Knowing The Word in Matthew 20:29-34

Jesus Heals Two Blind Men

[The end of Jesus’ itinerate ministry. This is Matthew’s version of Mark’s the healing of Bartimaeus.]

29 And as they went out of Jericho [meaning they are headed to Jerusalem], a great crowd [other pilgrims on their way to celebrate Passover in Jerusalem] followed him. 30 And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” 31 The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” [Does the crowd prefer that Jesus not be bothered by everyday beggar’s blindness?] 32 And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” 33 They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” 34 And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him. [To stop in the middle of this large crowd was probably not easy, but it shows that Jesus’ Messianic priorities are quite different from the crowd’s. It is pity that motivates Jesus not the desire to put his miraculous abilities on display. The Greek word used for “eyes” is not the usual. It is poetic and is used of “the eyes of the soul.” It suggests that something greater than physical blindness has been healed. Their spiritual blindness has been healed as well because they follow him. Why does Jesus not heal the spiritual blindness of the Jewish leaders?]