The Multitude's Rebuke - Matthew 20:31

Matthew the apostle wrote as Jesus and His disciples, “departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. 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, you Son of David”, and in chapter twenty and verse thirty-one of his book, Matthew shares how, “the multitude rebuked” the blind men where we read:

And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace:

but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, you Son of David.

The verse reads, “And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace:”. Matthew began with the words, “and the multitude” or “and the crowd, throng and collection of people” “rebuked them” which means “judged, taxed with fault, chided, rebuked, reproved and censured the blind men severely”, “because” or “since and on account that” “they should hold their peace” which means “the blind men should be silent, calm and quiet”. Matthew shared how the “crowd of people” who were following Jesus “reproved and rebuked” the “two blind men” and told them to “be quiet and silent”.

The verse continues, “ but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, you Son of David.” Matthew added the word, “but” or “nevertheless, nonetheless, moreover and” “they cried the more” which means “the two blind men vociferated, spoke aloud, exclaimed and intreated”, “saying” or “uttering, declaring, proclaiming and pleading”, “have mercy on us” which means “take pity and have compassion upon the two blind men”, “O Lord” or “Oh One to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master and the title for God the Messiah”, “you Son of David” which refers to “Jesus who is God's Son and is from the lineage of King David of Israel”. Matthew wrote how the multitude's attempt to silence the “two blind men” only caused them to “cry out louder” for Jesus to have “mercy” upon them.

When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see the desperation exemplified in these “two blind men”. Although the crowd around them attempted to keep them silent, they were motivated even more to “shout out” to Jesus for help. Those who attempt to squelch the “cry” of desperation tend to motivate the needy ones to cry out more, and when they cry out to God through Jesus Christ His Son, they shall find Him ready and willing to meet their every need.

Next time Matthew writes how, “Jesus stood still, and called them”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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