A crowd told two blind men to be silent, but they cried the more unto Jesus and were healed. What can we learn about crowds, needs, and calls for help in this account from Matthew 20:29-34?
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They Cried the More
Matthew 20:29-34
- We’re going to discuss a rather obscure passage today
- It’s an account you may have read, but it’s short
- It reminds us about the power and mercy of Christ
- But it also gives us an interesting insight on needs and calls for help
- Two men are healed in this text
- They cried out to Jesus for sitting by the way side
- And despite the rebuke of a crowd nearby
- “They Cried the More” and received their healing
- And that is our theme today
- From Matthew 20:29-34
- There are only six verses to address today
- This is not among the most well-known healing stories from the New Testament
- But it’s one that I took a few key insights from as I read the greater context
- It can tell us something about the nature of a crowd
- And the determination of people that are desperate for help
- Let’s read the whole of our passage first, then take a closer look…
Matthew 20:29-34
29 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.
- This account of Jesus begins like many in the gospels
- It records His travels and tells of the crowds that followed Him
- Something slightly different happens in this one…
Matthew 20:29
29 And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.
- The group following Him as He departed Jericho would have been similar to others
- Some would have come along to hear what He had to say
- To see what He might do
- To record His words that they might use them against Him
- Perhaps there were some that heard about His miracles and needed one of their own
- Others might have just been curious
- Whatever the reasons they followed, most would have been paying attention to Him
- This is perhaps why they objected when two blind men cried out…
Matthew 20:30
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.
- These were not following
- They were by the way side as Jesus and the crowd passed by
- But when they saw Jesus, they took action
- They were like us
- They took action because of what they believed
- And it becomes apparent reading what they said, that they believed Jesus could have mercy upon them
- That He was likely to have mercy upon them
- If you know the record of Jesus’ journey in ministry, you’ll know what their cries of “have mercy on us” were likely to mean
- He was a regular healer of those He encountered
- And these men were blind
- The words have mercy used here mean help the afflicted
- They were afflicted with blindness
- They were standing near someone who could help
- And they requested His mercy
- They called Him Son of David
- Which was the name by which (at that time) the Messiah was most commonly known
- This means they had the right perspective
- And were asking the right person
- You wonder if the crowd noticed any of this
- Or whether they were concerned in the slightest for these men and their blindness…
Matthew 20:31
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.
- This multitude told the men to be silent
- To hold their peace
- Perhaps they wanted to hear what Jesus said
- They didn’t want to be distracted
- Whatever the case, these men didn’t stop
- They cried the more
- Having the same request
- Calling Jesus the same name again – Messiah
- I made a few notes as I read this account
- First about the multitude
- Seemingly lacking all compassion for the people they passed
- United in their call for those in need of mercy to be quiet
- Concerned, presumably, about their own concerns regarding Jesus
- Maybe, what He may yet do for them
- Whatever their motivations or faults in this case
- Crowds are not known (generally) for their collective wisdom
- We often, as individuals, get caught up in the passions of a crowd
- We shout things we would never shout on our own
- We go along with things we would reject alone
- I also thought about the blind men
- Their commitment, their faith
- In need of help, they asked for it
- And continued asking even after being rebuked
- And they asked the right person, taking the only opportunity they may have had with Him
- We could learn something from this
- They got Jesus’ attention…
Matthew 20:32
32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?
- We found it easy to determine, just based upon what they said, their request
- But Jesus asks, what do you want me to do?
- He didn’t want them to be quiet
- He didn’t find them a distraction
- He heard what they said
- And He responded
- Well, so did they…
Matthew 20:33
33 They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.
- You don’t make a request like this without faith
- They had to believe He could do it
- They seemed to know who He was
- No doubt they heard something about Him
- Testimony must had been given to His power somewhere
- And everything they believed was right
- He was the Son of David, the Messiah
- And He did have all the power they heard about
- They were about to have first hand knowledge…
Matthew20:34
34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
- Jesus was not like the crowd
- He had compassion
- He saw their need
- He did not choose to pass by
- And He changed them
- He did as they asked in faith
- And they followed Him
- Having experienced His mercy
- Having felt His healing touch
- Having knowledge of what He could do
- They rightly called out more than once for mercy
- It was on its way, sent by God