Matthew 20:30 — Community Reflections

MATTHEW 20:30 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.”

And behold, two blind men sitting by the roadside, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out: Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David! The two blind men of Jericho — sitting by the roadside, hearing that Jesus passes by, crying out — are the contrast to the sighted disciples who cannot see the kingdom's character despite everything they have witnessed. The Son of David title, used by the Canaanite woman (Matthew 15:22) and now by two blind men, is the messianic designation that faith perceives.

Church Fathers on Matthew 20:30

As the proof of the husbandman’s industry lies in the abundance of his crop, so the fulness of the Church is the evidence of an industrious teacher; so it is here said, 'And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.' No one was deterred by the toilsomeness of the journey, for spiritual love feels no fatigue; no one was kept away by the thought of sufferings, for they were going into possession of the kingdom of heaven.
Pseudo-Chrysostom · 5th century

Mark relates this miracle, but speaks of only one blind man. This difficulty is thus explained; of the two blind linen whom Matthew has introduced, one was well known in that city, as appears by Mark’s mentioning both his name, and that of his father. Bartimaeus the son of Timaeus was well known as having sunk from great affluence, and now sitting not only blind, but a beggar. For this reason then it is that Mark chose to mention him alone, because the restoration of his…
Augustine · 4th century · de Cons. Ev., ii, 65

Or, They bid them hold their peace, not from reverence for Christ, but because they were grieved to hear from the blind what they denied, namely, that the Lord was the Son of David.
Hilary of Poitiers · 4th century

Read all 25 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

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