Luke 18:35 refers to a blind man who sat begging by the road near Jericho. Evidently, this is Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, mentioned in Mark 10:46. This man heard a multitude passing by and asked what it was. They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by (Lk. 18:37).
He called out to Jesus for mercy and referred to him as the “Son of David” (Mk. 10:47; Lk. 18:38). The significance of this reference is found in the exchange between Jesus and the Pharisees in Matthew 22:41-46. In first-century Jewish terms, “the Son of David” was equivalent to Christ, the Messiah (Mt. 22:42). Jesus was not merely a descendant of David, but rather the promised king of Israel.
Much like the disciples who tried to prevent children from being brought to Jesus (Mk. 10:13-16), many thought Jesus would have no time for a blind man; they rebuked Bartimaeus and warned him to be quiet (Mk. 10:48). But he cried out even more (Lk. 18:39). Jesus stopped and granted him sight (Mk. 10:49-52; Lk. 18:40-42). Jesus noted this man’s faith (Mk. 10:52; Lk. 18:42). Just because he was blind did not mean he was cut off from all knowledge. Likely he heard the scriptures read in the synagogue. He probably also heard about the miracles and teachings of Jesus. Despite his handicap, he was able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth about Jesus being the fulfillment of the Old Testament. This blind man saw something that others who had sight did not see. As the old saying goes, “none are so blind as those who will not see.”
On another occasion when Jesus healed a blind man, the Pharisees refused to believe (John 9). They had the erroneous conviction that the blind man was born in sins and could not teach them anything; thus, they cast him out of the synagogue (Jn. 9:34). Jesus said, “For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind” (Jn. 9:39). No wonder when Jesus rebuked this sanctimonious sect, he used the term “blind Pharisee” (Mt. 23:26).
Many are blind to the truth today because of the same pitfalls of the Pharisees. Whereas Bartimaeus was in a lowly place, the Pharisees sought places of honor among men (Mt. 23:5-12). Maintaining a place of power blinds men to the clear signs God has given (Jn. 11:47-50). The Pharisees were covetous (Lk. 16:14). Pride, self-sufficiency, and earthly riches can make one blind to spiritual truth like the Laodiceans were (Rev. 3:17). The Pharisees followed man-made traditions over the word of God (Mk. 7:1-23). We are to be on guard against any human teaching that would take our hearts captive and prevent us from walking in Christ (Col. 2:8).
If a man desires to do God’s will, he can discover the truth and differentiate it from error (Jn. 7:17). The one with an honest and good heart receives the word of God and brings forth fruit (Lk. 8:15). Do we spend our energy tearing down others based on misguided judgments, or do we take time to examine ourselves (2 Cor. 13:5)? We all need to be honest with ourselves and with the word of God, lest our minds become blinded to the light of the glorious gospel of Christ (2 Cor. 4:4).
