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 18:43 mean?

Explanation

Luke 18:43 captures the climax of a healing miracle performed by Jesus.

The verse describes the immediate aftermath of Jesus restoring sight to a blind man, traditionally known as Bartimaeus, who then follows Jesus, praising God for his newfound sight.

This not only signifies a physical healing but also a spiritual awakening, as the man publicly acknowledges the power behind the miracle by glorifying God.

The crowd, witnessing the event, responds in kind with praise.

This verse emphasizes the transformative power of faith and the recognition of divine intervention in human affairs, leading to a community's collective praise and wonder.

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Historical Context

This verse is part of the canonical Gospel of Luke, believed to have been written around 60-90 AD.

Luke's narrative often emphasizes Jesus' compassion and the role of marginalized individuals.

The healing of the blind man occurs as Jesus is approaching Jericho, on his final journey towards Jerusalem.

The miracle is not just a demonstration of healing power but reflects a wider historical context where disability was often associated with sin, and the healing would, therefore, imply a restoration of both physical and social status.

In the Jewish culture of the time, miracles were seen as signs of divine favor and messianic presence.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, the verse showcases the Messiah's role as a healer, fulfilling prophecies such as those in Isaiah, which speak of the blind receiving sight through God's salvation.

Theologically, it reflects the concept of 'salvation history,' where Jesus' actions are seen as part of God's redemptive plan.

Different denominations might emphasize various aspects of the event, such as the man's faith leading to his healing (a Protestant viewpoint) or the community aspect of glorifying God together (a more Catholic interpretation).

Practical Applications

This verse invites believers to respond to God's work in their lives with praise and to follow Jesus as the blind man did.

It encourages individuals to witness to others about the changes in their lives due to faith.

The idea of community response also suggests that when good happens to one member, it is an occasion for all to celebrate and give thanks.

The verse can inspire believers to act in faith, seek healing, and support one another in their faith journeys.

Cross-References

Mark 10:52 - “And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole.

And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.”

Matthew 9:29-30 - “Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.”

Psalm 146:8 - "The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous."
Isaiah 35:5 - "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, phrases such as "received his sight" (ἀναβλέψας) carry connotations of recovering, or gaining back sight, emphasizing restoration. The verb "followed" (ἠκολούθει) signifies a continuous action, suggesting a commitment beyond the initial event.

The word "glorifying" (δοξάζων) is in the present participle form, indicating an ongoing act of praise. The language underscores the immediacy and continuance of the blind man's response to the miracle.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient texts, miraculous healings are also found, such as the healing stories in the Egyptian "Ebers Papyrus" or Greek mythologies where gods intervene directly in human affairs.

However, in these stories, the purpose of the healings was often to display the power of the gods rather than inspiring faith and community response.

In contrast, Hebrew Scriptures and Christian Gospels highlight miracles as signs pointing to God's loving nature and sovereignty.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern science acknowledges the complexity of restoring sight to the blind, typically through surgical or technological means rather than instantaneous healing.

From a scientific perspective, the verse does not align with the natural process of healing.

Nevertheless, psychological studies confirm the impact of community support and positive mental states , like faith and hope , on health and recovery, which can be seen as an intersection with the communal and individual responses in the verse.

Commentaries

Christian commentators often discuss the personal faith of the blind man and his public confession as critical elements in the story. Praise, as the man's and the people's instinctive reaction to the miracle, is also highlighted, showcasing the recognition of divine action in the world.

Some commentators focus on the Christological implications, viewing Jesus as fulfilling messianic expectations by such miraculous signs.

Others may concentrate on the literary structure and placement of this event within Luke's Gospel, seeing it as a key transition point in Jesus' ministry as he approaches Jerusalem for the last time.

Luke 18

Luke 18

What does Luke 18:43 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 18:43 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?