Blind Bartimaeus and His Companion (Matthew 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43)

Submitted by admin on Mon, 2008-07-14 17:41.

Posted in | printer-friendly version »

The narratives do not mention when Jesus and his disciples left Perea, crossed the Jordan, and came into Judea. In the vicinity of the Judean city of Jericho, a large crowd followed him and his disciples. At the time, Bartimaeus (the son of Timaeus) and another blind man were seated by the roadside, begging. On hearing the movement of a crowd near him, Bartimaeus inquired about the reason for it. When informed that Jesus the Nazarene was passing by, Bartimaeus shouted, “Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me.” His companion also cried out to be shown pity, acknowledging Jesus to be the “Son of David.” (Matthew 20:29, 30; Mark 10:46, 47; Luke 18:35-38)

When referring to Jesus as the “Son of David” both men expressed their belief in him as the promised Messiah. This acknowledgment proved to be objectionable to many in the crowd. They ordered the men to be silent. Bartimaeus and his companion, however, disregarded their words, shouting even louder for Jesus to have pity on them. (Matthew 20:31; Mark 10:48; Luke 18:39)

Jesus stopped, requesting that the blind men be called. (Matthew 20:32; Mark 10:49; Luke 18:40) “Take courage, rise, he is calling you,” Bartimaeus was told. Leaving his outer garment behind, he got up and headed for Jesus. Asked what he wanted done for him, Bartimaeus said, “Rabboni [My Teacher], let me have sight.” (Mark 10:49-51; Luke 18:41)

Based on Matthew’s account, the other blind man also asked that his eyes be opened. Jesus felt compassion for the men, touched their eyes, and immediately thereafter they were able to see. (Matthew 20:33, 34) Mark 10:52 and Luke 18:42 relate that Jesus told Bartimaeus, “Your faith has saved you,” probably meaning that, because of his faith in Jesus, he ceased to be blind. Bartimaeus then followed Jesus, as did his companion, and glorified or praised God. The people who had witnessed this miracle also gave praise to the Most High. (Matthew 20:34; Mark 10:52; Luke 18:43)

Notes:

Matthew 20:29 and Mark 10:46 tell about Jesus leaving Jericho, whereas Luke 18:35 speaks of his approaching Jericho. Nothing in the context provides a clue about the reason for this difference. It could be that Jesus first passed the blind men on his way into Jericho but did not miraculously grant them sight until he left the city.

Herod the Great started extensive building activity south of the ancient site of Jericho, and his successors continued building there. So it could be that Jesus was leaving the old city and approaching Herodian Jericho.

Only Matthew 20:30 mentions two blind men. In Mark 10:46, only one blind man is mentioned and identified as Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus. Luke 18:35 likewise refers to only one blind man but does not name him. Perhaps of the two men, Bartimaeus figured more prominently in the incident and therefore is the focus in the accounts of Mark and Luke. The narrations in all three accounts are similar and contain the kind of variations that one would expect when different people tell about an incident in a language other than the one in which the actual conversations took place.

See http://bibleplaces.com/jericho.htm for additional information about Jericho.