27)  

OTHER EXAMPLES OF DUMBNESS
1. This miracle reminds us of Zacharias, when told by an angel of the future birth of his son John, was struck dumb because of unbelief (Luke 1:20, 64)

2.  Israel made dumb for being rebellious (Ezekiel 3:26). 

3. “He (Christ) was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7)

CONCLUSION
Here is an example that concentrates on the very nature of who Christ is … the Word … who speaks words … and has the power for others to speak words as well.

Christ proves he is the LORD of the Old Testament
For Israel …. Who made mouths? … Who has power over the mouth? … Who has power over words? … Who has power over silence? … Who can make people dumb? … Who can power to put words into people’s mouths? Who can make people dumb speak?

 If the astute Jew will add two and two … he must come to the conclusion that Christ is God … the only one ever, to open dumb mouths.

Harley Hitchcock
April 2023

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