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, thou Son of David.

MATTHEW 20:30KJV
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Matthew 20:30 (KJV)

What does Matthew 20:30 mean?

Matthew 20:30 describes two blind men sitting beside the road who, upon hearing that Jesus is passing by, cry out loudly, asking Him to have mercy on them and calling Him "Lord" and "Son of David." This verse shows their desperate hope for help and their recognition of Jesus as someone with authority and a special connection to King David.

In this scene, Jesus is traveling with a crowd near Jericho, and the two blind men, unable to see but able to hear, realize an opportunity is near. By calling Jesus "Son of David," they use a title that points to the promised Messiah, showing their belief in His power to heal and save. Their plea for mercy is both a request for physical healing and a sign of their faith in who Jesus is.

The Greek behind Matthew 20:30

  • "ἐλέησον" (eleēson, "have mercy"): This word means to show compassion or pity. The blind men are not just asking for charity but for a deep, compassionate response to their suffering, which highlights their vulnerability and trust in Jesus.
  • "Κύριε" (Kyrie, "Lord"): By addressing Jesus as "Lord," the men show respect and possibly recognize His divine authority, not just seeing Him as a healer but as someone with power over their lives.
  • "υἱὸς Δαυίδ" (huios Dauid, "Son of David"): This title connects Jesus to the royal line of David and the Jewish expectation of a Messiah. The blind men’s use of this title shows their faith that Jesus is the long-awaited deliverer.

Why Matthew 20:30 matters

  • This verse highlights the faith of the blind men, who recognize Jesus’ identity and authority even when others might overlook Him or them.
  • The use of "Son of David" ties Jesus to Old Testament promises, showing that people in His day saw Him as the fulfillment of messianic hopes.
  • The scene sets up a contrast between the blind men’s spiritual insight and the physical sight of the crowd, inviting readers to consider what it means to truly "see" who Jesus is.

Where else these words appear

“by” Greek G3855 · used in 10 verses

  • Matthew 9:9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
  • Mark 15:21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.
  • 1 Corinthians 7:31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

“mercy” Greek G1653 · used in 28 verses

  • Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
  • Luke 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
  • Romans 11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

“men” Greek G5185 · used in 48 verses

  • Matthew 9:27 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.
  • Mark 10:46 And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.
  • John 9:17 They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.

“David” Greek G1138 · used in 54 verses

  • Matthew 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
  • Mark 11:10 Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.
  • Acts 2:25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: