Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 20:30

"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 20:30 (ASV)

The fact that Matthew refers to two blind men rather than one (cf. Mark 10:46– 52) shows his personal knowledge of the events. There may have been many blind people in the Jericho area; for that region produced large quantities of balsam, believed to be beneficial for many eye defects. These two were sitting by the roadside, doubtless begging; and, hearing that Jesus was passing, cried out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” On the relationship of the messianic “Son of David” to healing, see comment on 9:27.