sf228 - Lessons On Seeing From A Blind Man (Matthew 20 29-34)

Matthew 20:29-34

Introduction

Jesus was now on His way to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover with His disciples. Infinitely more important than that, however, He was going there to suffer and die (20:18-19). He would be celebrating the Passover for the last time and then giving Himself as the one, final, perfect Passover Lamb, sacrificed for the sins of the whole world (Heb. 7:27).

His arrest, trial, and crucifixion were but a few weeks away. Why, we may wonder, did He take time to minister to two blind beggars? In light of the disciples’ slowness to learn and believe, why did He not spend the last few days alone with them, drilling into them what He so much wanted them to understand?

The reason was His compassion (v. 34). When better could Jesus have demonstrated the depth and breadth of divine compassion than while He was on the way to His crucifixion? The Twelve would one day look back on the healing in Jericho and on all His other acts of mercy and realize that their Lord was never too preoccupied to be compassionate, never in too much of a hurry to heal the afflicted, never in too much agony Himself to be insensitive to the agony of others. That realization itself would be one of the most important lessons they would learn from their Master. In these few verses is found one of the most beautiful portrayals of the loving, compassionate heart of God.

We also see demonstrated in the actions of these two blind men how each of us are to approach the Lord.

1A. The Men (20:29-30)

1B. The blind men and their condition (20:29-30a)

The crowd that followed (20:29)

Ø Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem his disciples and are great crowd of pilgrims followed him.

The condition they were in (20:30a)

Ø They were blind

Ø They were beggars (Mark 10:46)

This is our condition without Christ

Revelation 3:17-18 "Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' -- and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked -- 18 "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

John 3:19-20 19 "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 "For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

We must see our true condition before we will call on Jesus!

2B. The blind men and their conviction (20:30-31)

Their plea (20:30)

Ø They were desperate.

Cried out, (krazo); literally to cry out in anguish; it is the same word to describe the cries of a woman during childbirth

Ø They were broken.

They cried for mercy!

21 times the Psalmist pleads with God for mercy.

Luke 18:13-14 13 "And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' 14 "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Ø They believed

O Lord, Son of David, this was the popular Jewish designation for the Messiah.

Their persistence (20:31)

Ø They would not be denied.

Ø They would not be discouraged.

No one had to beg these men to come to Christ!

Why? Because they were convinced that Jesus was who He said He was and that He alone was their hope.

2A. The Master (20:32-34)

1B. His call (20:32)

Jesus stops for them.

Psalm 4:1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer

Jesus stoops to them.

Isaiah 59:1 Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear.

Psalm 4:3 3 But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself him who is godly; The LORD will hear when I call to Him.

2B. His compassion (20:33-34a)

The Lord’s motive

Ø Not the crowd

Ø Not the worthiness or usefulness of the men.

Ø Not the faith of the men.

Ø His sovereign choice, His compassion!

2 Timothy 1:9 (God) who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,

The Lord’s method

Ø He touched them and they were healed.

3B. His converts (20:34b)

They followed Him

Ø Though many followed Jesus without true faith these men seem a bit different.

They had faith in Him

Mark 10:52 Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.

Well (sozo); to rescue, to deliver.

They glorified Him

Luke 18:43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

Application

We recognize our lost condition.

We are “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked…”

We must humble ourselves before the Lord.

James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

We must cry out to God for mercy.

Psalm 119:145-146 145 I cry out with my whole heart; Hear me, O LORD! I will keep Your statutes. 146 I cry out to You; Save me, and I will keep Your testimonies.

We must trust God to save us.

Isaiah 12:2 Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid…"

Matthew 20:29-34

1A. The _________________________ (20:29-30)

1B. The blind men and their ___________ (20:29-30a)

The crowd that followed (20:29)

Ø Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem his disciples and are great crowd of pilgrims followed him.

The condition they were in (20:30a)

Ø They were _________________________

Ø They were beggars (Mark 10:46)

This is our condition without Christ

Revelation 3:17-18

2 Corinthians 4:3-4

John 3:19-20

We must see our true condition before we will call on Jesus!

2B. The blind men and their ____________ (20:30-31)

Their plea (20:30)

Ø They were _________________________.

They cried for mercy!

Luke 18:13-14

Ø They believed

Their __________________________________ (20:31)

Ø They would not be denied.

Ø They would not be discouraged.

2A. The Master (20:32-34)

1B. His _______________________ (20:32)

Jesus stops for them.

Psalm 4:1

Jesus stoops to them.

Isaiah 59:1

Psalm 4:3

2B. His ____________________________ (20:33-34a)

The Lord’s __________________________