Luke 18:35-43 · Bible study
Luke 18:35-43 Commentary: Seeing Jesus
Greek · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Study Luke 18:35, 43: the healing of a blind beggar who recognizes Jesus as Messiah, contrasted with the disciples’ spiritual blindness.
Research Summary
- Meaning: A blind beggar, by calling Jesus “Son of David,” displays faith that leads to both physical healing and spiritual restoration, and becomes a model for discipleship.
- Key words: Son of David (Messianic title), mercy, faith (pistis), saved/healed (sōzō), receive sight (anablepō), praise.
- Main debate: Harmonizing the number of blind men (one in Luke/Mark, two in Matthew) and the location (entering vs. leaving Jericho).
- Theological theme: Faith as the means of recognizing Jesus’ identity and receiving his salvation; the irony of spiritual blindness among the seeing.
- Best use: A vivid illustration of persistent, faith-filled prayer and the proper response to Jesus’ saving power.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
35As Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting beside the road, begging.
36When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening.
37“Jesus of Nazareth is passing by,” they told him.
38So he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
39Those who led the way admonished him to be silent, but he cried out all the louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
40Jesus stopped and directed that the man be brought to Him. When he had been brought near, Jesus asked him,
41“What do you want Me to do for you?” “Lord,” he said, “let me see again.”
42“Receive your sight!” Jesus replied. “Your faith has healed you.”
43Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, glorifying God. And all the people who saw this gave praise to God.
WEB World English Bible 2000
35As he came near Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the road, begging.
36Hearing a multitude going by, he asked what this meant.
37They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.
38He cried out, “Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!”
39Those who led the way rebuked him, that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “You son of David, have mercy on me!”
40Standing still, Jesus commanded him to be brought to him. When he had come near, he asked him,
41“What do you want me to do?” He said, “Lord, that I may see again.”
42Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you.”
43Immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw it, praised God.
KJV King James Version 1769
35And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:
36And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.
37And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.
38And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
39And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
40And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,
41Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
42And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.
43And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
35And it came to pass, as he drew nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:
36and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant.
37And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.
38And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.
39And they that went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried out the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.
40And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,
41What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
42And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath made thee whole.
43And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
35And it came to pass, in his coming nigh to Jericho, a certain blind man was sitting beside the way begging,
36and having heard a multitude going by, he was inquiring what this may be,
37and they brought him word that Jesus the Nazarene doth pass by,
38and he cried out, saying, `Jesus, Son of David, deal kindly with me;'
39and those going before were rebuking him, that he might be silent, but he was much more crying out, `Son of David, deal kindly with me.'
40And Jesus having stood, commanded him to be brought unto him, and he having come nigh, he questioned him,
41saying, `What wilt thou I shall do to thee?' and he said, `Sir, that I may receive sight.'
42And Jesus said to him, `Receive thy sight; thy faith hath saved thee;'
43and presently he did receive sight, and was following him, glorifying God; and all the people, having seen, did give praise to God.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
35And it came to pass when he came into the neighbourhood of Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the wayside begging.
36And when he heard the crowd passing, he inquired what this might be.
37And they told him that Jesus the Nazaraean was passing by.
38And he called out saying, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.
39And those [who were] going before rebuked him that he might be silent; but he cried out so much the more, Son of David, have mercy on me.
40And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be led to him. And when he drew nigh he asked him [saying],
41What wilt thou that I shall do to thee? And he said, Lord, that I may see.
42And Jesus said to him, See: thy faith has healed thee.
43And immediately he saw, and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people when they saw [it] gave praise to God.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
35Now it came to pass, when he drew nigh to Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the way side, begging.
36And when he heard the multitude passing by, he asked what this meant.
37And they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.
38And he cried out, saying: Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.
39And they that went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried out much more: Son of David, have mercy on me.
40And Jesus standing, commanded him to be brought unto him. And when he was come near, he asked him,
41Saying; What wilt thou that I do to thee? But he said: Lord, that I may see.
42And Jesus said to him: Receive thy sight: thy faith hath made thee whole.
43And immediately he saw and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Luke 18:35
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this account presents the blind man as a model of faith. The Cambridge Bible notes that his use of the title “Son of David” indicates strong Messianic faith. The crowd’s rebuke only intensifies his cry, as Jamieson-Fausset-Brown observe, his importunity is the kind Jesus elsewhere commends. Vincent’s Word Studies highlights the force of the Greek verb ekrazen (“was crying out”), denoting a clamorous, insistent shout. Jesus stops, commands the man to be brought near, and asks what he wants, a question intended, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown suggest, to draw out his conscious need and faith. Jesus then declares, “Your faith has saved you.” The Greek sesōken (perfect tense) indicates a completed action with continuing results: the man is both physically healed and, in a deeper sense, brought into right relation with God. The immediate result is that he follows Jesus, glorifying God, and the people join in praise. Matthew Henry applies the scene spiritually: Christ came not only to give sight to blind souls but to heal the organ itself.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: A blind beggar near Jericho called Jesus “Son of David,” asked for mercy, received his sight, and responded by following Jesus and glorifying God.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Number of blind beggars | Luke and Mark mention one blind man (Bartimaeus in Mark); Matthew mentions two healings at Jericho, but the core miracle is consistent. | Whether Matthew records a separate event with two men, or appends a second individual to the same story for different emphasis. |
| Location of the healing | The event takes place somewhere near Jericho, during Jesus’ final journey to Jerusalem for Passover. | Luke says “as he came near Jericho”; Matthew and Mark say “as they went out from Jericho.” Some harmonize by noting Jesus could have passed through the city, with the healing occurring at one of the city gates. |
| Meaning of “your faith has saved you” | The phrase connects the man’s trust in Jesus with his healing, and is a pronouncement of a restored relationship with God. | Some traditions emphasize physical healing as the primary meaning (the Greek <em>sōzō</em> often means “make well”); others see spiritual salvation as the deeper referent, with the healing as a sign. |
| The crowd’s rebuke | The crowd tries to silence the blind man, but he persists, and Jesus honors his persistence. | Whether the crowd was motivated by social prejudice against beggars, a desire to control access to Jesus, or a misunderstanding of Jesus’ mission. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Luke places this event immediately after Jesus’ third prediction of his passion (18:31, 34). The disciples “understood none of these things”, they were spiritually blind. At Jericho, a key city on the road from Galilee to Jerusalem, Jesus encounters a literal blind man. Jericho was a prosperous oasis, a place where beggars might gather at the entrance to seek alms from pilgrims traveling to the Passover. The man’s persistent cry for mercy echoes Psalm 6:2 and other laments. The title “Son of David” was a messianic title rooted in 2 Samuel 7:12, 16 and Psalm 89, widely expected of the coming deliverer. By using this title, the blind man openly confesses Jesus as the Messiah.
The crowd’s attempt to silence him likely reflects both social disdain for beggars and perhaps reluctance to acknowledge Jesus publicly in such terms. Jesus’ response, stopping, commanding the man to be brought, asking a question, demonstrates his attentiveness to the marginalized. The healing is immediate (parachrēma), and the man’s response is to follow and praise God. The people also praise, fulfilling a pattern Luke often notes (5:26; 7:16; 13:17; 17:15; 23:47). This event deepens the irony: those who can see do not understand the Messiah’s mission; the blind man sees who Jesus truly is.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this passage. The account is stable across Greek manuscripts and the major translations.
Reception History
This story has been treasured as a model of persistent, faith-filled prayer. The Cambridge Bible notes that Van Oosterzee calls the blind man’s cry “the Kyrie Eleison of the soul,” and Longfellow’s poem “Blind Bartimaeus” weaves the Greek phrases into English verse. The title “Son of David” became a key confession in early Christian proclamation. Commentators from Quesnel (quoted by Adam Clarke) to Matthew Henry have seen the man’s healing as a picture of spiritual conversion: Christ opens blind eyes and gives a tongue for praise. The phrase “your faith has saved you” has been central in discussions of salvation by faith across Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox traditions, though often with different emphases on the relation between faith, healing, and grace.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- A plea from the margins, The blind beggar, ignored by most, cries out to Jesus using the Messianic title “Son of David.”
- Faith that will not be silenced, The crowd’s rebuke only intensifies his cry; persistence is the shape of real trust.
- Healing and praise, Jesus not only restores his sight but pronounces him saved; the result is worship and testimony.
Five-point outline
- Location and need, The man is blind, poor, and sitting by the road outside Jericho.
- Hearing and asking, He hears the crowd, learns who is passing, and calls out.
- Confrontation and persistence, The crowd tries to quiet him; he cries out even more.
- Jesus’ attention and question, Jesus stops, calls him forward, and asks what he wants.
- Healing, faith, and response, The man receives sight, follows Jesus, and glorifies God; the people praise God.
Illustration hooks
- A person overlooked by others who keeps asking for help until someone finally listens.
- A child repeatedly calling for a parent’s attention even when told to be quiet.
- Someone who, after a diagnosis, refuses to stop seeking a second opinion despite discouragement.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does God hear me when I feel invisible or unimportant?
- Why does the crowd try to silence the blind man, and when have I done the same?
- What is the relationship between physical healing and spiritual salvation in this story?
Leading a Discussion
This passage sits right after Jesus’ prediction of his suffering and death. The disciples are confused and afraid. Then a blind man sees what they cannot. As you work through the story, notice how Luke highlights faith, persistence, and the proper response to Jesus.
Discussion questions
- What do we learn about the blind man from the details Luke provides (his situation, his reaction, his words)?
- Why do you think the blind man calls Jesus “Son of David”? What does this title mean in this context?
- The crowd tries to quiet him. Why? What does their reaction reveal about their understanding of Jesus?
- Jesus asks him, “What do you want me to do for you?” Why does Jesus ask when the need seems obvious?
- Jesus says, “Your faith has saved you.” In what ways is the healing more than just physical restoration?
- How does the man’s response (following, glorifying God) differ from what we might expect from someone who just gets what they want?
- Compare the disciples’ blindness (v.34) with the blind man’s sight. What does this tell us about true seeing?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| I Samuel 2:8 | He raises up the poor out of the dust. He lifts up the needy from the dunghill to make them sit with princes and inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are Yahweh’s. He has set the world on them. |
| Matthew 20:29 | As they went out from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. |
| Matthew 20:34 | Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and immediately their eyes received their sight, and they followed him. |
| Mark 10:46 | They came to Jericho. As he went out from Jericho with his disciples and a great multitude, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the road. |
| Mark 10:52 | Jesus said to him, “Go your way. Your faith has made you well.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the way. |
| Luke 16:20 | A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was taken to his gate, full of sores, |
| Luke 16:21 | and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores. |
| Luke 19:1 | He entered and was passing through Jericho. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
6 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke observes that common people often grasp God’s work better than learned religious leaders, who are blinded by pride and self-interest. He then stresses that true conversion, marked by humility and faith in the great atonement, makes God’s power known more than any external miracle, and is the only way even the worst sinner finds acceptance.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes does not offer any distinct comment on this verse. Instead he directs the reader to his notes on a parallel passage, treating the two accounts as so similar that a single explanation covers both.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator addresses the apparent discrepancy between Luke (Jesus approaching Jericho) and Mark/Matthew (leaving Jericho) by noting the existence of two Jerichos, an old and a new town. He follows Chrysostom in arguing that such differences prove the Evangelists’ mutual independence rather than error.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB highlights how the blind men's persistent shouting, despite being rebuked, mirrors the importunity Jesus elsewhere praises. He points to Mark's eyewitness detail of the man casting away his garment as a vivid sign of earnest joy. Jesus' question deepens their sense of need and draws out their faith.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange emphasizes that the disciples' failure to understand Jesus' prediction was not a lack of hearing but a stubbornness of heart. Their spiritual
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent notes that the Greek word for "cried" in this verse is far stronger than a simple shout—it means to scream or shriek with clamor. He also observes that Luke uniquely uses the phrase "to be brought unto" as a medical term for bringing the sick to a physician, reflecting careful attention to healing language.