Matthew 9:33

‘And when the demon was cast out, the dumb man spoke, and the crowds marvelled, saying, “It was never so seen in Israel.” '

Here Matthew's emphasis is on two things, the fact that the dumb spoke, and the fact that the crowds marvelled. The casting out of demons has almost become something to be expected (Matthew 8:16; Matthew 8:32). In any other it would have been the wonder of his life. The emphasis on the dumb man speaking reflects Isaiah 32:4. The marvelling of the crowds and their declaration that nothing like it had been seen in Israel underlines Jesus' fame as going out ‘into all the land' (Matthew 9:26; Matthew 9:31).

It should be noted how carefully Jesus distinguishes between demon possession and disease. Here the demon has to be ‘cast out'. There is no thought that Jesus touches the man, in spite of him being dumb. Contrast the case of a deaf and dumb man who is not demon possessed in Mark 7:31. There Jesus has the closest of contact with him.

With this brief account Matthew comes to the end of his three triads of miracle stories, three times three indicating full completeness. He has given a complete testimony to Jesus. All can now tell that He is the Coming One promised by God and testified to by John.