Luke 18:37Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The blind man inquired, “What is happening?” They responded, “Jesus of Nazareth” (Lk 18:36-37). Realizing their response was not motivated by affection, he nonetheless viewed them not as adversaries but rather as companions, exclaiming, “Son of David! Have mercy on me” (Luke 18:38). However, they hindered him, apprehensive that his sight might be restored and they would face retribution.

As the Lord journeyed with His disciples through Jericho, a city approximately six hours from Jerusalem, they were followed by a large crowd. Upon nearing the city, a cry rang out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” This plea came from Bartimaeus, a blind beggar. He called out to Jesus using His esteemed title, acknowledging Him as the Messiah. The onlookers, interpreting the Messiah’s greatness in their own limited understanding and not in alignment with how He communicated with His disciples, attempted to silence the beggar, deeming his cries a nuisance. Undeterred, the blind man continued to shout, “Son of David, have mercy on me.” Eventually, Jesus halted and commanded that Bartimaeus be brought to Him. Upon asking the beggar what he desired, Jesus restored his sight.

The accounts of this event by the evangelists reveal two notable distinctions. First, while Matthew refers to the healing of two blind men, Mark and Luke mention only one. Secondly, Matthew and Mark indicate that the miracle occurred as Jesus was leaving the city, whereas Luke states it happened upon His entry. It is evident that two blind men were indeed healed; however, the apostolic tradition particularly highlights one of them, Bartimaeus (identified in Mark). Consequently, the narrative surrounding this event in the early church often focused on the name Bartimaeus alone.

It should be acknowledged that as Jesus was departing from Jericho, two blind individuals sitting by the roadside and seeking alms, upon hearing the commotion of a large group approaching, inquired, "What is happening?" When informed that it was Jesus who was passing by, these blind men, likely aware of His miracles and some identifying Him as the foretold Savior, seized the moment to seek healing. They called out earnestly, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!" (Matthew 20:30).

Upon hearing the extraordinary commotion from the crowd that was filled with fervor, they discovered that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, whose miraculous works had gained widespread acclaim across the region.

The account of the restoration of sight to the blind man from Jericho as depicted in Luke's narrative parallels that of Mark’s. Notably, Mark references a single blind individual, whereas Matthew mentions two (see Mk. 10:46-52 and Mt. 20:29-34). However, a significant distinction arises regarding the timing of the healing; it appears to occur as the Lord enters Jericho in Luke's version, contrary to the depictions in Mark and Matthew, which suggest it happened upon exiting the city. The Greek term used by Luke, ἐγγγι’ζειν, translates to being near something on any side, indicating that it could refer to the moment when the Lord was close to Jericho—whether entering or departing remains somewhat ambiguous.

After a challenging journey through a desolate region, the travelers beheld the ancient city of palm trees, Jericho, enveloped in lush greenery. At the city’s entrance, a destitute blind man sat, pleading for charity. The commotion and voices of the crowd following the Lord caught his attention. Realizing that it was the esteemed Miracle Worker, Jesus of Nazareth, the blind man shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” In this heartfelt plea, he expressed genuine faith in Christ as the true Messiah from David’s line.