Bible Study series: Luke 18:37-43. Jesus healed many people. Receive your healing from him, no matter the ailment.
Friendly greetings and a warm welcome to this Bible study! I write to learn, so let’s learn together.
I also translate to learn. The translations are mine, unless otherwise noted. If you would like to see many others, please click here:
In the next link to the original chapter, I comment more and offer the Greek text. At the bottom you will find a “Summary and Conclusion” section geared toward discipleship. Check it out!
In this post, links are provided for further study.
Let’s begin.
Scripture: Luke 18:35-43
35 And so it happened that while he was nearing Jericho, a certain blind man was sitting by the road, begging. 36 When he heard the crowd passing through, he asked what this might be. 37 They announced to him that Jesus the Nazarene was passing by. 38 So he cried out, “Jesus, son of David! Have mercy on me!” 39 But those leading the way scolded him so that he would be quiet. He shouted much louder: “Son of David! Have mercy on me!” 40 Jesus stopped and ordered him to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, that I may see again!” 42 And Jesus said to him, “See again! Your faith has healed you.” 43 And instantly he saw again and began to follow him, glorifying God. And all the people, seeing this, gave praise to God. (Luke 18:35-43)
Comments:
In the next chapter, Luke names a man from Jericho, Zacchaeus, but here he does not name the blind man, though Mark does. Why? See v. 35 for possible answers.
In any case, this is a very moving scene in its immediate reality and earthiness.
35:
Mark identifies the blind beggar as Bartimaeus (literally son of Timaeus). Why did Mark know his name, while Luke does not mention it? It is likely that (healed) Bartimaeus was known in the early Christian community with whom Mark or Peter (or both) was associated. Luke may not have known him or knew anyone who did when was researching his Gospel. And if he got this story from Mark’s Gospel which was based on Peter’s preaching, Luke may have omitted his name for reasons we don’t know or he considered it was a needless detail. Alternatively, Luke may have heard this story by another route than Mark’s Gospel, and Bartimaeus’s name was lost because he was unknown to Luke and the community he found to do his research.
See Mark 10 for fuller commentary:
Let’s call him Bartimaeus here.
By analogy, yes, Luke found out who Zacchaeus was and named him (Luke 19:1-10), another inhabitant of Jericho, but apparently Luke researched this prominent official and included his name. In other words, it’s easy to spot why a Gospel writer includes details (he researched them himself), but not why he omits details (he may not have discovered them or he has another purpose we can’t figure out).
Jericho was a busy town on a busy road, so Bartimaeus chose a good spot.
These is some dispute about whether Jesus was entering or leaving Jericho. Luke 19:1 says he was coming in and passing through the city. For a possible answer to the dispute, please click on this post and see the comments on Matt. 20:29-34.
36-37:
Bartimaeus heard the commotion that was beyond the ordinary. It was a bigger crowd, for the pilgrimage to Jerusalem before Passover. Excitement filled the air. He naturally asked what all of the noise meant. Those leading the way reported or announced or informed (the verb can be translated by those terms) that Jesus was passing by. Bartimaeus had heard about him. Healers / teachers who get results get attention.
“Somehow the blind man connects the dots from ‘Jesus the Nazarene’ to the ‘Son of David’” (Garland, comment on 18:36-38).
38-39:
And on the instance that he heard Jesus was passing by, Bartimaeus cried out, the Greek implying a loud voice. “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me. The phrase “have mercy” is one verb in Greek. In English we can’t properly say, “Compassion me!” or “Mercy me!” Instead we have to say, “Show me mercy!” or Have mercy on me!” But in Greek you could. Mercy is a verb. It takes action. However, we can say, “Pity me!” And some translations go for it.
But the leaders of the crowd, no doubt saying, “Make way for the Master!” maybe took the front to help out or to show off a little. “Someone important is in the crowd, and we’re leading the way for him. His importance rubs off on us!” But there’s too little information for us to know whether they had this motive. Whatever the case, they told Bartimaeus to keep quiet. “Quiet, you! The Lord is in a big hurry! He doesn’t have time for the likes of you!” They were the self-appointed watchdogs of Jesus’s ministry, telling people to schedule an appointment.
“scolded”: scroll back up to v. 15 and look for “rebuked.”
But Bartimaeus was having none of it. He cried out even much louder. His need was greater than their censure. What about you? Is your need greater than social decorum? Are you willing to break down society’s walls to get to Jesus?
40-42:
Thankfully, Jesus ignored the self-appointed watchdogs of Jesus’s ministry schedule and stopped. He ordered people to bring Bartimaeus to him. Then Jesus asked a question that was so obvious that it seems absurd to us today and probably to the crowd back then. “What do you me to do for you? So what does this mean? The question is open-ended.
Sometimes hotshot preachers try to out-insight the inspired writers of Scripture. “This a dumb and useless question! Everyone knows what the blind man wanted!” Morris, however, has the right idea: “Asked to put his desire into words, the man crystallized his longing, Lord, let me receive my sight” (comment on vv. 40-41, emphasis original).
Jesus simply commanded with the same verb that Bartimaeus used: “See again!” It is the simple aorist (past as in a firm command) imperative, a command. I like the symmetry. If Jesus ever asks you by his Spirit what you want him to do for you, be sure to ask properly and accurately. Make your answer short, like Bartimaeus did.
“saved”: scroll back up to v. 26 for more comments. The verb is versatile, but here it means “healed” or “delivered” or “cured.”
What was the channel through Bartimaeus was healed? His faith. How did he show his faith? He cried out and shouted. He felt his faith or conviction so deeply that he ignored or shouted over the naysayers and watchdogs who shushed him.
43:
This is a great and understandable response from him and the crowd.
Word Study on Praise and Worship
Bible Basics about Praise and Worship
GrowApp for Luke 18:35-43
1. How desperate are you to receive a healing touch from God? Would you break down society’s rules and the naysayers to approach Jesus?
2. Why did Jesus ask what Bartimaeus wanted Jesus to do for him? How would you respond if he asked you? Do you really know what you need, say, in your heart?
RELATED
11. Eyewitness Testimony in Luke’s Gospel
3. Church Fathers and Luke’s Gospel
14. Similarities among John’s Gospel and the Synoptic Gospels
1. The Historical Reliability of the Gospels: Introduction to Series
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND MORE
To see the bibliography, please click on this link and scroll down to the bottom. You will also find a “Summary and Conclusion” for discipleship.
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