Matthew 20:18-34

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 20:27

The moral greatness of service. There was nothing more characteristic of the teaching of Jesus, perhaps we may even say, nothing more novel in his teaching, than his reversion of the common notions of service. All the world over, and all the ages through, the ordinary man has seen dignity in "being served," and has seen a kind of indignity in "serving." This has come about in two ways. 1 . Through the exaggerated importance given to self . A man has come to be of more interest to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 20:28

Even as. Christ adduces his own example as a pattern of profound humility. To minister. By his incarnation Christ assumed the lowliest life of man. He took upon himself the form of a servant, and was ever active in ministering to others' wants, going about doing good, healing the sick, cleansing lepers, casting out demons; always accessible, sympathetic, merciful; never weary of teaching, however fatigued in body; a servant to the race which he came to save. A ransom for many; λυ ì ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 20:28

Christ the Servant and the Ransom. The immediate application of these words is to confirm the previous assertion of the nature of true greatness in the kingdom of heaven. But they are so intensely significant that they claim our attention on their own account. I. CHRIST THE SERVANT . This startling conjunction of titles is suggested even in the Old Testament, in the latter part of Isaiah. Jesus realizes the singular prophecy in deeper humility and self-denial. In the prophet the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 20:29

Jericho . The Lord was on his way to Jerusalem to meet the death which he was willing to undergo, and to win the victory which he was by this path to accomplish. His route lay through Jericho, as the march of his forerunner Joshua had led. Joshua had set forth to conquer the promised land; Jesus sets forth to win his promised inheritance by the sword of the Spirit. "The upland pastures of Peraea were now behind them," says Dr. Geikie, speaking of the approach to Jericho ('The Life of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 20:29-34

Healing of two blind men at Jericho . ( Mark 10:46-52 ; Luke 18:35-43 .) The miracle narrated in this passage is common to the three synoptists, but with some remarkable differences, not one of them agreeing altogether in details. St. Matthew speaks of two blind men, St. Luke and St. Mark of one only, and the latter mentions this one by name as Bartimaeus. St. Matthew and St. Mark make the miracle performed as Jesus quitted Jericho; St. Luke assigns it to the approach to the city.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 20:29-34

The two blind men. I. JERICHO . The Lord had come to Jericho, the famous city of the palm trees, the first city taken by Joshua in his career of conquest. Now in Jericho a greater Joshua opened the eyes of the blind, and brought the good news of peace and reconciliation with God to the house of the publican; and from Jericho he went up to the holy city to meet a mightier foe than any who ever fell before the sword of Joshua—to triumph over sin and Satan by the power of the most holy cross.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 20:29-34

The blind men of Jericho. Jesus is now at Jericho on his last journey to Jerusalem. When he visited the sacred city a few months before, he cured a blind man, and the miracle led to an important investigation and vindication of the powers of Christ ( John 9:1-41 .). It is likely that the fame of it reached to Jericho, and that this inspired the faith and hope of the blind beggars. Let us follow them through the course of the incident. I. THEIR HELPLESS CONDITION . 1 . These... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 20:29-34

Community and unity. Journeying to Jerusalem to the Passover, Jesus, with his apostles and other disciples following, was also followed by a crowd. This grew into "a great multitude" as he moved out from the populous town of Jericho. In the scene here described we may study— I. COMMUNITY IN VARIOUS PHASES . 1 . We see it here in excitement . 2 . We see it here also in suffering . 3 . And we see it in contention . (a) Importunity. The stream of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 20:30

Two blind men. St. Matthew is doubtless accurate in this statement. Tradition might easily drop one of the sufferers in the course of time, but it is not likely to have multiplied one into two. These sufferers had heard of the miracles of healing performed by Jesus in his various circuits, and especially of the late cure at Jerusalem of one born blind, and they were ready to believe in his power and to profit by his mercy. Heard . The beggars ( Mark 10:46 ), debarred from sight, had... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 20:31

Rebuked them, because ( ἱ ì να , in order that ) they should hold their peace. The motive of the crowd, in thus silencing the blind men, has been explained in two ways—either they grudged that Christ should be addressed by the high title of "Son of David;" or they desired to spare him unseemly importunity and unreasonable interruption in his journey. As the multitude show no signs of hostility at this time, the latter suggestion seems most probable. They cried the more. The... read more

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