Scripture Daily

Context No. 2346 of 4322 · Matthew

Context · Reflection

Matthew 20:25-34: in context

25But Jesus summoned them, and said, “You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26It shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 27Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant, 28even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” 29As they went out from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. 30Behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, you son of David!” 31The multitude rebuked them, telling them that they should be quiet, but they cried out even more, “Lord, have mercy on us, you son of David!” 32Jesus stood still and called them, and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” 33They told him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” 34Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and immediately their eyes received their sight, and they followed him.

In Matthew, Jesus has just overturned the disciples' idea of greatness. The rulers of the nations lord it over people, but among his followers the great one is the servant, and the Son of Man himself came not to be served but to give his life as a ransom. Then, leaving Jericho, two blind men hear he is passing and cry out, and the crowd tells them to be quiet.

They cry louder. Jesus stops, calls them, and asks a question whose answer seems obvious: what do you want me to do for you? He does not assume. He lets them name their need aloud. The teaching about servant-greatness becomes flesh in the next breath: the one with all authority halts a procession to attend to two men everyone else wanted silenced.

When the crowd would hush me, do I go quiet, or cry out louder to the one who stops?

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