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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadSpurgeon Verse Expositions - Luke 18:35 - 18:43
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Luk_18:35-36. And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.
If he could not see, he could hear, and he could speak. Use all the ability that you have, and God will give you more.
Luk_18:37-39. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace:
They told him that he was spoiling the Preacher’s sermon. They had lost his last sentence; they could not catch the Saviour’s meaning, so they cried out to the blind man, “Hold your tongue, sir.”
Luk_18:39-40. But he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood,
I can see him stop. He had been walking on before, and talking as we went; but prayer can cause the Saviour to be spell-bound. Here Jesus stood,
Luk_18:40-41. And commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?
Our Lord likes us to know what it is that we want. He would have us feel our need, that we may have a distinct perception of the blessing when it comes, and know just what it is.
Luk_18:41. And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
He wanted nothing else; but oh, how badly he wanted that boon!
Luk_18:42. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight
Notice the echo. ‘The blind man said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.” Jesus said, “Receive thy sight.” With a little turn in the expression, Christ’s answer is the echo of our prayer.
Luk_18:42. Thy faith hath saved thee.
No, surely it was Christ who saved him. Yes, but Christ delights to put his crown on faith’s head, for faith always puts the crown back on Christ’s head: “Thy faith hath saved thee.”
Luk_18:43. And immediately he received his sight, and followed him,
What should we do when our eyes are opened by Christ but follow him? The moment that we can see him, we should begin to follow him.
Luk_18:43. Glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
May we have cause to praise the Lord tonight for many blind eyes opened!
This exposition consisted of readings from Isaiah 6; Mat_13:10-17; and Luk_18:35-43.
Luk_18:35-38. And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: and hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.
He did not need to be told twice who was passing by, nor did he need any exhortation to seek Christ’s help. It was enough for him that Jesus of Nazareth was near him; so he would cry to him for the help he alone could give. Oh, that we were half as sensible, Oh, that the blindness did not get into men’s hearts! If it were not so, every blind soul would at once begin to cry to God for mercy; there is not one poor sinner here, who knows that, Jesus often passes this way, who would not begin at once to cry, “Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.”
Luk_18:39. And they which went before rebuked him,
“Be quiet,” they cried.
Luk_18:39. That he should hold his peace:
“Do not interrupt the flow of those marvellous words, or break the thread of that matchless discourse.”
Luk_18:39. But he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.
They could not quench the fire that burned within his breast; they did but increase its intensity by all their efforts to put it out. The blind man was so earnest to get his eyes opened that his voice could not be silenced. This was a proof of his common sense and true wisdom. It is remarkable how clearly the blind people mentioned in the Scriptures could see. Oh, that those who think they can see could really see as plainly as this blind man could, and would act as wisely as he did! “He cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.” This was his only hope;—perhaps, his last opportunity; so he availed himself of it to the full.
Luk_18:40-41. And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee! And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
There was no waste of words. He said what he meant, and he meant what he said, and he knew what he wanted. It is a great thing, in prayer, to know what we really need,—a very important thing to be sensible enough not to multiply words, but to cry to the Lord with a definite object, as this blind man said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.”
Luk_18:42-43. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight; thy faith hath saved thee. And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
That was a blessed praise-meeting, brought about by the healing of that one man. Now that his eyes were opened, he showed that his mouth was not closed. He proved that he could pray well; now he proves that he can also praise well. He prayed when they tried to stop him, and now nobody shall stop him from praise; and he so praised the great Physician that, with the flaming firebrand of his gratitude he set all other hearts in a blaze: “All the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.”
This exposition consisted of readings from Luk_18:35-43; and Luk_19:1-10.
Luk_18:35-39. And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: and hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace:
“Hush!” they cried; “how can you disturb the blessed Master’s discourse? Be quiet.”
Luk_18:39-40. But he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood,—
Prayer held him fast. Here is a stationary Saviour, held in his place by the cries of a blind man. Oh, the power of prayer! It stays the onward march of the Son of God: “Jesus stood,”
Luk_18:40-41. And commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
It is a great thing to know what you really do want. There are some persons who are so blind that they do not know that they are blind; and because they say, “We see,” therefore is their blindness the more intense. I fear that there is many a person, who professes to pray, yet who, if Christ should come into the room, and say, “What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?” would not know how to answer the question. This man did; and he said, very briefly, and very clearly, but in a very full way, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.”
Luk_18:42. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight:
Often, the blessing from Christ’s lip is the echo of the prayer which fell from ours. The blind man said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.” Echo answered, “Receive thy sight.”
Luk_18:42-43. Thy faith hath saved thee. And immediately he received his sight,—
See, how the prayer, the word of Christ, and the immediate effect of it, all tally. “That I might receive my sight.” “Receive thy sight.” “He received his sight.”
Luk_18:43. And followed him,—
Christ likes not blind followers: “and followed him,”—
Luk_18:43. Glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
They seemed to be greatly impressed, but we shall see that some of them soon spoke in another fashion.
This exposition consisted of readings from Luk_18:35-43; and Luk_19:1-10.