rwp - Matthew:20:29-34

rwp@Matthew:20:29 @{From Jericho} (\apo Iereich\). Songs:Mark:10:46|. But Luke (Luke:18:35|) places the incident as they were drawing near to Jericho (\eis Iereich\). It is probable that Mark and Matthew refer to the old Jericho, the ruins of which have been discovered, while Luke alludes to the new Roman Jericho. The two blind men were apparently between the two towns. Mark (Mark:10:46|) and Luke (Luke:18:35|) mention only one blind man, Bartimaeus (Mark). In Kentucky there are two towns about a half mile apart both called Pleasureville (one Old Pleasureville, the other New Pleasureville).

rwp@Matthew:20:30 @{That Jesus was passing by} (\hoti Isous paragei\). These men "were sitting by the wayside" (\kathmenoi para ten hodon\) at their regular stand. They heard the crowd yelling that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by (\paragei\, present indicative of direct discourse retained in the indirect). It was their one opportunity, now or never. They had heard of what he had done for other blind men. They hail him as "the son of David" (the Messiah). It is just one of many such incidents when Jesus stood still and opened their eyes, so many that even the multitude was impatient with the cries of these poor men that their eyes be opened (\anoigsin\, second aorist passive subjunctive).

rwp@Matthew:20:34 @{Touched their eyes} (\hpsato tn ommatn\). A synonym for \ophthalmn\ in strkjv@Mark:8:23| and here alone in the N.T. In the LXX and a common poetic word (Euripides) and occurs in the papyri. In modern Greek \matia mou\ (abbreviation) means "light of my eye," "my darling." The verb \haptomai\ is very common in the Synoptic Gospels. The touch of Christ's hand would sooth the eyes as they were healed.