Story Of Blind Bartimaeus In Gospel Accounts
The story of Bartimaeus, a blind beggar healed by Jesus, is recorded in the Synoptic Gospels, specifically Mark 10:46-52, Matthew 20:29-34, and Luke 18:35-43. Bartimaeus is identified as the "son of Timaeus" [1, 2, 3]. This event occurs as Jesus departs from Jericho on his final journey to Jerusalem [2, 12].
Mark's Gospel explicitly names "Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, a blind beggar," who was sitting by the roadside [3]. The name "Bartimaeus" itself means "son of Timaeus" [2]. Some interpretations suggest that "Timaeus" might signify "defiled" or "blind," implying Bartimaeus was the blind son of a blind father, which would make his condition more severe and the subsequent cure more remarkable, serving as a type for spiritual healing [4, 7]. Blind beggars were a common sight in ancient Israel, and the Old Testament often calls for compassion towards the blind [5].
While Mark and Luke mention one blind man, Matthew's account refers to two blind men [6, 7, 11]. This difference is not seen as a contradiction by commentators, as the presence of two would naturally include one [7]. Augustine of Hippo, in his Homilies on the Gospels, addresses this apparent discrepancy, noting that Matthew records two blind men, while Mark records one, and Luke also records one. Augustine implies that if there were two, then there was certainly one, and the evangelists are not in conflict [6]. John Gill, a Baptist commentator, similarly notes that Mark and Luke mentioning only one is not a contradiction to Matthew, who mentions two, because they do not state there was only one [8, 11].
The healing of Bartimaeus in Mark's Gospel is the last healing miracle recorded by the evangelist and serves as a "bookend" to an earlier healing of a blind man in Mark 8:22-26 [12]. This narrative also acts as a bridge to Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, with Bartimaeus's confession of "Jesus, Son of David" preparing the reader for the crowds' acclamation of Jesus as Messiah in Jerusalem [12].
According to the Gospel accounts, as Jesus was passing by, Bartimaeus (and his companion in Matthew's account) cried out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" [6]. The crowd attempted to silence him, but he cried out all the more [6]. Jesus stopped and called for him. Bartimaeus then cast off his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus [6]. Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" Bartimaeus replied, "Rabboni, I want to see again" [6]. Jesus responded, "Go your way; your faith has made you well" [6]. Immediately, Bartimaeus received his sight and followed Jesus on the road [6].
The healing of Bartimaeus highlights the significance of faith. Jesus explicitly states that Bartimaeus's faith was the basis for his miraculous cure [1]. The healing was performed without physical touch, contrasting with other healings, such as the earlier blind man in Mark 8:22-26, and emphasizes the power of Bartimaeus's faith [13]. Following his healing, Bartimaeus immediately followed Jesus, signifying a complete transformation and discipleship [13]. The phrase "followed Jesus" is a recurring theme in Mark, indicating a commitment to discipleship [13].
The location of the miracle is also noteworthy. While Matthew and Mark place the event as Jesus was leaving Jericho, Luke states it occurred as Jesus was approaching Jericho [9, 11]. John Gill suggests that the blind man mentioned by Luke might be a different individual from Bartimaeus, as Luke's account places the healing before Jesus entered Jericho, while the other two evangelists place it after he departed [9]. However, Adam Clarke, a Methodist commentator, identifies the blind man in Luke's account as Bartimaeus, suggesting a harmonization of the accounts [10]. The journey through Jericho was a significant point in Jesus's ministry, as it was the last major city before his arrival in Jerusalem [12].
The story of Bartimaeus is often interpreted as a powerful illustration of spiritual blindness and the transformative power of Christ. The physical blindness of Bartimaeus can be seen as a metaphor for spiritual ignorance, a concept found elsewhere in scripture [5]. His persistent cry for mercy despite the crowd's attempts to silence him demonstrates a fervent desire for spiritual enlightenment and healing. His immediate following of Jesus after receiving sight symbolizes the spiritual journey of a believer who, once blind to the truth, gains spiritual vision and commits to discipleship [13].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Bartimaeus — Son of Timaeus, one of the two blind beggars of Jericho (Mark 10:46; Matt. 20:30). His blindness was miraculously cured on the ground of his faith.”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Bartimaeus — (son of Timeus), a blind beggar of Jericho who, (Mark 10:46) ff., sat by the wayside begging as our Lord passed out of Jericho on his last journey to Jerusalem.”
- Mark “They came to Jericho. As he went out from Jericho, with his disciples and a great multitude, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the road. -- Mark 10:46”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Timaeus — Defiled, the father of blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46).”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Blind — Blind beggars are frequently mentioned (Matt. 9:27; 12:22; 20:30; John 5:3). The blind are to be treated with compassion (Lev. 19:14; Deut. 27:18). Blindness was sometimes a punishment for disobedience (1 Sam. 11:2; Jer. 39:7), sometimes the effect of old age (Gen. 27:1; 1 Kings 14:4; 1 Sam. 4:15). Conquerors sometimes blinded their captives (2 Kings 25:7; 1 Sam. 11:2). Blindness denotes ignorance as to spiritual things (Isa. 6:10; 42:18, 19; Matt. 15:14; Eph. 4:18). The opening of the eyes of the blind is peculiar to the Messiah (Isa. 29:18). Elymas was smit”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — CHAP. LXV.--OF THE ABSENCE OF ANY ANTAGONISM BETWEEN MATTHEW AND MARK, OR BETWEEN MATTHEW AND LUKE, IN THE ACCOUNT OFFERED OF THE GIVING OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND MEN OF JERICHO. (part 1): 125. Matthew continues thus: "And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. And, behold, two blind men sitting by the wayside heard that Jesus passed by, and cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David;" and so on, down to the words, "And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him."(8) Mark also records t”
- Mark (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Mark 10:46: This passage of story agrees with that, Mat 20:29, etc. Only that there were told of two blind men; here, and Luk 18:35, only of one: but if there were two, there was one. This one is named here, being a blind beggar that was much talked of; he was called Bartimeus, that is, the son of Timeus; which, some think, signifies the son of a blind man; he was the blind son of a blind father, which made the case worse, and the cure more wonderful, and the more proper to typify the spiritual cures wrought by the grace of Christ, on those that not only are born blind, but ar”
- Mark (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Mark 10:43: And they came to Jericho,.... Christ and his disciples, from the coasts of Judea, beyond Jordan, in their way to Jerusalem; where Christ met with Zaccheus and converted him, and after some short stay at his house, departed thence; and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples, and a great number of people: which followed him out of that city, to go with him to Jerusalem, being but ten miles off: blind Bartimeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging; who was one of the two blind men Matthew makes mention of it, See Gill on Mat 20:30.”
- Luke (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Luke 18:34: And it came to pass that as he was come nigh unto Jericho,.... Which lay in his way to Jerusalem; a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: this was not blind Bartimaeus, nor his companion, for they were cured by Christ as he went out of Jericho; but this man before he came to it; for we afterwards read of his entrance into, and passing through Jericho, Luk 19:1 though much the same things are related in this account, as in that of the other two blind men; See Gill on Mat 20:30.”
- Luke (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Luke 18:35: A certain blind man - Bartimeus. See this transaction explained at large, on Mat 20:29-34 (note), and Mar 10:46 (note), etc.”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 20:29: And behold, two blind men,.... Mark and Luke make mention but of one; which is no contradiction to Matthew; for they neither of them say that there was but one. A greater difficulty occurs in Luke's account; for whereas Matthew and Mark both agree, that it was when Jesus came out of Jericho, that this cure was wrought, Luke says it was "when he came nigh unto it"; which some reconcile by observing, that that phrase may be rendered, "while he was near Jericho"; and so only signifies his distance from it, and not motion to it; but this will not solve the difficulty, b”
- Mark (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Mark 10:46: 10:46-52 The healing of blind Bartimaeus is the last healing miracle recorded in Mark. This event and the healing of the blind man in 8:22-26 form bookends around this section (see Mark Book Introduction, “Literary Features”). It is also a bridge to Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem as Israel’s Messiah in 11:1-11. Bartimaeus’s confession (Jesus, Son of David) prepares the reader for the confession of the people upon Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem (11:10). 10:46 they reached Jericho: The journey Jesus began in 10:1 was nearing its conclusion. Jericho was the last major ci”
- Mark (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Mark 10:52: 10:52 The man’s faith was rewarded, and he was healed (literally saved; see 5:23, 28, 34; 6:56; Matt 9:22; Luke 8:48). The healing was performed without touch, in contrast to the healing of the blind man in Mark 8:22-26. Bartimaeus followed Jesus (see also 1:18; 2:14-15; 6:1; 8:34; 10:21, 28, 32) down the road (cp. 1:2-3; 10:32).”