Luke
18:35-19:10
Lesson 147
18:35-19:10
Lesson 147
Luke 18:35-19:10
The blind beggar 35 And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: 36 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. 37 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. 38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. 39 And 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. 40 And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, 41 Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. 42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. 43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God. Luke 19:1-10 Excitement 1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. 4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. 6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. 8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. 9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. |
Margin notes:
"As he was come nigh unto Jericho." (18:35) - Means, "As Jesus came near Jericho." Jericho was an Old Testament fortress-city in the southern part of the Jordan Valley, north of the Dead Sea, fifteen miles from Jerusalem, and five miles west of the Jordan River. Its ancient remains are dated back to 8,000 BC, making it one of the world's oldest cities. Jericho was destroyed by an Israelite army led by Joshua (Joshua 6:1-27), and became a Jewish city of the tribe of Benjamin (Joshua 18:21). By Jesus' day, Jericho was a wealthy resort town expanded by Herod the Great south-east of its original location and surrounded by beautiful palms trees (which no longer exist). "A certain blind man." (18:35) - His name was Bartimeus (Mark 10:46), and he was one of the two blind beggars of Jericho (Matthew 20:30) healed by Jesus. Beggars were everywhere in Jesus' time. Since most jobs required physical labor, anyone unable to work because of age, illness, or handicap had little means of support other than begging. "He asked what it meant." (18:36) - "He asked what was happening." "Son of David." (18:38) - A Messianic title for Jesus, a descendant of King David (Isaiah 9:6-7). The blind beggar recognized Jesus as the Messiah, while others with perfect vision couldn't. "Rebuked him." (18:39) - "Scolded him." "And Jesus stood." (18:40) - "And Jesus stopped." "Immediately he received his sight." (18:43) - Just as Isaiah 35:5 predicted seven hundred years earlier. "Could not for the press, because he was little of stature." (19:3) - "Couldn't because of the crowd, he was to short." "He ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him." (19:4) - "He ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus." "I must abide at thy house." (19:5) - "I must stay at your house." "Sinner." (19:7) - Jews held tax collectors in low esteem because they worked for the Romans, and many overcharged taxpayers. "Half of my goods I give to the poor." (19:8) - "Half of my possessions I will give to the poor." "If I have taken any thing... by false accusation, I restore him." (19:8) - This is repentance in action. "Son of Abraham." (19:9) - Jews consider themselves children of Abraham (Romans 4:12). "To seek and to save that which was lost." (19:10) - Jesus came to save the lost. This is the primary message of Luke's entire Gospel (5:31-32), as prophesized in Ezekiel 34:16 six hundred years before the birth of Christ. |