So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
Parallel translations
- WEB Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and immediately their eyes received their sight, and they followed him.
- BSB Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes, and at once they received their sight and followed Him.
- NKJV So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.
- NASB Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.
- NLT Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Instantly they could see! Then they followed him.
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
Moved with compassion, Jesus touches their eyes, restores their sight, and they follow him. His mercy meets their faith and produces discipleship.
Overview
Jesus' compassion leads him to heal the blind men immediately by his touch. Their restored sight is both a physical miracle and a picture of spiritual enlightenment. That they then 'followed him' shows the proper response to Christ's mercy—becoming his disciples on the road that leads to Jerusalem and the cross.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Matt 9:29Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
- Heb 4:15–16For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
- Ps 145:8The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.
- Luke 22:51And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.
- Ps 119:67Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
- Mark 7:33And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;
- Luke 7:13And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.
- Acts 26:18To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
- Ps 119:71It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
- Matt 14:14And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
- Matt 15:32Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.
- Matt 8:15And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.
- John 9:6–7When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
- Luke 18:43And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
- 1 Pet 3:8Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
- Matt 9:36But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
- John 11:33–35When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
- Heb 2:17Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
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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 20:34 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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