Wednesday
Evening Bible Study
January 9, 2002
:35 And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain
blind man sat by the way side begging:
he was come nigh – eggizo –
to bring near, to join one thing to another; to draw or come near to, to
approach
Jericho – Hiericho –
could mean either “it’s moon”, or, “place of fragrance”; a noted city,
abounding in balsam, honey, cyprus, myrobalanus, roses and other fragrant
products. It was near the north shore of the Dead Sea in the tribe of Benjamin,
between Jerusalem and the Jordan River
Matthew and Mark record what seem to be similar stories just a little
differently.
(Mat 20:29-34 KJV) And as they departed from Jericho, a great
multitude followed him. {30} And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way
side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on
us, O Lord, thou son of David. {31} And the multitude rebuked them, because
they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on
us, O Lord, thou son of David. {32} And Jesus stood still, and called them, and
said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? {33} They say unto him, Lord, that
our eyes may be opened. {34} So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their
eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
Matthew records there being two blind men.
Mark and Luke just don’t tell us about one of the guys. Matthew records that they encountered Jesus
while He was leaving Jericho.
(Mark 10:46-52 KJV) And they came to Jericho: and as he went out
of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus,
the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. {47} And when he heard
that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of
David, have mercy on me. {48} And many charged him that he should hold his
peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.
{49} And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the
blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. {50} And
he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. {51} And Jesus answered
and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man
said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. {52} And Jesus said unto
him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received
his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
Mark records there being one blind man, and also while leaving Jericho.
Which story is correct?
They all are.
Apparently there were two Jerichos at the time. There was the ancient town of Jericho and a Roman Jericho. The Roman Jericho was about a mile south of
the ancient town.
It is thought that this blind man was on the stretch of road between the
two Jerichos. Jesus was leaving one
Jericho and about to enter the other Jericho.
Illustration
Three blindfolded men were asked to describe an elephant.
One man was brought to the front of the elephant, and
described an elephant as long, shaped like a garden hose, but about six inches
in diameter, and moves like a snake.
One man described the elephant as large thick
pillars. He had been led to the feet.
The third man was put on top of the elephant and described
it as a large leathery ball.
Which is the elephant like? It’s
like all three, and them some!
They all described what they encountered, from a different
perspective.
blind man – tuphlos –
blind; mentally blind
Mark tells us the man’s name, Bartimaeus, meaning “son of Timaeus”.
sat – kathemai – to
sit down, seat one’s self; to sit, be seated, of a place occupied; to have a
fixed abode, to dwell; Imperfect tense – continual sitting in the past. This is where the guy had a practice of
hanging out.
the way side – hodos –
properly a way; a travelled way, road
begging – prosaiteo – to
ask for in addition; to approach one with supplications; to ask alms. Present participle, continuous action.
:36 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.
the multitude – ochlos – a
crowd; a casual collection of people; a multitude
pass by – diaporeuomai –
to cause to pass through a place; to carry across; to journey through a place,
go through; to travel through
He hears the crowd passing through the road between the two Jerichos.
he asked – punthanomai –
to enquire, ask; to ascertain, by enquiry.
Imperfect tense, he was continually asking everyone that got close what
was going on.
:37 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.
they told – apaggello – to
bring tidings (from a person or a thing), bring word, report; to proclaim, to
make known openly, declare
passeth by – parerchomai –
to go past, pass by; of persons moving forward; to come near, come forward,
arrive
:38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.
he cried – boao –
to raise a cry, of joy pain etc.; to cry, speak with a high, strong voice; to
cry to one for help, to implore his aid; to cry out as a manifestation of
feeling, esp. a cry for help
He is really making a big noise to get Jesus’ attention.
son of David – Bartimaeus somehow knows that Jesus is a
descendant of David. He knows that
Jesus has a claim to the throne of David.
I believe that he is acknowledging that Jesus is the Messiah, the
“anointed” one, the deliverer.
Jeremiah said,
Jer 23:5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that
I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper,
and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
Isaiah spoke of a Messianic time to come when the blind would be healed.
(Isa 35:3-5 KJV) Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm
the feeble knees. {4} Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear
not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he
will come and save you. {5} Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the
ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
have mercy – eleeo –
to have mercy on; to help one afflicted or seeking aid; to help the afflicted,
to bring help to the wretched; to experience mercy; to feel sympathy with the
misery of another, esp. such sympathy as manifests itself in act, less freq. in
word
:39 And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace:
but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.
they which went before – proago
– to lead forward, lead forth; to go before; to proceed, go forward. They guys at the front of the
procession. I would imagine these are
disciples.
rebuked – epitimao – to
show honour to, to honour; to tax with fault, rate, chide, rebuke, reprove,
censure severely; to admonish or charge sharply
he should hold his peace – siopao
– to be silent, hold one’s peace
They simply want the man to shut up.
he cried – krazo –
to croak; of the cry of a raven; hence, to cry out, cry aloud, vociferate; cry
out aloud, speak with a loud voice; in contrast to boao (vs. 38), this
means to cry out harshly, often of inarticulate and brutish sound
He doesn’t lesson his cries at all.
He turns up the volume.
The man probably senses that this is his one and only chance to see
again. He’s not going to let anyone
keep him from Jesus.
Lesson
Keeping people from Jesus
Earlier the disciples had displayed a disturbing action:
(Luke 18:15-17 KJV) And they brought unto him also infants, that
he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. {16} But
Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me,
and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. {17} Verily I say unto
you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in
no wise enter therein.
Perhaps the disciples thought that the children might be a
bother to Jesus.
Perhaps they thought that children weren’t important
enough for Jesus to talk to.
Nobody tries to stop the rich young ruler (Luke 18:18-27)
from talking to Jesus.
Before that, it was the Pharisees that wanted to keep people from Jesus.
(Luke 15:1-7 KJV) Then drew near unto him all the publicans
and sinners for to hear him. {2} And the Pharisees and scribes murmured,
saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. {3} And he spake this
parable unto them, saying, {4} What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he
lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go
after that which is lost, until he find it? {5} And when he hath found it, he
layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. {6} And when he cometh home, he calleth
together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I
have found my sheep which was lost. {7} I say unto you, that likewise joy shall
be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine
just persons, which need no repentance.
They didn’t think that Jesus ought to be associating with
people that were considered “sinners”.
They thought that Jesus should only be associating with “nice people”.
Lesson
Don’t let anyone keep you from
Jesus.
If you seek Him, He will let you find Him.
Seek Him while He may be found.
This was the first time Jesus came to Jericho. It would also be the last.
(Isa 55:6 KJV) Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call
ye upon him while he is near:
:40 And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he
was come near, he asked him,
stood – histemi – to cause
or make to stand, to place, put, set; to stand
Jesus has been walking along the road, and now He stops and stands still.
commanded – keleuo –
to command, to order; designates verbal orders, coming usually from a superior
I kind of wonder at what point Jesus might get a little frustrated at how
the disciples work to keep people from coming to Him.
to be brought – ago – to
lead, take with one
he was come near – eggizo –
to bring near, to join one thing to another; to draw or come near to, to
approach
he asked him – eperotao –
to accost one with an enquiry, put a question to, enquiry of, ask, interrogate;
to address one with a request or demand; to ask of or demand of one
Mark records,
(Mark 10:49-50 KJV) And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to
be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort,
rise; he calleth thee. {50} And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to
Jesus.
Some commentators note that this was his outer garment, and that it may
have been a sort of “badge” that he was a beggar. He knows he isn’t going to need to beg any more.
Lesson
When Jesus calls, you need to get up
and go
Nothing happens for the person who won’t move from where they are.
:41 Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord,
that I may receive my sight.
wilt thou – thelo – to
will, have in mind, intend; to be resolved or determined, to purpose; to
desire, to wish; to love; to like to do a thing, be fond of doing; to take
delight in, have pleasure
I may receive my sight – anablepo
(“again” or “up” + “to see”) – to look up; to recover (lost) sight. Subjunctive. “that I might see again”
Apparently this man had been able to see at one time in his life. He wants to see again.
Lesson
What do you really want?
Shouldn’t it be obvious?
Actually, it isn’t so obvious.
Maybe the man just thinks Jesus is a wealthy person who will really
“bless him” today.
It might seem obvious to us, but it’s not always obvious. This isn’t the only time that Jesus has
asked such an obvious question.
(John 5:1-9 KJV) After this there was a feast of the Jews;
and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. {2} Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep
market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five
porches. {3} In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt,
withered, waiting for the moving of the water. {4} For an angel went down at a
certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first
after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever
disease he had. {5} And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty
and eight years. {6} When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a
long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? {7}
The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled,
to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before
me. {8} Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. {9} And
immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the
same day was the sabbath.
If the man had been sick for thirty-eight years, and he’s
lying beside a place where people are healed, shouldn’t it be obvious? But Jesus, who knows what people are
thinking, asks the question.
Sometimes we will pray for things that seem obvious, but the real question
is, do we really want what we’re asking for?
Illustration
It is not uncommon for a person who is in a horrible
marriage to be praying for God to change their spouse. That’s obvious. But I’ve seen cases where God will change the spouse and the
person who is praying isn’t real happy about it. Perhaps they might have to give up on their reasons for being miserable. Perhaps they may have to give up on their
anger and biting comments.
Do you really want what you’re asking for?
Lesson
What should you be asking
for?
It’s important that we ask for the right things.
Illustration
The Lord told Solomon to ask for whatever he wanted.
(1 Ki
3:5-13 KJV) In Gibeon the LORD appeared
to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. {6}
And Solomon said, Thou hast showed unto thy servant David my father great
mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and
in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great
kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this
day. {7} And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of
David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come
in. {8} And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a
great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. {9} Give
therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may
discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a
people? {10} And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this
thing. {11} And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast
not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor
hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding
to discern judgment; {12} Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I
have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like
thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. {13} And I
have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour:
so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
Solomon was in a good place at this point in his
life. He asked for the right thing.
The blind man could have asked for money, but he asked for the right thing
instead. He asked to be healed.
:42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.
Receive thy sight – anablepo (“again”
or “up” + “to see”) – to look up; to recover (lost) sight
faith – pistis –
conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or
belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with
the included idea of trust and holy fervor born of faith and joined with it;
fidelity, faithfulness
hath saved – sozo – to
save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction; to save a
suffering one (from perishing), i.e. one suffering from disease, to make well,
heal, restore to health; to save in the technical biblical sense
It’s hard to know just how Jesus means this. Certainly the man is saved in the sense of his healing.
Jesus could also be talking about the man’s eternal salvation from his
sins.
He did call Jesus the “son of David”.
Lesson
Faith
It’s not that the man’s faith had power in itself. Jesus had the power. It’s that the man trusted in Jesus, and as a
result, Jesus turned and healed the man.
As a result of this man’s faith, Jesus heals him.
There is something in this man that Jesus can see as “faith”. Perhaps it was because he was willing to
leave his garment to come to Jesus.
Perhaps it was in his calling Jesus the “son of David”.
Earlier, the “rich young ruler” came to Jesus, but Jesus sent him away
“empty”. He wasn’t willing to leave his
“stuff” to follow Jesus.
Mary prophesied when she became pregnant:
(Luke 1:53
KJV) He hath filled the hungry with
good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
:43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying
God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
immediately – parachrema –
immediately, forthwith, instantly
he received his sight – anablepo
(“again” or “up” + “to see”) – to look up; to recover (lost) sight
followed – akoloutheo – to
follow one who precedes, join him as his attendant, accompany him; to join one
as a disciple, become or be his disciple; side with his party. Imperfect tense.
The man began to follow Jesus. He
was continually following Jesus.
glorifying – doxazo – to
think, suppose, be of opinion; to praise, extol, magnify, celebrate; to honour,
do honour to, hold in honour; to make glorious, adorn with luster, clothe with
splendour
praise – ainos – a saying,
proverb; praise, laudatory discourse
Lesson
Respond by following Jesus
Lesson
Praise goes to God
(Mat 5:16 KJV) Let your light so shine before men, that
they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.