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Explanation for:
Matthew
20
:
34
And Jesus having compassion on them, touched their eyes. And immediately they saw, and followed him.
13
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"He places His hands upon the eyes and, akin to a masterful artist, imparts what nature failed to provide. Conversely, one might argue that what was lost to human frailty was restored through divine compassion. In an instant, they regained their sight and began to trail behind Him. Those who once remained stationary near Jericho, seemingly constrained, subsequently followed Jesus, not merely with their physical steps but through the excellence of their virtues."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"When they revealed their longing, He had compassion on them and reached out to them. This compassion was the fundamental source of all restoration; it was precisely why He entered the world. Yet, despite being the embodiment of mercy and grace, Christ looked for those who were deserving. The worthiness of the blind men is evident from their persistent pleas and from the fact that, once healed, they did not turn away from Him, unlike many who failed to acknowledge His generosity. Indeed, these blind men were different; they remained steadfast in gratitude for His gift and chose to follow Him afterwards."},{"author-name":"Anonymous Commentary (Opus Imperfectum)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Jesus laid His hands upon their eyes. As a true human, He made contact with them in the flesh; as the true Divine, He brought healing through His command. He reached out to them because they recognized Him as the Son of David, and He restored their sight because they placed their trust in His might. The act of healing served dual purposes: it functioned as a reward for their faith and a reminder of the consequences of their disbelief.\\n\\nWhen Christ restored their sight, they were granted a significant blessing. What was this blessing? They chose to follow Him. How could humanity offer anything to God that reflects His goodness, except by fulfilling what He commands through the prophet? It is stated: O man, it has been told you what is good and what the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8). Alongside them, the Lord Jesus also enlightened the minds of the Gentiles, granting them the Holy Spirit's grace. The touch of Christ represents the bestowal of this divine grace. These nations, now illuminated, committed themselves to good works and have never departed from Him since that time. The Lord Jesus also opened the eyes of the Gentiles."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"The blind individuals learned about the Lord through others, and upon hearing that He was nearby, they seized the moment. They held a strong belief that Jesus, a descendant of David in the flesh, had the power to restore their sight. Driven by this deep faith, they did not remain quiet; rather, they called out even more loudly when faced with attempts to silence them. Consequently, the Lord did not inquire if they believed in Him but asked what they desired, ensuring no one could assume that their request differed from what they needed. Through His inquiry, He indicated that they cried out not for material riches, but for healing. By touching them, He demonstrated that every part of His sacred body brings life and divinity. \\n\\nAlthough Luke and Mark reference one blind man, this does not contradict Matthew, as they highlight the more notable individual. Luke recounts that the Lord restored sight before arriving in Jericho, while Mark states it occurred after leaving the city; Matthew, favoring conciseness, addresses both situations simultaneously. The blind men symbolize the Gentiles who came to believe in Christ, being spiritually healed by Him along their journey. While Christ’s mission primarily focused on the people of Israel, the Gentiles, like the blind, recognized and trusted Him through what they heard. Those who sought to silence the blind and failed to proclaim Jesus’s name represent the adversaries of Christians. They aimed to stifle the church's voice, yet it boldly declared the name of Christ even more fervently. For this reason, the church found healing; it was illuminated by the truth and began to follow Christ, reflecting His ways in its life."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"They were not only tenacious but also worthy, as they followed Christ in thankfulness for the grace extended to them. It is suggested that one of these two blind individuals, referred to as Bartimaeus, is noted by Mark in the tenth chapter (Mark 10:46) and by Luke in the eighteenth chapter (Luke 18:35) of his Gospel; the other is not identified, possibly as the companion of the first, similar to the account of the two demoniacs in the eighth chapter. This perspective is supported by the fact that both blind men expressed the same words and followed Christ in a similar fashion. Upon careful reflection on this matter, I propose that the blind man cited by Mark is distinct from the two mentioned, and likewise, the one referred to by Luke is different from the one described by Mark. The individual identified in Mark quickly cast aside his outer cloak and received healing without a physical touch from Christ, while the one from Luke did not experience healing as Jesus was leaving Jericho, but rather as He was entering. This hypothesis is further affirmed by Chrysostom, who does not comment on their being entirely separate figures."},{"author-name":"Theophan the Recluse","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8983a6e0f4c3aecaae3fc_Theophan%20the%20Recluse.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The two blind individuals from Jericho called out, and the Lord restored their sight. Yet, were they the only ones in that vicinity? Certainly not. What was it that enabled these blind men to regain their vision while others remained in darkness? It was their bold cry for help; those lacking the courage to seek assistance were left unhealed, their wavering confidence stemming from a place of not pleasing God, which in turn was rooted in their feeble faith. Those who possess genuine faith will simultaneously begin to earn God’s favor, and with that favor comes trust; from this trust arises prayer, which draws forth divine aid. There is no denial of such requests. They understand how to petition wisely, they grasp the significance of their requests, and they maintain a steadfast commitment to prayer. All these elements are crucial for achieving success; relying solely on prayer lacks strength."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"\\"Having compassion\\": This compassion was the fundamental reason behind all healing; it was for this purpose that He entered the world. Jesus Christ, this embodied mercy and grace, sought out those who were deserving. The worthiness of the blind men is clear both from their intensified cries and from the fact that after receiving healing, they did not depart from Jesus Christ, unlike many who were ungrateful for His blessings but followed Him instead. Therefore, dear ones, understand that regardless of how destitute and marginalized we may feel, if we approach God with genuine perseverance, we can request from Him whatever we need. Let us also have faith like these blind men. Even if God is slow in granting His gifts, and many attempt to dissuade us from the path of prayer, let us remain steadfast in our supplications, for through this perseverance, we will obtain favor with God. Observe the blind men, and you will witness that their poverty, blindness, doubts about being heard, and the opposition from the crowd could not deter them. Such is the fervent and enduring spirit!"},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"JESUS, moved by compassion for the blind men, reached out to touch their eyes and spoke the familiar words, ‘Your faith shall save you.’ Consequently, their sight was restored, and they began to follow Him, filled with a profound sense of gratitude, accompanying their Savior."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"...and Jesus, out of compassion, reached out and touched their eyes; instantly their vision was restored, and they began to follow Him, glorifying God; and the crowd, witnessing this miracle, joined in offering praise to God (Luke 18:43)."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"“Rabbuni,” the man answered, addressing Jesus with the highest title he could bestow, “that I may see.” “Go,” replied Christ, “your faith has healed you.” He placed His hands on their eyes, and instantly they received their sight and began to follow Him, praising God."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The Lord was filled with compassion, and as He reached out to their eyes, He uttered His familiar words that affirm the magnificent act of His omnipotence: ‘Go, your faith has healed you.’ The blind were granted sight, and in their gratefulness for the gift of their healer, they joined Him on the path alongside the throng of people, serving as a living testament to His divine authority for all to witness."},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The narratives from the evangelists regarding this episode present two distinctions. First, Matthew references two blind men who received healing, whereas Mark and Luke focus on one individual. Additionally, while Matthew and Mark indicate that the occurrence happened as they were departing the city, Luke states that it occurred upon entering. It is clear that there were indeed two men who were healed, but in the early church tradition, the name of one, Bartimaeus, is notably retained in Mark’s account. Consequently, the recollection of this event in apostolic times often became associated with only Bartimaeus. Regarding the second distinction, it can be elucidated by the view that the event unfolded in two separate moments, both in different times and locations. Initially, the blind men cried out to the Lord, seeking His healing as He entered the city; however, the Lord, to test their faith, did not respond to them at that moment. Later, as He was exiting the city, the blind men called out again, leading the Lord to summon them and grant them healing. The accounts of the healing are complementary among the Evangelists. When the blind men perceived a crowd passing along the road, they inquired about what was happening (Luke). Upon learning that it was Jesus of Nazareth, they began to cry out, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!” The crowd attempted to silence them—likely because Jesus was teaching those around Him and everyone wished to hear His words. Nevertheless, the blind men persisted in their pleas, pleading for His mercy. Eventually, the Lord called them to Him, and those nearby encouraged them, saying, “Do not be afraid, rise up, He is calling you.” The assurance that the Lord was summoning them instilled confidence in the blind men that He would bring them healing. Eager to reach their Healer more swiftly, they removed their outer garments to facilitate their movement (Mark). Once aware of their request, the Lord touched their eyes (Matthew) and proclaimed, “Go, your faith has saved you” (Mark, Luke). Immediately, the blind men regained their sight and followed Jesus, glorifying God."},{"author-name":"Alexander Gorsky","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8884037c1e1c51e1332e2_Alexander%20Gorsky.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"As they made their way through Jericho, accompanied by a large crowd, the Lord and His disciples were approximately six hours away from Jerusalem. When they neared the city, a voice called out, \\"Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!\\" This was the plea of a blind beggar named Bartimaeus. He addressed Jesus with the significant title of Son of David, recognizing Him as the Messiah. The onlookers, who viewed the Messiah in their own limited understanding rather than as He revealed Himself to His followers, attempted to silence the beggar, urging him not to bother Jesus with his persistent cries. Nevertheless, Bartimaeus continued to plead, \\"Son of David, have mercy on me.\\" At last, Jesus halted, directed that the man be brought to Him, and upon inquiring about his needs, restored his sight."}]}
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