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 18:41 mean?

Explanation

The verse Luke 18:41, "Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight," records a conversation between Jesus Christ and a blind man, commonly identified as Bartimaeus in the parallel account in Mark 10:46-52.

This blind man had called out to Jesus as He was passing by near Jericho, invoking mercy.

Jesus' question to the man demonstrates an intention to allow him to express his faith and his desire openly.

The blind man's request, "that I may receive my sight," is straightforward and reflects his faith in Jesus' ability to heal him.

This passage highlights the power of faith, the nature of Jesus' miracles, and His willingness to respond to the needs of individuals.

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Historical Context

Luke 18:41 takes place during the latter part of Jesus' ministry on earth, specifically as He is on His way to Jerusalem before His crucifixion.

The healing of the blind man happens near Jericho, a significant city in Jewish history with deep cultural and religious roots.

In this period, individuals with disabilities such as blindness were often marginalized and had limited means of support, frequently resorting to begging.

Miracles performed by Jesus were significant not only for their supernatural elements but also for challenging the social norms and religious perceptions of His time.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, the healing of the blind man is seen by many Christian scholars as an illustration of spiritual illumination, where Jesus not only physically restores sight but also offers spiritual understanding and salvation.

The narrative underscores Jesus' divinity and compassion as well as the necessity for personal faith in receiving God's blessings.

Various Christian traditions may interpret the exchange between Jesus and the blind man in Luke 18:41 differently: some viewing it as a historical account of Jesus' miracle, others as a symbolic event representative of the transformative power of Christ's presence in one's life.

Practical Applications

The teachings of this verse can be applied in several ways.

It encourages individuals to actively express their needs and desires to God in faith.

The passage also serves as a reminder of the importance of compassion and responding to those in need.

For believers, this verse can inspire a life of faith that trusts in God's power to bring about change and encourages a willingness to ask for and receive assistance.

Cross-References

Mark 10:51-52: "And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.

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 20:30-34: Similar account of Jesus healing two blind men.
John 9:1-7: Jesus heals a man born blind, further discussing spiritual blindness.

Language Study

In the original Greek text of the New Testament, the phrase "that I may receive my sight" uses the word "αναβλέψω" (anablepsō), which is a verb that means to regain sight or to look up.

It is derived from "ἀνά" (ana), meaning "up," and "βλέπω" (blepō), meaning "to see." The use of this particular word emphasizes not just the act of healing, but the restoration of something that was lost, which is the man's sight.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient cultures, physical ailments were often stigmatized and could be interpreted as a sign of moral or spiritual deficiency.

The act of Jesus healing the blind man not only challenged these prevailing cultural norms but also differs from other ancient myths where gods often required elaborate rituals or offerings for favors.

In contrast, the healing in Luke 18:41 is an act of grace given in response to faith, without any prerequisites.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, the restoration of sight as described in the Bible is a miraculous event that defies natural explanation.

While today, various treatments and surgeries can restore or improve vision in some cases, the instant and complete recovery experienced by the blind man in this narrative is not replicable by contemporary medical science.

commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians have offered various commentaries on Luke 18:41.

Some focus on the historical aspect of Jesus' ministry and the significance of His miracles as signs of the kingdom of God.

Others delve into the symbolic nature of the healing, seeing it as a metaphor for spiritual awakening.

Still, others emphasize the dynamics of faith and Jesus' personal concern for each individual, highlighting His question "What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?" as an invitation for personal engagement with the divine.

Notably, many agree on the centrality of faith in this passage, as the man's explicit trust in Jesus precedes his healing.

Luke 18

Luke 18

What does Luke 18:41 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 18:41 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?