-THE PEREAN MINISTRY

-Two Blind Men (One of Which was Bartimaeus) Are Healed

-Matthew 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43

-Matthew informs us that there were two blind men involved in this account while

 Mark and Luke focus specifically on only one of them, Bartimaeus.

-Matthew and Mark tell us that these events took place “as they departed from Jericho”

 (Matt 20:29); “as he went out of Jericho” (Mark 10:46).  However, Luke states that these

 things took place “as he was come nigh unto Jericho” (Luke 18:35).

            -Several ideas have been offered as an explanation for this difference.  In his commentaries

             on Matthew and Luke, H. Leo Boles offered the following of which I favor the latter. 

             “Some have offered a possible explanation of this apparent discrepancy by the fact that the

             blind men made application for help when Jesus approached the city, but were not then

             healed until after they left the city” (Luke, pg 354).  “Others explain it that he healed one

             blind man when he drew nigh to Jericho and that these two mentioned by Matthew were

             healed in the city or just as he left the city” (Matthew, pg 407).  “The seeming discrepancy

             may be explained by the fact that they went into Jericho, and the healing occurred after they

             left the old Jericho and approached the new Jericho which Herod the Great had built at some

             distance away.  History gives a record of the two Jerichos” (Luke, pg 354).

                        -“Jericho was the place of rendezvous for Galilean pilgrims desiring to avoid Samaria,

                         both in going to and in departing from Jerusalem…In the time of Christ, it was an

                         important place yielding a large revenue to the royal family. But the city which Herod

                         rebuilt was on a higher elevation, at the base of the western mountain” (ISBE).

-When Bartimaeus and his companion - blind beggars - heard the commotion of the multitude

 they inquired as to what was happening.  They were told that “Jesus of Nazareth” was passing

 by and they cried out “Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David” (Matthew 20:30).  Such

 distinction in the way they cried out to Jesus as the “Son of David” reveals their faith in Him as

 the prophesied Messiah.

            -When urged by those in the multitude to remain quiet, they cried out the louder.  Upon

             hearing their cries, Jesus stopped the procession and called the men to Him. 

            -Mark tells us that Bartimaeus cast away his garment, rose up and came to Jesus.  “How

             lively is this touch about the casting away of his garment! It is evidently the remark of an

             eye-witness, expressive of the exhilarating hope with which he was immediately filled”

             (Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown). 

-Jesus then asked, “What will ye that I shall do unto you?” (Matt 20:32).  Of course, Jesus

 knew their request before they ever asked it.  Yet, the men had cried out for mercy in general.

 Jesus was allowing them the opportunity to specify that which they desired.  Of course, the men

 requested their eyesight and Jesus granted their request immediately - “Receive thy sight: thy

 faith hath saved thee” (Luke 18:42).  These men had been blinded physically but not spiritually. 

-In Mark 10:52, Jesus told Bartimaeus to “Go thy way, thy faith hath made thee whole.”  Yet,

 we find that Bartimaeus chose to follow Jesus.

            -“Being a beggar, it would have been natural for him to hunt first for means of livelihood,

             but faith and gratitude prompted him to follow Jesus” (McGarvey/Pendleton, pg 561).