Luke 18 40

Luke 18:40 kjv

And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,

Luke 18:40 nkjv

So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him,

Luke 18:40 niv

Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him,

Luke 18:40 esv

And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him,

Luke 18:40 nlt

When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him. As the man came near, Jesus asked him,

Luke 18 verses

Luke 18 40 Meaning

Jesus, hearing the persistent cries of the blind man by the roadside in Jericho, intentionally stopped His journey and halted the accompanying crowd. Demonstrating His divine authority and compassionate attention, He issued a command for the man to be brought into His immediate presence. Upon the man's approach, Jesus then engaged him directly by asking a specific question, initiating a personal interaction before providing healing. This verse highlights Jesus' purposeful interruption of His own schedule to extend mercy and His practice of personally engaging with those seeking His help.

Luke 18 40 Context

Luke 18:40 occurs immediately after the blind man, often identified as Bartimaeus (as in Mark's parallel account), has persistently cried out to Jesus, calling Him "Son of David," despite the crowd's attempts to silence him. The broader context of Luke chapter 18 features Jesus teaching His disciples on the qualities of genuine discipleship, particularly through the parables of the persistent widow (illustrating the need for perseverance in prayer) and the Pharisee and the tax collector (emphasizing humility). Directly before this encounter, Jesus had predicted His suffering and resurrection, but His disciples did not grasp it. This healing event thus serves as a powerful demonstration of Jesus' authority, compassion, and divine nature, contrasting with the spiritual blindness of many around Him. It takes place as Jesus is approaching Jerusalem, highlighting His determined journey towards His crucifixion. Jericho, a prominent city on this route, was a place where many would gather and watch Jesus pass through.

Luke 18 40 Word analysis

• And Jesus stood still (Καὶ ὁ Ἰησοῦς στὰς - Kai ho Iēsous stas):
  • "And Jesus": Identifies the main actor as the Christ.
  • "stood still" (στὰς - stas): This is a participle derived from histēmi, meaning "to stand," "to cause to stand," "to stop." It conveys a deliberate, authoritative halt. In the midst of His journey and a moving crowd, Jesus purposefully stops. This signifies His complete control, His attention to the individual over the urgency of the moment or the press of the crowd. It represents a divine interruption for an outcast. It implies Jesus' willingness to diverge from His itinerary to respond to a heartfelt cry.
• and commanded him to be brought unto him:
  • "commanded" (ἐκέλευσεν - ekeleusen): From keleuō, meaning "to order," "to command." This word denotes authority and a sovereign decree. Jesus is not asking; He is directing. This highlights His power not just over sickness but also over human actions and circumstances.
  • "him to be brought" (αὐτὸν ἀχθῆναι - auton achthēnai): The passive infinitive "to be brought" shows the blind man as the object of Jesus' command, but also implies the cooperation of the crowd or those nearby. Despite their initial attempts to silence the man, they now become instruments of Christ's will. This demonstrates Jesus' ability to turn opposition or indifference into compliance. It brings a marginalized individual from the periphery to the center of attention.
  • "unto him": Emphasizes direct proximity and personal encounter with Jesus.
• and when he was come near (ἐγγίσαντος δὲ αὐτοῦ - engisantos de autou):
  • "come near" (ἐγγίσαντος - engisantos): A participle from eggizō, meaning "to draw near," "to approach." This highlights the blind man's obedience and eagerness to approach Jesus once given permission and help. The man's persistence culminates in physical proximity to the one who can help him. This signifies the active role of the seeker in moving towards Christ once called.
• he asked him (ἐπηρώτησεν αὐτόν - epērōtēsen auton):
  • "asked" (ἐπηρώτησεν - epērōtēsen): From eperōtaō, meaning "to inquire," "to question." While the blind man's need for sight was obvious, Jesus' question ("What do you want me to do for you?") was not born of ignorance but served multiple purposes: to draw out a specific expression of faith, to publicly acknowledge the man's desire, and to emphasize the relational aspect of divine healing. It dignifies the man, inviting him to articulate his deepest longing, affirming his identity as a person with needs, not just a disability. This prefigures the concept that even though God knows our needs, He invites us to express them through prayer.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be brought unto him": This sequence reveals Jesus' decisive action and divine authority. He takes charge of the situation, interrupting the natural flow and the crowd's expectations to focus on an individual. This challenges the common societal dismissal of the poor and disabled in that era, highlighting Jesus' inclusive kingdom where the marginalized are prioritized. It reflects His identity as Messiah, exercising kingly power and compassion as prophesied.
• "and when he was come near, he asked him": This pairing emphasizes the interaction dynamic. The man's obedient response to be brought near, coupled with Jesus' direct question, transforms a desperate cry into a personal encounter. Jesus does not heal from a distance or with a dismissive word. He invites articulation and participation, establishing a relational foundation for the miraculous work about to unfold. This models an interactive relationship between seeker and Savior.

Luke 18 40 Bonus section

The precise naming of the blind man as Bartimaeus in Mark's Gospel (Mk 10:46) and the mention of two blind men in Matthew's (Matt 20:30) highlights the general consistency but distinct focus of each Gospel. Luke's account, while not naming him, emphasizes the immediate, personal interaction, focusing on Jesus' stopping, calling, and questioning as key elements of divine engagement. This sequence (stopping, commanding, calling near, questioning) emphasizes the active, intentional nature of Jesus' grace – it's not a chance encounter, but a divine appointment orchestrated by the Lord of all. It also contrasts with the disciples' initial lack of understanding about Jesus' impending suffering and true nature, showing that the marginalized sometimes have clearer spiritual vision than those supposedly closer to the Messiah.

Luke 18 40 Commentary

Luke 18:40 is a profound display of Jesus' character, illustrating His sovereign authority, immense compassion, and intentional method of engagement. Unlike the indifferent crowd, Jesus deliberately interrupts His journey and defies societal norms to attend to the persistent plea of a blind beggar. His command for the man to be brought to Him demonstrates His active pursuit of the marginalized and His power to orchestrate circumstances.

The act of "standing still" is a powerful theological statement; it shows Jesus' deliberate cessation of His own itinerary, valuing the soul of one persistent outcast over the progress of His journey. It underlines the Messiah's readiness to personally intervene in moments of genuine faith.

When the man is brought near, Jesus' question, "What do you want me to do for you?", is not born of ignorance of the man's blindness, but of pedagogical and relational intent. It compels the man to vocalize his deepest desire, transforming a generalized plea ("have mercy") into a specific request for sight. This act validates the man's agency, confirming that faith is not a passive reception but an active, expressed desire. It underscores the principle that while God knows our needs, He invites us to participate in our healing and deliverance by articulating our faith and desire. This engagement leads to the immediate, public miracle of sight, confirming Jesus as the Son of David and the promised Healer.

• Example 1: Like Jesus, believers are called to "stop" and see the immediate needs around them, even amidst personal busy-ness, and prioritize individual distress over routine.
• Example 2: We should approach Jesus with clarity and conviction about what we need, even if it seems obvious, just as the blind man articulated his desire.
• Example 3: Jesus' interaction models a caring engagement; ministry is not just about giving, but also about listening and empowering the recipient to express their needs.