Text -- Luke 18:34-43 (NET)

18:34 But the twelve understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what Jesus meant.

Healing a Blind Man

18:35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. 18:36 When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was going on. 18:37 They told him, “Jesus the Nazarene is passing by.” 18:38 So he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 18:39 And those who were in front scolded him to get him to be quiet, but he shouted even more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 18:40 So Jesus stopped and ordered the beggar to be brought to him. When the man came near, Jesus asked him, 18:41 “What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, let me see again.” 18:42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” 18:43 And immediately he regained his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they too gave praise to God.

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Luk 18:34

¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast.

² tn Grk “they”; the referent (the twelve, v. 31) has been specified in the context for clarity.

³ tn Grk “And this.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

⁴ sn This failure of the Twelve to grasp what Jesus meant probably does not mean that they did not understand linguistically what Jesus said, but that they could not comprehend how this could happen to him, if he was really God’s agent. The saying being hidden probably refers to God’s sovereign timing.

⁵ tn Grk “the things having been said.” The active agent, Jesus, has been specified for clarity, and “said” has been translated as “meant” to indicate that comprehension of the significance is really in view here.

NET Notes: Luk 18:35

¹ tn Grk “Now it happened that as.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.

² tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

³ tn The phrase is “he drew near to” (19:29; 24:28). It is also possible the term merely means “is in the vicinity of.” Also possible is a reversal in the timing of the healing and Zacchaeus events for literary reasons as the blind man “sees” where the rich man with everything did not.

⁴ map For location see Map5 B2; Map6 E1; Map7 E1; Map8 E3; Map10 A2; Map11 A1.

NET Notes: Luk 18:37

¹ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated. “They” could refer to bystanders or people in the crowd.

NET Notes: Luk 18:38

¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the blind man learning that Jesus was nearby.

² tn Grk “called out, saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.

³ sn Jesus was more than a Nazarene to this blind person, who saw quite well that Jesus was Son of David. He understood what Luke 7:22-23 affirms. There was a tradition in Judaism that the Son of David (Solomon) had great powers of healing (Josephus, Ant. 8.2.5 [8.42-49]).

⁴ sn Have mercy on me is a request for healing (cf. 17:13). It is not owed the man. He simply asks for God’s kind grace.

NET Notes: Luk 18:39

¹ sn That is, those who were at the front of the procession.

² tn Or “rebuked.” The crowd’s view was that surely Jesus would not be bothered with someone as unimportant as a blind beggar.

³ sn Public opinion would not sway the blind man from getting Jesus’ attention. The term shouted is strong as it can be used of animal cries.

NET Notes: Luk 18:40

¹ tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the beggar’s cries.

² tn Grk “ordered him”; the referent (the blind beggar, v. 35) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

³ tn Grk “he”; the referent (the beggar) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁴ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

NET Notes: Luk 18:41

¹ tn Grk “said.”

² tn Grk “Lord, that I may see [again].” The phrase can be rendered as an imperative of request, “Please, give me sight.” Since the man is not noted as having been blind from birth (as the man in John 9 was) it is likely the request is to receive back the sight he once had.

NET Notes: Luk 18:42

¹ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

² tn Or “Regain” (see the note on the phrase “let me see again” in the previous verse).

³ tn Grk “has saved you,” but in a nonsoteriological sense; the man has been delivered from his disability.

NET Notes: Luk 18:43

¹ tn Or “received” (see the note on the phrase “let me see again” in v. 41).

² tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

³ sn The presence of God’s work leads again to joy, with both the beggar and the people praising God (1:64; 2:20; 5:25-26; 7:16; 13:13; 17:15; 19:37).

⁴ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

⁵ tn The word “too” has been supplied for stylistic reasons.