Luke 18:35-43

Butler's Comments

SECTION 6

Pitiless (Luke 18:35-43)

35 As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging; 36and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant. 37They told him, Jesus of Nazareth is passing by. 38And he cried, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! 39And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, Son of David, have mercy on me! 40And Jesus stopped, and commanded him to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, 41What do you want me to do for you? He said, Lord, let me receive my sight. 42And Jesus said to him, Receive your sight; your faith has made you well. 43And immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

Luke 18:35-39 Cruelty: Finally Jesus leaves the area known as Perea, crosses the Jordan river into Judea and comes to Jericho. Immediately the careful student of the gospel records notices apparent discrepancies. In the first place, Matthew and Mark say, ... as He was leaving Jericho (Matthew 20:29; Mark 10:46) and Luke says, ... as He drew near to Jericho.. (Luke 18:35).

a.

Solution #1: As Jesus entered, Bartimaeus cried out for help too late to be heardhe circled the town, joined by another blind man, appealed to Jesus as He left Jericho, and was healed.

b.

Solution #2: There were two Jerichos known to people in Jesus-' day. There was the old Jewish city about a mile away from the new Jericho (a Roman city), and both were directly in Jesus-' path to Jerusalem, Matthew and Mark refer to His leaving the older city; Luke refers to Him as being about to enter the newer Roman city, In between the two Jerichos, somewhere, Jesus healed the two blind men. Archaeology has confirmed this and solution #2 appears to be the most plausible (cf. Archaeology and Bible History, by Joseph P. Free, pg. 295, pub. Scripture Press). See our map, page 348.

Another problem occurs when Matthew says there were two blind men (Matthew 20:30) while Mark and Luke mention only one (Mark 10:46; Luke 18:35).

a.

Solution #1: Remember the silence of one record is not, in itself a contradiction of what another affirms. The only way we could have the gospel writers contradicting one another is if they say there was only one blind beggar.. or there were two blind beggars and not one..

b.

Solution #2: Mark and Luke mention only the one beggar because he was so forceful or singularly vocal and the leader of the two. As a matter of fact, Mark calls him by name!

Our reason for treating these details is that one of the theories used to prove that the Bible is inaccurate and therefore not inspired is called the Two-Source Theory. In essence this theory says the gospel writers all copied from a common dual-source or from one another. Now if they copied from a common source, or from one another, why are they so different in so many detailsnot only here but in many other places?

Alongside the road between the two Jerichos sat the two blind men. One of them was named Bartimaeus. Hearing the multitude following Jesus passing by, he asked what was happening. When he was told that Jesus of Nazareth was passing through, he shouted, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. The Greek word for cried in Luke 18:38 is eboese, the same word used to describe John the Baptist's preaching in Luke 3:4, ... a voice of one crying.. It describes someone shouting to gain attention. Notice the beggar believed two things about Jesus: (a) that He could heal blind people; (b) that He was the messianic, Son of David. Jesus was apparently teaching the multitudes as He walked along the road and the man's loud yelling for attention made it difficult to hear Him. Or perhaps the blind man had staggered blindly out in front of the multitudes as they walked along side Jesus and became a hindrance to their progress and was looked upon as a nuisance. Those in front of the crowd rebuked the beggar. The Greek word for rebuke is epetimon, and means literally, threw their weight around. They spoke contemptuously, with a high-and-mighty attitude toward this handicapped person who was in their way! They told him to shut up. But the beggar cried out all the more, This time the Greek word translated cried is ekradzen and denotes a cry of great emotion, or a piercing, agonizing cry, a clamorous cry. Since the Greek verb is imperfect it means Bartimaeus kept on clamoring for Jesus to stop and show him mercy.

(See Oxford Bible Atlas, page 95, Oxford University Press, London, 1974.)

Luke 18:40-43 Compassion: Matthew tells us, of course, that both blind beggars were crying out to Jesus. Jesus stopped and gave instructions to bring the beggars before Him. Mark tells us that Bartimaeus threw off his cloak, jumped up, and came to Jesus (along with the other blind man). One must try to visualize the scene to appreciate the impact of this incident. Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem. He has just been speaking of the cross to His disciples. Not only have they refused to hear Him, they have audaciously sought appointments to positions of honor and power. Multitudes are pressing all around Him as He walks this Jericho road. He is concentrating on the culmination of the great, eternal plan of God's redemption about to be agonizingly worked out in His becoming sin for the whole world. He has only a very limited time left to teach the twelve apostles. Suddenly two ragged, handicapped, blind, beggars are screaming at Him, Help us, help us, help us! They were misfits in society, social outcasts, nuisances with nothing to contribute to His own burdens but more burden, but Jesus stops to help them. Jesus completely subordinated His own feelingsHe thrust aside His own breaking heart, to help these two helpless men. No one else offered. None of the twelve spoke on their behalf! The multitudes were contemptuous of them. But Jesus saw in them a beauty and value He did not see in these othersfaith. Jesus asked what He could do for them. Bartimaeus said, Lord, that I may see again (Greek anablepso, see again). Jesus ordered, See again! The Greek word describing Jesus-' reply is anablepson, imperative mood, meaning Jesus gave the command, See again. So the interruption was not really a burdensome inconvenience to Jesus after all. In fact, the faith of these two blind beggars in the midst of all the worldly-minded clamoring of the multitudes (and even of His own twelve apostles) served as a refreshing relief and spiritual encouragement to Jesus as He faced the cross. Jesus told the beggars, Your faith has made you well. The Greek word translated well is sesoke and is from the root word which means saved. The usual medical term used for healing in the Greek language is therapeuo (sometimes, iaomai). Sesoke (from, Sodzo) is sometimes translated, made whole. Luke probably used sesoke because it is ambiguous enough to mean that the blind beggars had not only been cured physically by their faith, but also made spiritually whole, or saved. Not only did the faith of these blind beggars give Jesus spiritual comfort, the miracle He performed for them caused the multitudes to glorify God and perhaps registered in their hearts more about His saviorhood than all the words He had been saying to them.

These men had just this one opportunity to be made whole. Jesus would not pass that way again. They had to avail themselves of this one opportunity in the face of probably contemptuous cries of, Shut up, Get out of the way, Don-'t bother the Master, Who are you that He should help you? or others. But that did not stop their pleastheir criesfor help. And when invited by Jesus to ask, they got up and went to Him. These are the only kind of people Christ is able to help.

STUDY STIMULATORS:

1.

The world's injustices tend to make people pessimistic. What does the Christian have to overcome that? Does it work for you?

2.

Is it proper for Americans to thank God they are not like all the other people in the world who worship idols? Or would it be better for American Christians to pray, God have mercy upon us.. ?

3.

Why couldn-'t the Pharisee be justified? Have you ever been tempted to feel like the Pharisee?

4.

What are some stumbling-blocks people put in the way of children or childlike adults which keep them from Jesus? Have you put any there?

5.

Why did Jesus begin with the rich, young ruler by reminding him that only God was good? Do you think this is where most preaching today should center?

6.

Why aren-'t law and love contradictory? How had the rich, young ruler kept the commandments? Do you keep the spirit or the letter of the law?

7.

Why should the church be honest about the sacrificial life of discipleship to Jesus?

8.

Why is it hard for a rich man to enter God's kingdom? Are you rich?

9.

Do you think there are other great men of God who should be rewarded more than you should be? What is God's basis for rewarding labor in His vineyard?

10.

Why didn-'t the disciples understand Jesus-' crucifixion? Do you have trouble with the idea of vicarious atonement?someone else dying for your sins?

11.

What did Jesus get, out of stopping to help some beggars? Have you?

Applebury's Comments

Healing the Blind Beggar
Scripture

Luke 18:35-43 And it came to pass, as he drew nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: 36 and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant. 37 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. 38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. 39 And they that went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried out the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. 40 And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, 41 What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. 42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath made thee whole. 43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

Comments

a certain blind man.This incident is also reported in Matthew 20:29-34 and Mark 10:52. According to Matthew, there were two blind men sitting by the wayside; Mark and Luke mention only one of them. Mark gives his name, Bartimaeus. Mark beginning with the phrase as they come to Jericho, indicates that the miracle occurred as He went out from Jericho. Matthew tells only what happened as they went out from Jericho. Luke did not see fit to explain at what point the miracle actually took place. He begins his next story, the one about Zacchaeus the Publican, by saying that He entered in and was passing through Jericho. The exact place where He met Zacchaeus or where He healed Bartimaeus does not seem to be important to him. The miracle that opened the eyes of one man and the message of salvation that changed the life of another are the things of real importance.

A number of solutions to the problem of harmony between the accounts have been suggested. They show that while the data are limited there is no need to assume that a contradiction exists. The answer to the problem may lie in the history of Jericho. Archaeology sheds some light on that history. What appears to be a problem to us may have been no problem whatever to the writers of the Gospels.

hearing the multitude.The crowds informed Bartimaeus that Jesus was passing by. He must have known about Him, for he cried out, Son of David, have mercy on me. Son of David is equivalent to Messiah, for all knew that the Christ was to be the son of David. His confession was about the same as that of Peter or Nathaniel. See Matthew 16:16; John 1:49.

And they that went before him rebuked him.This harsh attitude of the crowds is in sharp contrast with the mercy of Jesus. Jesus was ready to listen to his amazing request: Lord, that I may receive my sight. That, of course, was asking for a miracle. He evidently believed that Jesus could do this for him. Jesus said, Receive your sight. In these brief words, the miracle of opening the eyes of a blind man is described by the gospel writers. Jesus added, Your faith has saved youthat is, from blindness. Distressed people have believed the claims of quacks, but no miracle results from their belief no matter how sincere it may be. The power to perform the miracle was exercised by Jesus to prove His right to be called, Son of David, that is Messiah. See John 20:30-31.

And immediately.This is the sign of a genuine miracle. He received his sight, followed Jesus, and glorified God. The crowds that had told him to be quiet were now ready to praise God also.

Summary

Luke's emphasis on the prayer life of Jesus is seen in two more parables which are given in this chapter. The parable of the Widow and the Judge was given to teach the disciples that they ought always to pray and never lose heart. Will the Son of Man find that kind of faith on earth when He comes again?
The parable of the Pharisee and the Publican reveals the necessity of humility on the part of these who pray to God for mercy.
In the busy ministry of Jesus, the disciples tried to keep parents from bringing their children to Jesus that He might touch them and bless them. But Jesus took this as an occasion to teach the important lesson that it is necessary to receive the kingdom of God in the spirit of the little child. Without that purity and trust, no one could enter the kingdom.
The story of the Rich Young Ruler presents another lesson on the theme of Eternal Life. The young man ran to Jesus and knelt before Him and asked, Good Teacher, what shall I do to have eternal life? When Jesus told him to keep the commandments, quoting those that had to do with man's duties to man, he said, I have done this since I was a boy. But there was one thing that he lacked, his duty to God. He was a man of great wealth; gold was evidently his god. Jesus told him to sell all and he would have treasures in heaven. Then He added, Come, follow me. What he needed was to worship Jesus as Lord, not gold. There is no other possible way for man to have eternal life. The apostles had left all to follow Him. Jesus said that in this life they would have manifold more and in the age to come they would have eternal life.
Luke significantly followed the lesson on eternal life with Jesus-' effort to get His disciples to become aware of what was to happen to Him in Jerusalem. All that the prophets had written about Him was to be accomplished. He was to be put to death and on the third day rise again in order that those who believe on Him might have eternal life.
The chapter closes with the miracle of opening the eyes of the blind beggar. The scene was at Jericho. Crowds were following the Lord. The blind man heard them passing by and asked who it was. When he learned that it was Jesus, he called out for Him to have mercy on him. When his sight was restored, he followed Jesus and glorified God.

Questions

1.

What suggestion is there that this chapter continues the thought of the preceding one.

2.

What is the purpose of the parable of the Widow and the Judge?

3.

How does it differ from the lesson taught by the parable of the Friend at Midnight?

4.

Why is the Coming of Christ delayed?

5.

What contrast is there between the wicked judge and the heavenly Father?

6.

What lesson is taught by the fact that the widow kept coming to the judge with her plea?

7.

What caused the judge to finally hear her?

8.

What has this to do with prayer?

9.

Who are the elect? How do they become the chosen of God?

10.

What did Jesus say about the longsuffering of God?

11.

What did He say about the manner in which He responds to the pleas of His chosen ones?

12.

What do the Scriptures teach about Jesus-' work as high priest?

13.

How are we to understand Jesus-' question, When the Son of man corneth, shall he find faith on the earth?

14.

How is the question to be answered?

15.

What is the lesson taught by the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican?

16.

To what class of people did Jesus direct this parable?

17.

What did the Pharisee think of himself? What bearing does this have on the references to the Pharisees in chapter fifteen?

18.

What contrast did Jesus make between the Pharisee and the publican?

19.

What is there that shows that the publican was aware of the attitude of the Pharisee toward him?

20.

How is his humility shown?

21.

What does the Bible say of those whose confessions of sin are recorded in it?

22.

Why was the publican pardoned?

23.

What lesson did Jesus teach from this parable?

24.

Why did the parents bring their babes to Jesus?

25.

Why did the disciples rebuke them for doing so?

26.

What is the responsibility of parents in the matter of religious training? of the church?

27.

According to the Old Testament, who was responsible for teaching the Law of God to the children?

28.

From whom did Timothy learn about the sacred writings?

29.

What should be the relation between the home and the church in child training?

30.

What did Jesus mean by saying that to such belongs the kingdom of God?

31.

Why are sinners told to repent and be baptized to enter the body of Christ, the church?

32.

What do the three accounts reveal about the story of the Rich Young Ruler?

33.

What may be said about his age?

34.

What did he call Jesus?

35.

Why did Jesus challenge this remark?

36.

What did Jesus mean by saying, No one is good except One.

37.

Why did Jesus quote only the commandments that had to do with man's duties to man?

38.

What did the young ruler lack?

39.

What did he have to do to overcome it?

40.

What did Jesus mean by the reference to a camel and a needle's eye?

41.

What did Peter say when he heard Jesus-' remarks about the rich?

42.

What is the meaning of Jesus-' words, Many shall be last that are first and first that are last?

43.

Why did Jesus call attention to the things that were to happen to Him at Jerusalem?

44.

Why didn-'t the disciples understand?

45.

What are the facts about the miracle of healing the blind beggar as given in all three synoptic gospels?

46.

Why didn-'t Luke state exactly where it took place?

47.

Why did the beggar call Jesus Son of David?

48.

What was the attitude of the crowd toward the beggar?

49.

What was implied in his request that he might receive his sight?

50.

What did his faith have to do with the miracle?