Matthew 20:33Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

When they communicated their request, He showed compassion and reached out to them. This compassion was the primary source of all healing, and it was precisely why He entered the world. However, while Christ embodied mercy and grace, He also looked for those who were deserving. The worthiness of the blind men is clear from their heightened cries for help and from their decision to remain with Christ after their healing, unlike many who failed to acknowledge His goodness. Rather than turning away, these blind men remained steadfast in their gratitude, continually following Him.

The blind men became aware of the Lord through spoken accounts, and when they learned that He was near, they seized the chance to seek His help. They held a strong belief that Jesus, who was in the lineage of David by human descent, had the power to restore their sight. Driven by this deep faith, they did not remain quiet but shouted even more loudly when others tried to silence them. Consequently, the Lord did not question them about their faith, but rather inquired what they desired, ensuring that no one could assume their request was different from what they truly sought. His question also clarified that they were not calling out for money, but for healing. He restored their sight by His touch, demonstrating that every part of His sacred body is life-giving and divine.

They were unable to see, unsure of whom to seek, and failed to follow the Savior. Jericho was filled with deep ditches, massive stones, and steep cliffs. Therefore, the Lord halted their progress so they could come near, instructing them to call out, preventing the crowd from obstructing them. He inquired of them, not out of ignorance but to reveal the desperation of the blind men, thus making their condition clear. Through their response, He aimed to highlight their frailty and simultaneously demonstrate His divine authority through their healing.

He summoned them. Why did He inquire of them? To prevent anyone from assuming that they desired one thing while He provided something different. But why did He not question them about their belief? Because their unwavering shouting served as the evidence of their faith, which continued even when they were commanded to be quiet.

Jesus reached out and touched their eyes. As a true human, He made contact with His physical hands; as true God, He restored their sight with His words. He responded to their call, acknowledging them as the Son of David, and healed them because they placed their faith in His authority. This healing served as both a blessing for their faith and a rebuke for any doubt.

They approached Him saying, “Lord, we do not seek alms from You; rather, we desire that our eyes be opened.” This shows a profound fear of missing the opportunity to be healed by the divine Healer. “The Lord always first expressed His benevolence to those who sought healing, and then He bestowed it upon them.” Jesus Christ, the embodiment of mercy and grace, actively pursued those deserving of His touch. “He encourages us to make our requests known to Him, even though He is already aware of what we will ask and what we should receive according to our desires.

As the Lord and His followers journeyed through Jericho, which lay roughly six hours away from Jerusalem, a large crowd accompanied them. Upon nearing the city, a voice rang out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" This was the plea of a blind beggar named Bartimaeus. By addressing Jesus with the honored title of Son of David, Bartimaeus recognized Him as the Messiah. The onlookers, perceiving the majesty of the Messiah in their own limited understanding, attempted to silence the beggar, viewing his entreaty as bothersome. Nevertheless, Bartimaeus persisted, calling out, "Son of David, have mercy on me." Eventually, Jesus halted, instructed that the man be brought to Him, and upon inquiring about his needs, restored his sight.

The accounts of this event provided by the evangelists present two notable differences. Firstly, Matthew mentions two blind men who were healed, while Mark and Luke focus on one. Secondly, Matthew and Mark indicate that the incident occurred as Jesus was leaving the city, whereas Luke states it happened upon His entry. It is evident that there were two men healed, yet within the apostolic tradition, the name of one—Bartimaeus, as noted by Mark—has been particularly highlighted. Consequently, the narrative surrounding this event was sometimes associated primarily with Bartimaeus alone during apostolic times.

Bartimaeus replied, "Lord, let me regain my sight" (Luke 18:41). Jesus responded, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well" (Luke 18:42). At this moment, it is likely that another blind individual approached with a similar plea.

The man responded, addressing Jesus with a title of great respect, "Rabbi, I wish to regain my sight." Jesus replied, "Go, your faith has made you whole." He touched their eyes, and at once, they received their sight and began to follow Him, praising God.

“What do you want of Me?” Why did He pose this question to the blind men? It was to prevent anyone from assuming that He would offer anything other than what they truly desired.

The Lord paused and instructed them to summon him: the Heart recognized that these unfortunate souls, expressing their faith in simple and sincere language, were worthy of mercy. They began to call out to Bartimaeus, saying, “Take heart, get up, he is calling you.” Upon hearing this joyful message, the blind man hurried to meet his Healer, casting aside his outer cloak so that it wouldn’t hinder his swift approach to the gracious invitation. When the blind men came close, the Lord inquired, “What do you want me to do for you?” The All-Knowing One desired the afflicted to consciously accept the gift of restoration. The blind replied, “Rabbi, let our eyes be opened.”