Matthew 20:29-34

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Two Blind Men Healed by Our Lord as He Left Jericho

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. The Lord will never ignore the cry of faith.

  2. The Lord has come to cancel the effects of sin.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Now that you can see, what direction are you traveling?

QUESTIONS

  1. When in our Lord’s ministry did this event take place?

  2. What differences appear when you compare this passage to the parallel passages in Mark 10 and Luke 18?

  3. How many blind men were healed?

  4. Where did this miracle take place?

  5. Why is it significant that the blind men called Jesus the “Son of David”?

  6. What was the purpose of our Lord’s miracles?

ANSWERS

  1. About a week before His crucifixion

  2. The number of blind men healed and where the miracle took place

  3. There were two blind men, but Mark and Luke focus on the one, Bartimaeus, probably because he was more outspoken.

  4. Matthew and Mark say it was as Jesus and His followers were leaving Jericho. Luke, on the other hand, says it was while they were entering Jericho (Luke 18:35). This apparent contradiction can be harmonized when you realize there were two Jerichos at that time. Old Testament Jericho was in ruins. Further along the road to Jerusalem was New Testament Jericho, built by Herod the Great. Most likely the miracle took place where the outskirts of these two Jerichos merged.

  5. Son of David was a Messianic title. They recognized that Jesus was the promised Messiah, who was promised to come from the line of David.

  6. Christ’s miracles proved that He is God and demonstrated what it will be like in the future, when the effects of sin will be removed from this earth.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. This miracle is a picture of salvation. Recall your salvation story. Before you were saved you were spiritually blind and in spiritual darkness. When you exercised faith and believed on Jesus as Savior and Lord you were brought out of darkness into His marvelous light (I Peter 2:9). Share this incredible story with others!

  2. All around us we see disease, death, demonic, and natural disasters – the effects of sin in this world. Discuss how these effects have affected your life. Praise the Lord that all of the effects of sin will be removed in the new heavens and new earth where righteousness dwells (I Peter 3:13)!

CHALLENGE

  1. If you are a believer in Christ, your spiritual blindness has been healed. Now, when you are searching for direction in your life, you know which way to turn. This world will always lead you astray, but you know to follow the Lord.

KEY VERSES

  • “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!” Matthew 20:30

  • “Proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9

Matthew, Talks, New TestamentDeb HarmsMatthew 20:29-34