# 93 The Growth of Faith - Matthew 20:29-34

Introduction: I want you to picture in your mind being surrounded by a noisy, energetic crowd, yet you are living in total darkness – you are blind. You hear the shuffle of feet, the excited whispers of people, and then one name begins to rise above the noise—you hear the name of JESUS. For two blind men sitting outside the city of Jericho, this moment would change everything.

   In this short but powerful story, we find a model of faith in action—two men who couldn’t see Jesus with their eyes yet recognized Him with their hearts.

  I might mention that in Mark’s Gospel, we are given the name of one of the two blind men – Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46). It is believed that Mark focuses on the louder of the two men. We also read in Luke’s Gospel that the event took place as JESUS entered Jericho, whereas here in Matthew it says that it took place after JESUS departed from Jericho. There is no discrepancy. It is believed that the two blind men were stirred as JESUS came into Jericho, and that their healing took place when JESUS departed from Jericho.

   Question: Do you know any blind people? As a church, we need to be praying that God would bring about a spiritual awakening to the city of Spirit Lake. There are a lot of blind people living in this city– living in total darkness. And it is the heart of this pastor that they hear the name – JESUS! And that they hear it from those of us who are followers of JESUS Christ. 

   So, what do we discover about the growth of faith found in this text?

1. Faith Takes the First Step – Matthew 20:29

   “Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him.”

   You have got to love the words;

   they went out of Jericho.

   Those words are providing for us more than a geographical location. You see, Jericho was one of the oldest cities in the world, and often in Scripture it symbolized barriers that need to be overcome (We see this in Joshua 6). Spiritually, Jericho can represent a transitional place, just as it did for Debbie and me when we visited Israel in 1994—we stopped in Jericho before going up to Jerusalem.

   Once again, our text tells us that Jesus was heading toward Jerusalem – towards the cross, His divine appointment. And we read that a great crowd followed Him—some perhaps out of curiosity or excitement. That’s how crowds often behave: many are emotionally driven, but not always spiritually discerning.

   But notice here in the text that the two blind men weren’t walking in this crowd. They were sitting, sidelined by their physical condition. Yet, while their eyes were closed, their ears were open.

A Heightened Sense of Hearing

   We all know that often when someone loses one sense, another sense becomes heightened. In this case, it was their hearing. This is another remarkable aspect of God’s wonderful creation.

   In today’s spiritually blind world, people hear—but they don’t listen. An example of this is when people walk in nature, often they don’t hear all the various birds making their unique sounds, or the trickle of a creek running alongside the trail their walking, or the rustling of the wind in the trees. They have tuned it out.

   In today’s world, the Good News is often drowned out by noise pollution, entertainment, people’s various opinions, and all the many distractions. However, there are still some who, in their darkness, hear the name, JESUS, and are drawn to Him. Praise God. Amen!

   Maybe you’re hearing this message today online (Facebook or YouTube) or on a podcast. Don’t sit silently on the roadside of life—get up, cry out to JESUS, and follow Him.

   Hear this: Faith doesn’t require full understanding. It requires immediate action and a willingness to do something now.

   And if you’re listening, JESUS is nearby.

   Faith begins not with sight, but with a first step.

2. Faith Begins with Hearing – Matthew 20:30

   “And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, ‘Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!’”

   They “heard” that Jesus was passing by—and cried out. Their cry,

   “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David,”

   Those words are packed with meaning.

   Scholar R.T. France writes: “The cry ‘Son of David’ is both a theological affirmation and an act of worship. These men confess Jesus' messianic identity... Their faith—audible but not visible—is what draws Jesus’ compassion.”

   The Greek word translated “have mercy” is ἐλέησον (eleēson), from ἐλεέω (eleeō), meaning to help the afflicted, to bring relief out of compassion.

   This isn’t a casual request—it’s a desperate, faith-filled plea for undeserved mercy.

   Notice too that they address Jesus as “Lord” (κύριε, kyrie) and “Son of David” (υἱὸς Δαυίδ, huios David)—both titles are packed with theological weight.

   "Lord" affirms His authority, and "Son of David" acknowledges Jesus as the Messiah, the long-awaited King from David’s line.

   John MacArthur (who just graduated into glory this past week at 86) penned, “Their use of ‘Lord’ and ‘Son of David’ indicates that they believed Jesus to be the Messiah... Their faith was humble, persistent, and direct—and it was rewarded.”

   Look at what they ask for: mercy. They didn’t ask for money, or healing, or fame—just mercy. And I would add that there is not a person alive who doesn’t need to experience the mercy of God.

   D.A. Carson notes: “The blind men display more spiritual insight than the crowds. Their physical blindness becomes a contrast to the spiritual blindness of those around them.”

   Faith begins by hearing—and believing—who Jesus is. Jesus is the Son of God, and He is the Messiah.

   Question:Is He your Messiah? Is He your Lord?

3. Faith Pushes Through Resistance – Matthew 20:31

   Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”

   The crowd tried to silence them. Much like the disciples who rebuked the little children back in Matthew 19, these blind men were seen as unworthy distractions.

   H.A. Ironside penned: As through Jesus was not to be troubled by poor wretches such as they.”

   But they didn’t listen.

   William Barclay writes: “It is the sheer persistence of these men that is so moving. Real faith does not fold under social pressure—it shouts louder.”

   And shout they did. We read, “All the more”. They escalated their cry. Real faith presses through resistance.

   Today, the crowd still speaks: “You’re too broken.” “Stay silent.” “You’re not good enough.” “You’re dirty.” But the invitation of Jesus still stands – Come follow Me!

   The Apostle Paul declares in 2 Corinthians 6:2,

   Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

   Faith perseveres—even when opposed.

   My friends, NOW is the time to come to Jesus Christ. Please, don’t put it off.

4. Faith Responds When Jesus Calls – Matthew 20:32

   So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’”

   It is in this verse that we find one of the most beautiful statements found in the Bible,

  Jesus stood still…

   Craig Keener notes: “That Jesus stops for them—and touches them—shows His radical compassion for the outcast.”

   When others pass by your pain, Jesus stops.

Nursing Home Ministry

   This reminds me of a moment early in Debbie and my ministry. While attending CDA Bible Church, before going off to Bible college, I would preach at a nursing home in Spokane. On one Sunday afternoon, a blind woman sitting among those who made up the audience cried out mid-sermon, “Pray for me and ask Jesus to heal me!” She repeated those words several times. Talk about a heart tug. I stopped preaching, and I prayed for her. She wasn’t healed, but her cry moved me. Imagine what our cries do to the heart of Jesus!

   Jesus doesn’t dismiss your cry. He asks, “What do you want Me to do for you?”—This is His invitation to respond.

   Faith listens for JESUS—and responds.

   Question:What do you want Jesus to do for you?

5. Faith Speaks with Clarity – Matthew 20:33

    They said to Him, ‘Lord, that our eyes may be opened.’”

   This is faith without hesitation—clear, direct, confident.

   The Greek word for “opened” implies that they understood that this was something God sized, that it would take divine intervention.

   Also, note that these two men didn’t ask vaguely. They weren’t timid. They knew that what they needed was something that only Jesus could provide.

   Folks, the natural man is blind, and the only one that can open eyes to see is JESUS.

   Faith asks clearly and boldly for what only Jesus can do.

   On November 14, 1976, I asked for what only JESUS could give me – I asked Him to save me. And that night my eyes were opened! I have been following JESUS now for 49 years. They have been the best years of my life.

   The greatest need that all people have is the need for spiritual sight. Nicodemus needed this (John 3:3), Zacchaeus needed this (Luke 19:8-9), Paul needed this (Acts 9:18), and there is not a soul alive who doesn’t need spiritual sight.

   If you are hearing my voice today, you need to ask JESUS for spiritual sight – be specific in your request. Lord, save me. He will save you, and He will transform your life.

   Please don’t put off this decision for another day. That day may not come. Not one person in this room or listening online has a corner on tomorrow.

6. Faith Receives and Follows – Matthew 20:34

    So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.

   The words for “had compassion” mean the stirring of the inward parts, the twisting of the intestines. It’s not pity; it’s a visceral response that moves one to action.

   Leon Morris comments: “It is striking that the crowd, though close to Jesus, tried to silence those most in need. The blind men, however, would not be silenced. Their bold faith... was rewarded.”

   Jesus could have healed with a word, but instead He touched them – a personal, tender act. And their response? They followed Him.

   Not just healed, but now starting a life of discipleship.

   Once again, D.A. Carson rightly points out: “Faith culminates not in sight, but in discipleship.” And I would add, nothing has changed!

   When Jesus opens your eyes, He redirects your steps. Are we hearing this? Are we hearing with our ears? Are we taking this inside of us? I am telling you, church, that we must.

Conclusion: So, as I close, what does this passage reveal to us about the Growth of Faith? Six ways faith grows:

1. Hearing – They heard about Jesus – 20:30

2. Believing – They called Him “Son of David” and “Lord” – 20:30

3. Persisting – They shouted louder despite being rebuked – 20:31

4. Responding – They answered Jesus’ call – 20:32

5. Trusting – They asked for sight with confidence – 20:33

6. Following – They became disciples – 20:34

   These two blind men saw more clearly than the whole crowd. They recognized JESUS as Messiah, called out in desperate faith, and followed Him in total devotion.

   So today I ask you:

Are you following the crowd, being pushed along?

 Or are you like these two blind men—broken, but believing, crying out for mercy, receiving sight, and becoming a disciple?

   If you’ve never called out to JESUS, today is the day. Mercy still flows from the Son of David.

   If you are following at a distance, Jesus is standing still, waiting to hear your voice.

   Cry out to Him.

   Draw near to Him.

   He’s listening for you.

   Finally, FOLLOW HIM. It will be the best decision that you will ever make.

  What we don’t read here in Matthew’s Gospel is the response from the crowd. In Luke 18:43, we read,

   And immediately he received his sight and followed Him, glorifying God, and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

   If you decide for Jesus and receive spiritual sight, we will give praise to God. We will welcome you into God’s forever family. We will receive you as a disciple of JESUS Christ. Give us that opportunity to rejoice with you.

   Let us pray together.