Luke 18 35

Luke 18:35 kjv

And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:

Luke 18:35 nkjv

Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging.

Luke 18:35 niv

As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.

Luke 18:35 esv

As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.

Luke 18:35 nlt

As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road.

Luke 18 verses

Luke 18 35 Meaning

As Jesus drew near to Jericho, a city located on His final journey to Jerusalem, a man who was blind had taken his usual place by the roadside and was begging. This verse sets the scene for a significant encounter of healing and faith, positioning Jesus' compassionate ministry directly within His strategic path toward His ultimate sacrifice, highlighting His continued focus on the marginalized even amidst pressing prophetic fulfillment.

Luke 18 35 Context

Luke 18:35 falls within a significant section of Luke's Gospel (Lk 9:51 - 19:27), often referred to as Jesus' "Journey to Jerusalem" or "Travel Narrative." In the verses immediately preceding (Lk 18:31-34), Jesus explicitly predicts His suffering, death, and resurrection to His disciples, yet they fail to understand. This encounter with the blind man at Jericho serves as a powerful contrast: while His closest followers remain spiritually blind to His true mission, a marginalized man, relying on faith, will be granted both physical sight and spiritual understanding. Jericho itself was an important city on the pilgrimage route to Jerusalem, and a prosperous administrative center under Herod the Great. The healing of the blind man leads directly into the episode with Zacchaeus (Lk 19:1-10), highlighting Jesus' unique outreach to those often overlooked or condemned by society – the poor and the rich tax collector – both in need of the Kingdom's touch.

Luke 18 35 Word analysis

• And (Καὶ - Kai): A simple conjunction. In Luke's Gospel, "Kai egeneto" (And it came to pass) is a common phrase (used over 50 times), indicating a narrative transition or the divine ordering of events. It connects the previous discussion of Jesus' suffering with the immediate unfolding of His compassionate actions.
• it came to pass (ἐγένετο - egeneto): This often-used Lucan idiom signals an unfolding event. It implies divine Providence at work, emphasizing that these encounters are not accidental but part of God's plan.
• as he was come nigh (ἐγγίζειν αὐτὸν - engizein auton): Meaning "drawing near" or "approaching." It emphasizes the specific moment of Jesus' proximity to Jericho, marking a significant transition in His journey.
• unto (εἰς - eis): A preposition indicating motion toward a destination, "into" or "to."
• Jericho (Ἰεριχώ - Ierichō): An ancient and strategically important city. Historically known as a "cursed city" (Josh 6:26), it was a wealthy center during Jesus' time due to its palm groves, balsam production, and its location on trade routes. It was also a priestly city, suggesting a strong religious presence. The exact geographical nuance (entering vs. leaving) compared to parallel accounts often sparks discussion among scholars, but for Luke, the approach is significant for his subsequent narrative, including the Zacchaeus account inside the city.
• a certain (τις - tis): Undesignated; marks him as a distinct individual without giving his name. Luke often focuses on specific individuals Jesus interacts with, highlighting His personal concern. Mark 10:46 names him Bartimaeus, but Luke's omission here draws attention to his marginalized status rather than his individual identity for this particular narrative.
• blind man (τυφλός - typhlos): This is his defining characteristic and his source of helplessness. In biblical thought, blindness often symbolizes spiritual ignorance or an inability to perceive divine truth, making this physical healing also a spiritual allegory.
• sat (ἐκάθητο - ekathēto): "Was sitting." Implies a static, habitual posture due to his condition and profession. He was settled there, making it his established place.
• by the way side (παρὰ τὴν ὁδόν - para tēn hodon): "Alongside the road." This was a common place for beggars, where travelers might offer alms. It emphasizes his public visibility yet social marginalization and dependence on others.
• begging (αἰτῶν - aitōn): "Asking" or "petitioning." This was his livelihood, born out of necessity due to his disability. It speaks to his destitution and reliance on charity. His act of begging for alms will soon transition to begging for divine intervention.

Words-Group Analysis:

• As he was come nigh unto Jericho: This phrase highlights Jesus' purposeful movement towards the city, not a random wandering. This journey to Jericho is part of Jesus' strategic advance toward Jerusalem and the fulfillment of prophecy.
• a certain blind man was sitting by the way side begging: This paints a vivid picture of the man's complete vulnerability, destitution, and dependence. His status as "blind" and "begging" places him at the lowest rung of society, exactly the kind of person Jesus consistently ministered to, in line with the prophecy in Isa 61:1 concerning Jesus' mission.

Luke 18 35 Bonus section

The seemingly minor discrepancy between Luke (Jesus entering Jericho) and Mark/Matthew (Jesus leaving Jericho) regarding the healing of the blind man is a frequent point of discussion among scholars. It is often reconciled by suggesting the existence of two Jerichos – an older city and a newer Roman city built by Herod the Great – allowing for a healing encounter on both approaches/departures, or, more likely, understanding Luke's literary purpose. Luke, renowned for his thematic arrangements, might have deliberately placed this healing before the Zacchaeus episode (Lk 19:1-10) to highlight the sequence of events leading up to Jesus' direct encounter with a figure like Zacchaeus inside Jericho. The spiritual parallel of physical blindness versus the "spiritual blindness" of the disciples (Lk 18:34, where they don't understand Jesus' passion predictions) and even Zacchaeus' initial spiritual condition further reinforces Luke's narrative focus on revelation and perception. The blind man’s physical affliction makes him spiritually open, providing a strong contrast to those who “see” but fail to understand Jesus’ true identity and mission.

Luke 18 35 Commentary

Luke 18:35 sets a pivotal scene as Jesus approaches Jericho. The verse, characterized by Luke's distinctive "it came to pass" (egeneto) phrasing, subtly emphasizes the divine orchestration of events. Jesus' deliberate movement toward Jericho, a prosperous yet historically "cursed" city, signifies His active engagement with humanity in all its states – both prosperity and profound poverty. The focus on "a certain blind man" who "sat by the wayside begging" instantly draws the reader's attention to a deeply marginalized individual. This is quintessential Luke, who consistently portrays Jesus' compassion and ministry directed toward the poor, the sick, the outcasts, and those in desperate need of God's grace. The man's condition, "blind" and "begging," epitomizes human helplessness and reliance on divine mercy, setting the stage for a dramatic encounter of faith and the restorative power of Christ. It's not just a descriptive detail but a thematic emphasis, contrasting with the disciples' spiritual blindness to Jesus' foretold passion. This act of setting the scene precedes a demonstration of radical restoration (the healing) which will be immediately followed by the conversion of Zacchaeus, emphasizing that the kingdom is available to those who recognize their need, whether physically blind or spiritually lost.