Matthew 20:28-34

Mat 20:28 (KJB)
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Ransom - A price of redemption

Jesus closes off this discussion by using Himself as an example. As the Son of God, He could have demanded to be waited on because He was the sovereign of the universe. He did not do that, instead He showed the real character of the Kingdom of God by not coming to be ministered unto but to minister. He showed this very publicly when He washed the feet of His disciples. (John 13:14 KJV) If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. Then Jesus states in the second part of the verse that He not only came to minister, but to give His life as a ransom for many. A ransom is a price paid for the redemption of a person. In this case, redemption was being made for the full body of Christ, those whom God named before the foundation of the world. Notice Jesus says that the ransom will be for many and not for all. The many are only the Elect of God. (Dan 12:9-10 KJV) And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. {10} Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. Daniel had prophesied that in the time of the end, that is, the time from the cross to the last day, many shall be made white. That would happen to the Elect through the preaching of the Gospel. As they became saved, they would be made white, that is, they would be made pure and readied for Heaven and it would not matter what century after the first it happens in. Even in the Old Testament the ransom for salvation is evident. (Job 33:24 KJV) Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. Job was delivered from going down to the pit, that is, Hell itself because he found a ransom in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Mat 20:29 (KJB)
And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.

Jesus and His disciples had left the region of Peraea and crossed the Jordan. He was now ready to leave Jericho and as usual a great crowd had followed Him. Jericho was about 20 miles (32 KM) northeast of Jerusalem. There were three towns named Jericho in that region, all in close proximity. There was Old Testament Jericho, New Testament Jericho, and Jericho. They were located about 3 miles apart from each other.

Mat 20:30 (KJB)
And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.

(Luke 18:35 KJV) And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:

(Mark 10:46 KJV) And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.

This scenario has been a puzzle but if you study how the Lord Jesus Christ seeks faith to do something for someone, the mystery disappears. If you notice in verse 29, it states that Jesus departed from Jericho. Mark 10:46 tells us that Jesus had already came to Jericho and that He was on His way outside of Jericho. Then in Luke 18:35 we read that as they came nigh or near unto Jericho they encountered a man begging by the side of the road. Jesus no doubt heard him but did nothing at that time until He was leaving Jericho. Blind Bartimaeus had moved from one place to another, from where Jesus entered Jericho to where He was leaving. Many times in Scripture we read that Jesus had delayed any action in the life of someone who requested it. He would wait to see if their faith was real and if they followed Him believing He could accomplish what they asked, then He would perform their request. Here Bartimaeus moved with the crowd and continued to call on Jesus. Remember Lazarus a delay of 4 days. The delay with the daughter of Jairus.

Mat 20:31 (KJB)
And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.

A person with nominal faith would have said, well He is leaving Jericho so I guess I will not be healed. This was not the case with Bart and his friends. Instead of backing off, they yelled much louder to the point they were rebuked by the crowd to hold their peace. They had assessed properly who Jesus was, that He was the Lord and Son of David which was another name for the Messiah. Isn’t it something how the physically blind in this case had their spiritual eyes opened to the fact that Christ is the Messiah while those who had sight tried to rebuke them from calling out. The physically blind had more sight than those who could see.

Mat 20:32 (KJB)
And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?

Jesus than stands still and has the blind men brought to Him. This was done in the presence of the entire multitude. Gone are the days of anonymity as now the proclamation of Jesus as Messiah was to be as public as possible. So Jesus then looks at the blind men and asks them what He would like them to do for them? He knew what they needed but He wanted them to ask Him. (Mat 6:8 KJV) Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Mat 20:33 (KJB)
They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.

Their answer was specific and right to the point that they wanted to receive their sight. Sometimes we want to ask for things but our prayers are very vague, so when it comes time to pray, it must be done in specifics. Those times when we do not know what to pray, the Holy Spirit interprets our needs and brings them before the Father. (Rom 8:26 KJV) Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Mat 20:34 (KJB)
So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

Jesus saw their faith and had compassion on them and touched their eyes and immediately their eyes were able to see and they too followed Him. Having received their sight back, they could have taken off for a trip around Israel to see everything that they were unable to see or even take a vacation by the Mediterranean Sea and watch the ships but what did they do? Instead of getting tied up with worldly things, as soon as their eyes were healed they followed Jesus. This is a good example of anyone who becomes saved. Instead of worrying about worldly things any longer, they now follow Jesus having received their spiritual sight.

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