27. As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!   28.  When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”   “Yes, Lord,” they replied 29Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”;

When we have a time of prayer in our church, the question is asked, “Does anyone have any prayer requests” This is a common invitation. Sometimes requests taken during the Sunday School hour are mentioned in the worship service. We also have prayers posted through emails, and on our church website.

We are asking God to intercede for the family of God for different reasons. Most often people will share physical needs or seeking wisdom for decisions that need to be made.

The passage this week continues in Matthew about roadside beggars. Those with handicaps had no welfare system in their society, but had to go to places seeking money from synagogue and temple worshipers. The Bible teaches to give to the poor and needed. Alms for the poor were thought to be part of their godly responsibility for those less fortunate.

In recent weeks we looked in Matthew’s gospel of healings of leprosy, paralytics, demonic-filled people, the woman with issue of blood, and even the raising of the dead. This week we look at two incidents of blind men and a mute. Some question if the record from Matthew 9 and Matthew 20 are the same or different. I think they are different situations, but because of the similarities I will address the healing of the blind together. Just as the healing of the dumb demoniac certainly can be similar miracles with different people.

Mark records details of Jesus healing blind Bartimaeus in Mark 10:46,47 “Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

When people talked about the miracle worker who could heal, people came from near and far not only to hear Him, but receive healing. In most of the other healings we aren't given the person’s name. Mark included it for us. It seems to me that one reason was that he was probably well known, particularly in that region of Jericho.

What does it mean when it says in Hebrews 4:16“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”?  Also, when we are taught to pray, ask, seek, and knock in Matthew. The verb tense means keep on asking, seeking and knocking.

Application:   Where might you be seeking the mercy of God in your life or in the lives of your loved ones at this time. Have you considered asking others to intercede with you before the Lord? Are you willing to seek Him above your need?

Prayer:   Lord, teach me to be a faithful prayer warrior.