Untitled Sermon (4

Matthew 20:29-34

Overlooked. Many of us know remember what it feels like to be chosen last in athletic endeavors in elementary school. I’ve watched high school sports for years. I notice that some players try and position themselves as close to the coach as possible - hoping to be seen so they might be inserted into the game.

At work we all want to stand out - to be noticed and appreciated for our effort and contribution. There are those times when regardless of how hard we worked, how carefully we tried.

In our communities we crave respect and we want to be noticed.

At church we want others to pay attention to us, to really hear us and see us as we are.

As Jesus and His followers began the uphill trek to Jerusalem from Jericho (about a 3500 ft climb in 15 miles) one last incident deserves our attention.

Matthew 20:29–34 (HCSB)

As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him. There were two blind men sitting by the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!”

The crowd told them to keep quiet, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!”

Jesus stopped, called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” “Lord,” they said to Him, “open our eyes!” Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they could see, and they followed Him.

According to the CDC approximately 12 million American adults are blind or experiencing major sight loss.

One Bible dictionary has this entry on Blindness:

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Blindness)

The suffering of the blind person was made worse by the common belief that the affliction was due to sin (John 9:1–3).

Because of their severe handicap, blind persons had little opportunity to earn a living. A blind man was even ineligible to become a priest (Lev. 21:18). Frequently, the blind became beggars (Mark 10:46).

Two blind men, occupying a place from which they could beg for resources, heard a commotion.

Jesus and His followers were headed out of town.

Blindness does not equal ignorance. These two men heard the crowd, they likely had heard of a miracle working man travelling in the area.

However they heard about Jesus. knowing He was passing by they took advantage of the opportunity.

Their cry:

“ Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David.”

We learn from this a couple of things:

a). they recognized Jesus as a significant and important person. In the NT ‘lord’ doesn’t always carry a religious meaning. It often is used addressing someone of superior status.

b). they acknowledge that they need ‘mercy.

‘Mercy’ translates a common Greek word asking for consideration due to an affliction that is undeserved.

These blind men may have asked others for ‘mercy’ as well, hoping for some money to use for their basic necessities.

c). Identifying Jesus as ‘Son of David’ tells us that these men had a basic Jewish view that God would send a Messiah, the Anointed One who would come to restore the world to its proper relationship with God.

The crowd has a role to play. Their response is the demand these two blind men be silent.

Perhaps they thought Jesus too busy to be distracted.

We have seen how the disciples had sought to ‘protect’ Jesus from those who could not offer Him anything of importance:

Matthew 19:13 HCSB

Then children were brought to Him so He might put His hands on them and pray. But the disciples rebuked them.

The crowd’s insistence didn’t silence these two. Rather, the crowds demands to be silent made the men Mall the more insistent - Matthew 20:31

Matthew 20:31 HCSB

The crowd told them to keep quiet, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!”

Jesus stops. Though it isn’t recorded, the crowd must have stopped as well. It is likely that a silence fell over the crowd as they wondered what Jesus was about to do.

Jesus called them. He spoke directly to them.

He asked a question: ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’

This is the same question Jesus had asked of John and James’ mother just a few hours prior (see Matthew 20:21).

The two men answer -

Matthew 20:33 HCSB

“Lord,” they said to Him, “open our eyes!”

aIn tenth century Spain, Abd al-Rahman III summed up his life at age 70 like this:

“I have now reigned above 50 years in victory or peace; beloved by my subjects, dreaded by my enemies, and respected by my allies. Riches and honors, power and pleasure, have waited on my call.”

And the payoff? “I have diligently numbered the days of pure and genuine happiness which have fallen to my lot,” he wrote. “They amount to 14.”

(Quoted by Arthur Brooks, https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/03/why-we-are-never-satisfied-happiness/621304/, accessed on 2/17/22.)

These two men knew exactly what they wanted. They wanted to see! They wanted their eyes opened to all that was going on around them - the good, the bad, and the ugly, if you will.

This is not the first time Jesus has been confronted with blindness (see Matthew 9, Matthew 12).

This time, however, Matthew records that Jesus was ‘moved with compassion.’

In the NT this word is only used of Jesus and

“It is always used to describe the attitude of Jesus and it characterises the divine nature of His acts.”

Helmut Köster, “Σπλάγχνον, Σπλαγχνίζομαι, Εὔσπλαγχνος, Πολύσπλαγχνος, Ἄσπλαγχνος,” in Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, ed. Gerhard Kittel, Geoffrey W. Bromiley, and Gerhard Friedrich (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1964–), 553.

Because of His divine nature, using a power unique to His oneness with His Father, Jesus touches their eyes and ‘immediately they could see.’

Leaving whatever life they had in Jericho these two followed Jesus.

Two Takeaways

As I look more closely at the incident in Matthew 20:29-34 of Jesus’ healing of two blind men I am struck by a couple of things:

First, the opportunistic request. We have information as to how these two men had heard of Jesus. We assume that Jesus’ words and deeds were being discussed all through the region based on the following:

Regularly Matthew records that large crowds followed Jesus from place to place; he also writes of other miracles performed in public spaces; and he notes that the crowds were often amazed at Jesus’ teaching

– for example: “When Jesus had finished this sermon, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, because He was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like their scribes.” (Matthew 7:28–29, HCSB)

However these men had heard, when it became clear to them that Jesus was passing by they seized the opportunity.

Second, the specific request. A number of years ago I was in a meeting with Sen Ron Wyden and just about 15-16 people. After he spoke briefly he opened the floor to questions. I, being a little star-struck, mumbled a question (and I can’t even remember what I asked!).

These two were direct and to the point: We want to see!

Being Seen

No one wants to be left out. Belonging is crucial to being all God has made us to be.

There is a reason the OT focuses often on the tribal identity and the family identity of individuals -

For one example: When Achan violated God’s command during the battle for Jericho, Joshua and the leaders began a thorough investigation. First, they called out a specific tribe - Judah. Next from the tribe of Judah they chose the clan of Zerah, then the family of Zabdi. Man after man came forward till Achan was identified as the one who had sinned (Joshua 7:16-ff).

The point: God knew specifically who had sinned. God’s people needed to know that no matter how small and insignificant you might feel, God sees.

Multiple times in the accounts of Jesus’ healing we read how He touched someone, how He spoke to the one being healed. We might imagine Jesus having the ability simply to wave a hand in the air and create healing.

Jesus usually interacted - one on one - with those being healed.

The crowds did their best to keep these two from distracting Jesus.

These two refused to be hushed, they were persuaded that they would be seen.

Having been seen, they are given the gift of sight

Jesus was insistent on heading to Jerusalem. Nothing would keep Him from His appointed hour.

Jesus’ question (vs 32) seems a little much. He knew they were blind. So, why did He ask what they wanted?

Instead of being tongue tied they asked for that which they longed for - their sight.

Everytime we open God’s Word, every time God’s people come togehter we can hear God asking: What do you want me to do for you?

]What is the most urgent need in your life right now?

Are you willing to ask? James, the brother of Jesus reminds us that James 4:1-3

James 4:1–3 HCSB

What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don’t they come from the cravings that are at war within you? You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your evil desires.

That these two blind men asked with right motives is clear from how they responded: The immediately left their old pattern and place of life to follow Him.

Seeing, being able to take in all that was happening around them, their first instinct was to let the past be past and to follow Jesus.

God sees you -

Right where you are, God sees you.

What will you ask of Him today:

The blind men asked for something they knew only God could do - give them sight.

What is one thing only God can do for you…ask Him today...