Matthew 20:29-34

Rachel Workman: ²⁹ As Jesus and the disciples left the town of Jericho, a large crowd followed behind. ³⁰ Two blind men were sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was coming that way, they began shouting, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

³¹ “Be quiet!” the crowd yelled at them.

But they only shouted louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

³² When Jesus heard them, he stopped and called, “What do you want me to do for you?”

³³ “Lord,” they said, “we want to see!” ³⁴ Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Instantly they could see! Then they followed him. Jesus didn't ask them what they wanted him to do for them because he was curious. He already knew what they wanted. Jesus also knew how they would answer him. He asked the question so that they could verbalize to him that they knew he was capable of healing them. It was a question for the crows that gathered also. Jesus wanted to reinstate to everyone listening that it takes believe and faith to be healed by Jesus.

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John Burnett:  ²⁹ As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him. ³⁰ And two blind men sitting by the road, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” ³¹ The crowd sternly told them to be quiet, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” ³² And Jesus stopped and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” ³³ They *said to Him, “Lord, we want our eyes to be opened.” ³⁴ Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.  In God’s grace, He has opened my eyes so that I can see my sin and my need for Jesus as my Savior.  Just as Jesus healed these blind men, He heals us from the thing that promises certain death and gives us eternal life.  Unlike these men, most of those in the world do not know that they are blind. 

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Allen Michaels:  ²⁹ As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. ³⁰ Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

³¹ The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

³² Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

³³ “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.”

³⁴ Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

The blind men called Jesus “Son of David” because the Jews knew that the Messiah would be a descendant of David. These blind beggars could see that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, while the religious leaders who actually witnessed Jesus’ miracles were blind to hid identity, refusing to open their eyes to the truth. Seeing with your eyes doesn’t guarantee seeing with your heart.

How can we seek and obtain God's mercy?  God gives mercy to the lowly in heart -- to those who recognize their need for God and for his forgiveness and healing power.  Faith is a gift freely given by God to help us know God personally, to understand his truth, and to live in the power of his love.  For faith to be effective it must be linked with trust and obedience -- an active submission to God and a willingness to do whatever he commands.  Do we recognize our need for God's healing grace and do we seek Jesus out, like these blind beggars, with persistent faith and trust in his goodness and mercy?