Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 20:29-30

"And as they went out from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. And behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, Lord, have mercy on us, thou son of David." — Matthew 20:29-30 (ASV)

On Jericho a curse had rested, but the presence of Jesus brought it a blessing. We suppose He had to go through Jericho, just as once before He had to go through Samaria. Our Lord departed from Jericho, and a vast crowd attended Him, for His fame had spread far and wide. Nothing striking is noted concerning His actions until two beggars came upon the scene. Mercy needs misery to give it an occasion to work.

Behold, two blind men sitting by the wayside. They could not behold Jesus, but we are asked to behold them. They had taken up a hopeful position by the wayside, for there they would be likely to hear any good news, and there they would be seen by the compassionate. They had ears, even if they did not have eyes, and they used their hearing well. When they inquired, they learned that Jesus was passing by. Believing that He could restore their sight, they grew earnest in prayer to Him and cried out. Their plea was for pity: "Have mercy on us."

Their appeal was to the royal heart of Jesus: "O Lord, you son of Israel." Our Lord’s sermon was interrupted by the repeated outcries of these two blind beggars of Jericho, but this never displeased Him. Neither would true preachers of the Gospel be disconcerted if some of their hearers were to cry out with similar eagerness for salvation.

On Jericho a curse had rested, but the presence of Jesus brought it a blessing. We suppose he had to go through Jericho, just as once before he had to go through Samaria. Our Lord departed from Jericho, and a vast crowd attended him; for his fame had spread far and wide. Nothing striking is noted concerning his actions until two beggars came upon the scene. Mercy needs misery to give it an occasion to work. Behold, two blind men sitting by the wayside.

They could not behold Jesus, but we are asked to behold them. They had taken up a hopeful position by the wayside, for there they would be likely to hear any good news, and there they would be seen by the compassionate. They had ears, if they did not have eyes, and they used their hearing well.

On enquiry, they learned that Jesus passed by. Believing that he could restore their sight, they grew earnest in prayer to him: they cried out. Their plea was for pity: "Have mercy on us." Their appeal was to the royal heart of Jesus: "O Lord, thou son of David."

Our Lord's sermon was interrupted by the repeated outcries of these two blind beggars of Jericho; but this never displeased him. Neither would true preachers of the gospel be disconcerted if some of their hearers were to cry out with similar eagerness for salvation.