What does “according to your faith” mean in Matthew 9:29?

Answer

Matthew chapters 8—9 illustrate the healing ministry of Jesus. From the marginalized leper (Matthew 8:1-4) to the Gentile servant (Matthew 8:5-13) and the woman who had been unclean for years (Matthew 9:20-22), Jesus ignored societal and religious norms to show compassion and provide healing to those who trusted in Him. When two blind beggars approached Jesus, pleading for mercy, He inquired, “Do you believe that I can do this?” They replied, “Yes, Lord” «And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. », (Matthew 9:28, HCSB). Jesus touched their eyes and said, “Let it be done for you according to your faith!” «Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. », (Matthew 9:29, HCSB). Immediately, their eyes were opened, and the two men could see.

Jesus frequently highlighted a person’s faith as the catalyst for healing (see Matthew 8:13;see Matthew 15:28). When a woman who had been suffering from bleeding for twelve years touched the edge of His cloak, believing that was all she needed to do to be healed, Jesus declared, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well” «But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. », (Matthew 9:22, NLT). At that moment, she was healed. This same event is recorded in Mark 5:24–34 and Luke 8:43–48. When Jesus cleansed a leper in Luke 17:19, He said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you” (NLT). To the blind man in Mark 10:52, Jesus said, “Go your way; your faith has made you well” (ESV; see also Luke 18:42).

According to your faith does not refer to the quantity, quality, or degree of a person’s faith; instead, it indicates the presence of genuine faith. Having faith in Jesus, having confidence in His ability to heal, was often the key to activating His healing power. Our faith is not the power behind the healing. Faith is merely the channel or conduit for God’s healing.

When Jesus said, “Let it be done according to your faith,” He meant that a person’s faith—the fact that the person believed and had confidence in Him—had moved Him to pour out His healing touch. Jesus is the Healer, the One with the power to perform the cure, and He looks for our faith.

Christ’s power rarely operates in a climate of unbelief. Just as faith enabled some people to receive healing, a lack of faith sometimes hindered or prevented Jesus from healing (see Matthew 13:53-58; 17:19-20). In Matthew 9, many people in the crowd pressed up against Jesus, but only the woman who reached out in faith and touched the edge of His robe received healing. When the professional mourners who had gathered around the dead girl laughed at Jesus, He sent them away before He raised the child to life (Matthew 9:24-25). Many people saw the incredible miracles Jesus performed, but many still did not believe in Him.

Just as healing comes “according to your faith,”Salvation is granted to sinners through faith: “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved” (Romans 10:9-10;NLT;see also Acts 16:31). To the sinful woman who anointed Jesus’ feet with her expensive flask of ointment, Jesus said, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace” «And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.», (Luke 7:50, NLT). Everyone who believes in Jesus is saved, but Christ’s power accomplishes the saving, not the believer’s faith. The sole value of our faith lies in the object of our faith—the Lord Jesus Christ—and not in ourselves or our faith (John 14:1;1 Peter 1:21;Romans 4:19-21).

God responds graciously, compassionately, and generously according to our faith because faith pleases Him. The author of Hebrews informs, “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him” «But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. », (Hebrews 11:6, NLT).