How does Matthew 20:32 demonstrate Jesus' compassion and willingness to listen to needs? Setting the Scene • Two blind men sit beside the Jericho road, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” (Matthew 20:30). • The crowd tries to silence them, but they shout all the louder. • In the next verse we read: “Jesus stopped and called them. ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’ ” (Matthew 20:32). Jesus Stops for the Overlooked • “Jesus stopped”—He interrupts His journey to Jerusalem and the cross. • Compassion overrides schedule; personal need outweighs public momentum. • Psalm 34:17 affirms, “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears…”—Jesus embodies this promise. Words of Compassion • He “called them.” Rather than letting them grope their way forward, He initiates the contact. • Addressing them directly restores dignity: valued individuals, not background noise. • Isaiah 42:3—“A bruised reed He will not break”—is on display as He engages gently. Listening That Leads to Action • “What do you want Me to do for you?”—a question that invites specific, faith-filled petition. • By listening first, Jesus models James 1:19: “Everyone should be quick to listen.” • Their answer (“Lord, let our eyes be opened,” v. 33) positions Him to reveal power and mercy simultaneously. Compassion Confirmed by Response • Verse 34 records immediate healing: “Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes, and at once they received their sight and followed Him.” • Compassion is not sentiment alone; it produces tangible help (cf. Hebrews 4:15-16). What This Means for Us Today • No cry for mercy is too small or inconvenient for Christ. • He invites believers to voice needs plainly, confident He hears (1 Peter 5:7). • Our calling mirrors His example: stop, listen, and act in love toward those society sidelines (Galatians 6:2). |
    |