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MATTHEW - Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand!
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to Matthew
PART 3 - Jesus' Ministry in the Jordan Vally During His Journey to Jerusalem (Matthew 19:1 - 20:34)

12. Two Blind Men Receive Their Sight in Jericho (Matthew 20:29-34)


MATTHEW 20:29-34
29 As they went out from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. 30 Behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, you son of David!” 31 The multitude rebuked them, telling them that they should be quiet, but they cried out even more, “Lord, have mercy on us, you son of David!” 32 Jesus stood still, and called them, and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” 33 They told him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” 34 Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and immediately their eyes received their sight, and they followed him.
(Mark 10:46-52, Luke 18:35-43)

Christ went down from the mountains of Galilee to the deep Jordan Valley, continued his way through Jericho, the city of palm trees, and went up to Jerusalem on the top of the mountains. This was the road towards death. Jesus would not deviate from it for the hour of the world’s redemption was drawing near.

Many followed Him wishing to listen to his words and see His miracles. Then two blind men heard the noise, and when they knew that Jesus, the divine Physician was passing by, they cried out together calling for help. They called Him by the well known title, “O Son of David, have mercy on us.”

This name was designated for King David’s promised successor who would also be God’s own Son. He would sit down on David’s throne to establish an everlasting kingdom, which He would rule in truth and peace (2 Samuel 7:12-14). The cry of the blind men created a serious political danger to Jesus. The two did not witness Christ with their eyes, but they saw Him with their hearts and called Him, according to the Greek text, crying, “O Lord!” They believed in His wonderful presence, absolute power, and kind love. They did not trust Him only in private, but also in public.

The multitudes did not want to hear this dangerous cry, so they tried to silence them. They did not observe that these two men could see with their hearts in spite of their blindness, not like the multitudes that looked without recognition. As such, many today reject the testimony of Christ because of their fantasy that they are righteous and that only the others are in need of the Savior’s redemption.

Christ heard the cry, and listened to the confession of their faith. He stopped while he was on His way to redeem the world, left the self-contented multitudes, and asked the poor blind men, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

This is the question that Jesus is asking you today too. What do you want Him to do for you? Are you seeking honor? Money? Pleasure? Or opened eyes to see your Lord and receive His love and power? Jesus is opening today many closed eyes among the nations. Would you ask Him to open your neighbors’ eyes that many might be strengthened through the joint testimonies of you and believers around you?

Christ healed the two begging blind men by putting His hand on their eyes. Christ was the first one that they were able to physically see. They proved their faith in Him and followed Him immediately. Yet they did not look at the multitude, but fixed their eyes on Christ, and stayed with Him to express their gratitude for healing them.

Christ died for us on the cross, expressing God’s great love for sinners. Have you seen Him as One who hung on the tree of shame, His blood shed for sinners? What do you think of Him? Have you come to know Him and love Him? Ask for your own eyes to be spiritually opened; ask on behalf of others also.

Some have mentioned that the two blind men Christ healed according to the evangelist Matthew were not mentioned by Mark as two but as one blind man named Bartimaeus.

In reply to this, we say that Mark mentions only Bartimaeus because he was probably well known. In his text, Mark says, “As He went out, …. Blind Bartimaeus, … sat by the road begging,” then he cried out for help. The evangelist Mark mentioned this blind man because he was the poverty stricken son of a distinguished citizen. Naturally, his son attracted much attention so Mark gave particularly attention to Bartimaeus. However he that is able to open the eyes of one blind man is also able to open the eyes of many. If one had said that Christ opened Bartimaeus’ eyes and the other said that Christ did not open Bartimaeus’ eyes, there would have been a contradiction. As it is, there is no contradiction at all as long as one of them mentioned only the well known blind man who cried most. This does not negate that Christ opened his eyes and the eyes of many others.

PRAYER: Father, we thank You because You enlightened us with the gospel of Your Son, and took away from us the darkness of our life. We ask for ourselves and for all those around us for opened eyes and a clean heart endowed with insight to see Your love and Your Son’s redemption and power of salvation. We sanctify Your fatherly name and ask for the coming of Your kingdom. Please let Your will be done in us and on earth always.

QUESTION:

  1. What does the title, “Son of David” signify?

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