And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.
Parallel translations
- WEB The 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!”
- BSB The crowd admonished them to be silent, but they cried out all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
- NKJV Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”
- NASB But the crowd sternly warned them to be quiet; yet they cried out all the more, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
- NLT “Be quiet!” the crowd yelled at them. But they only shouted louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The crowd tries to silence the blind men, but they cry out all the more for mercy. Their persistence in faith refuses to be discouraged.
Overview
The crowd's rebuke does not silence the blind men; instead they cry out even louder for the Son of David's mercy. Their dogged persistence pictures the kind of faith that presses through obstacles to reach Christ. Despite opposition, they keep appealing to the one they trust will save them.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Matt 19:13Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.
- Col 4:2Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
- 1 Th 5:17Pray without ceasing.
- Gen 32:25–29And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
- Matt 15:23But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
- Luke 11:8–10I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
- Matt 7:7–8Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
- Luke 18:1–8And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
- Luke 18:39And 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.
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 20:31 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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