Matthew 20:34Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Christ suffered them to be forbidden, that their desire might be the more evidenced. Hence learn that though we be repulsed, yet if we come to God with earnestness, of ourselves, we shall obtain that we ask. It follows, And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I should do unto you?

The blind individuals learned about the Lord through others, and upon hearing that He was nearby, they seized the moment. They held a strong belief that Jesus, a descendant of David in the flesh, had the power to restore their sight. Driven by this deep faith, they did not remain quiet; rather, they called out even more loudly when faced with attempts to silence them. Consequently, the Lord did not inquire if they believed in Him but asked what they desired, ensuring no one could assume that their request differed from what they needed. Through His inquiry, He indicated that they cried out not for material riches, but for healing. By touching them, He demonstrated that every part of His sacred body brings life and divinity.

Mark relates this miracle, but speaks of only one blind man. This difficulty is thus explained; of the two blind men whom Matthew has introduced, one was well known in that city, as appears by Mark’s mentioning both his name, and that of his father. (Mark 10:46.) Bartimæus the son of Timæus was well known as having sunk from great affluence, and now sitting not only blind, but a beggar. For this reason then it is that Mark chose to mention him alone, because the restoration of his sight procured fame to the miracle, in proportion to the notoriety of the fact of his blindness. Though what Luke relates was done after the same manner, yet his account is to be taken of another though similar miracle. (Luke 18:35.) That which he gives was done as they drew near to Jericho; this in the other two as they came out of Jericho. And the multitude rebuked them that they should hold their peace.

He commands that they be called to Him that the multitude may not withhold them; and He asks them what they would, that by their answer, their necessity may be made apparent, and His power be shewn in their healing.

They were not only tenacious but also worthy, as they followed Christ in thankfulness for the grace extended to them. It is suggested that one of these two blind individuals, referred to as Bartimaeus, is noted by Mark in the tenth chapter (Mark 10:46) and by Luke in the eighteenth chapter (Luke 18:35) of his Gospel; the other is not identified, possibly as the companion of the first, similar to the account of the two demoniacs in the eighth chapter. This perspective is supported by the fact that both blind men expressed the same words and followed Christ in a similar fashion. Upon careful reflection on this matter, I propose that the blind man cited by Mark is distinct from the two mentioned, and likewise, the one referred to by Luke is different from the one described by Mark.

We also now sitting by the wayside of the Scriptures, and understanding wherein we are blind, if we ask with desire, He will touch the eyes of our souls, and the gloom of ignorance shall depart from our minds, that in the light of knowledge we may follow Him, who gave us power to see to no other end than that we should follow Him.

Or, They bid them hold their peace, not from reverence for Christ, but because they were grieved to hear from the blind what they denied, namely, that the Lord was the Son of David.

But Jericho, which is interpreted ‘the moon,’ denotes the infirmity of our changefulness.

The two blind individuals from Jericho called out, and the Lord restored their sight. Yet, were they the only ones in that vicinity? Certainly not. What was it that enabled these blind men to regain their vision while others remained in darkness? It was their bold cry for help; those lacking the courage to seek assistance were left unhealed, their wavering confidence stemming from a place of not pleasing God, which in turn was rooted in their feeble faith. Those who possess genuine faith will simultaneously begin to earn God’s favor, and with that favor comes trust; from this trust arises prayer, which draws forth divine aid. There is no denial of such requests. They understand how to petition wisely, they grasp the significance of their requests, and they maintain a steadfast commitment to prayer. All these elements are crucial for achieving success; relying solely on prayer lacks strength.

Jesus laid His hands upon their eyes. As a true human, He made contact with them in the flesh; as the true Divine, He brought healing through His command. He reached out to them because they recognized Him as the Son of David, and He restored their sight because they placed their trust in His might. The act of healing served dual purposes: it functioned as a reward for their faith and a reminder of the consequences of their disbelief.

JESUS, moved by compassion for the blind men, reached out to touch their eyes and spoke the familiar words, ‘Your faith shall save you.’ Consequently, their sight was restored, and they began to follow Him, filled with a profound sense of gratitude, accompanying their Savior.

As they made their way through Jericho, accompanied by a large crowd, the Lord and His disciples were approximately six hours away from Jerusalem. When they neared the city, a voice called out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" This was the plea of a blind beggar named Bartimaeus. He addressed Jesus with the significant title of Son of David, recognizing Him as the Messiah. The onlookers, who viewed the Messiah in their own limited understanding rather than as He revealed Himself to His followers, attempted to silence the beggar, urging him not to bother Jesus with his persistent cries. Nevertheless, Bartimaeus continued to plead, "Son of David, have mercy on me." At last, Jesus halted, directed that the man be brought to Him, and upon inquiring about his needs, restored his sight.

The narratives from the evangelists regarding this episode present two distinctions. First, Matthew references two blind men who received healing, whereas Mark and Luke focus on one individual. Additionally, while Matthew and Mark indicate that the occurrence happened as they were departing the city, Luke states that it occurred upon entering. It is clear that there were indeed two men who were healed, but in the early church tradition, the name of one, Bartimaeus, is notably retained in Mark’s account. Consequently, the recollection of this event in apostolic times often became associated with only Bartimaeus. Regarding the second distinction, it can be elucidated by the view that the event unfolded in two separate moments, both in different times and locations.

and Jesus, out of compassion, reached out and touched their eyes; instantly their vision was restored, and they began to follow Him, glorifying God; and the crowd, witnessing this miracle, joined in offering praise to God (Luke 18:43).

“Rabbuni,” the man answered, addressing Jesus with the highest title he could bestow, “that I may see.” “Go,” replied Christ, “your faith has healed you.” He placed His hands on their eyes, and instantly they received their sight and began to follow Him, praising God.

"Having compassion": This compassion was the fundamental reason behind all healing; it was for this purpose that He entered the world. Jesus Christ, this embodied mercy and grace, sought out those who were deserving. The worthiness of the blind men is clear both from their intensified cries and from the fact that after receiving healing, they did not depart from Jesus Christ, unlike many who were ungrateful for His blessings but followed Him instead. Therefore, dear ones, understand that regardless of how destitute and marginalized we may feel, if we approach God with genuine perseverance, we can request from Him whatever we need. Let us also have faith like these blind men.

The Lord was filled with compassion, and as He reached out to their eyes, He uttered His familiar words that affirm the magnificent act of His omnipotence: ‘Go, your faith has healed you.’ The blind were granted sight, and in their gratefulness for the gift of their healer, they joined Him on the path alongside the throng of people, serving as a living testament to His divine authority for all to witness.