“Et veniunt Bethsaidam, et adducunt ei cæcum, et rogabant eum ut illum tangeret.”
“And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.”
“When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.”
“He came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to him, and begged him to touch him.”
“And they come unto Bethsaida. And they bring to him a blind man, and beseech him to touch him.”
I. Here is a blind man brought to Christ by his friends, with a desire that he would touch him, v. 22. Here appears the faith of those that brought him—they doubted not but that one touch of Christ's hand would recover him his sight; but the man himself showed not that earnestness for, or expectation of, a cure that other blind men did. If those that are spiritually blind, do not pray for themselves, yet let their friends and relations pray for them, that Christ would be pleased to touch them.
Verses 22-26 Here is a blind man brought to Christ by his friends. Therein appeared the faith of those that brought him. If those who are spiritually blind, do not pray for themselves, yet their friends and relations should pray for them, that Christ would be pleased to touch them. The cure was wrought gradually, which was not usual in our Lord's miracles. Christ showed in what method those commonly are healed by his grace, who by nature are spiritually blind. At first, their knowledge is confused; but, like the light of the morning, it shines more and more to the perfect day, and then they see all things clearly. Slighting Christ's favours is forfeiting them; and he will make those who do so know the worth of privileges by the want of them.