Luke 18

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.

Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?

And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.

And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,

Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.

For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:

And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.

And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

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: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

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.

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.

What does Luke 18:35 mean?

Explanation

Luke 18:35 recounts an episode where a blind man, sitting by the roadside, encounters Jesus as He approaches Jericho.

The verse sets the stage for a subsequent miracle of Jesus restoring the man's sight.

The literal meaning of the text describes an event where the blind man, aware of Jesus' presence, takes an opportunity to seek compassion or assistance.

On a deeper level, this encounter is often understood as a narrative reflecting spiritual blindness and the transformative power of faith in Jesus.

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Historical Context

During the time this Gospel was written, it was common for people with disabilities or ailments to beg at the sides of roads, particularly near cities where there was more foot traffic.

Jericho was a significant city and a strategic locale in Judea, not far from Jerusalem, making it a busy route for travelers.

The socio-economic condition of the disabled was dire in ancient times, as they had no means of support except for alms given by passersby.

Theological Insights

This passage has been interpreted in various ways by theologians.

From a Christian perspective, the physical blindness of the man can symbolize the spiritual blindness of humanity without the enlightening presence of Christ.

The desire of the blind man to have his sight restored can also be viewed as a metaphor for the human longing for spiritual enlightenment and salvation.

The subsequent verses that follow this passage, where Jesus grants the man sight, underscore the idea of Jesus as a healer and reaffirm faith in His divinity and ability to transform lives.

Practical Applications

The verse offers practical applications for daily life in several ways. It serves as a reminder to be aware of those in need and to practice compassion towards the less fortunate.

Additionally, the blind man's initiative in seeking help can inspire individuals to actively pursue healing and transformation in their own lives, whether spiritual, emotional, or physical.

It also encourages believers to have faith and to call upon their faith in times of need, as the blind man does by reaching out to Jesus.

Cross-References

Mark 10:46-52: The story of blind Bartimaeus who, like the blind man in Luke, calls out to Jesus for mercy and is granted his sight.
Matthew 20:29-34: A parallel account of two blind men receiving sight from Jesus near Jericho.
John 9:1-7: The narrative of Jesus healing a man born blind, offering comparisons to the spiritual blindness of others.
Isaiah 42:7: A prophecy that alludes to the Messiah's purpose to open blind eyes, which connects to Jesus' healing miracles.

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text include:

"ἐγένετο" (egeneto), typically translated as "it came to pass," which indicates the beginning of a narrative event.
"Ἰεριχὼ" (Ierichō), the Greek transliteration for "Jericho."
"τυφλὸς" (typhlos), meaning "blind."
"παρὰ τὴν ὁδὸν" (para tēn hodon), translating to "by the wayside," indicating the location where the blind man sat.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The theme of healing the blind is not exclusive to Christianity and is present in other ancient myths and religions, where the restoration of sight often symbolizes the acquisition of knowledge or enlightenment.

In Greek mythology, for example, Tiresias was a blind prophet who, despite his physical blindness, had spiritual insight.

In Hinduism, spiritual enlightenment is often described as an inner awakening that brings about a clear vision of reality.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern scientific understandings of blindness and vision restoration contrast with the miraculous healing accounts of biblical times. Today, various medical interventions exist to treat blindness, including surgery, medication, and assistive technology.

However, the instantaneous restoration of sight as described in the Bible remains beyond the scope of current medical science and is thus seen as a miracle.

Commentaries

Commentaries on this verse provide diverse perspectives, often focusing on the theological significance of Jesus' miracles of healing.

Scholars like Matthew Henry comment on the blind man’s faith in Jesus as the Son of David, emphasizing the importance of spiritual sight over physical sight in understanding and recognizing Jesus' messianic role.

John Calvin reflects on the passage as an illustration of God's mercy, where Christ actively responds to those who call upon Him in faith.

Contemporary biblical scholars continue to analyze the passage in its historical context and explore its significance regarding faith, healing, and divine compassion.

Luke 18

Luke 18

What does Luke 18:35 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 18:35 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?