Matthew 20 33

Matthew 20:33 kjv

They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.

Matthew 20:33 nkjv

They said to Him, "Lord, that our eyes may be opened."

Matthew 20:33 niv

"Lord," they answered, "we want our sight."

Matthew 20:33 esv

They said to him, "Lord, let our eyes be opened."

Matthew 20:33 nlt

"Lord," they said, "we want to see!"

Matthew 20 verses

Matthew 20 33 Meaning

Matthew 20:33 describes the simple and direct request of two blind men to Jesus near Jericho. They declared their acknowledgment of His authority as "Lord" and expressed their singular, urgent desire for physical sight, articulating, "that our eyes may be opened." This request demonstrates their faith in Jesus' power to perform miracles and their understanding of His Messianic identity.

Matthew 20 33 Context

This verse is part of Jesus' final journey from Galilee to Jerusalem, leading up to His crucifixion. Immediately preceding this account in Matthew chapter 20, Jesus has made His third explicit prophecy of His suffering, death, and resurrection (Mt 20:17-19). This is then contrasted with the disciples' worldly ambitions, exemplified by the mother of James and John asking for positions of power in the Kingdom (Mt 20:20-28), which leads to Jesus teaching on true leadership as humble service ("the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve").

Against this backdrop of spiritual blindness and self-seeking among His closest followers, Jesus encounters these two blind men on the roadside near Jericho. Their cry, their persistence despite the crowd's rebuke, and their humble yet faith-filled request ("Lord, that our eyes may be opened") powerfully demonstrate a recognition of Jesus' identity and mission that the disciples often struggled with. Their immediate and desperate need, coupled with their trust, highlights Jesus' compassion and His consistent act of demonstrating the Kingdom through acts of healing and restoration, prioritizing the marginalized over the privileged.

Matthew 20 33 Word analysis

• They said (ἔλεγον - elegon): The Greek verb is in the imperfect tense, suggesting continuous or repeated action. This implies their persistent and fervent plea to Jesus, not a mere passing remark. It underscores their earnestness and desperate hope.
• to Him (αὐτῷ - autō): This dative pronoun emphasizes the direct focus of their appeal; they were speaking to Jesus specifically, recognizing Him as the one with authority and power.
• Lord (Κύριε - Kyrios): This title signifies profound respect, submission, and recognition of divine or supreme authority. In this context, coupled with their previous cry of "Son of David" (Mt 20:30-31), it is not merely a polite address but a confession of Jesus' unique power and Messianic identity, capable of performing miraculous acts like restoring sight.
• that our eyes may be opened (ἵνα ἀνοιχθῶσιν ἡμῶν οἱ ὀφθαλμοί - hina anoichthōsin hēmōn hoi ophthalmoi):
  • that (ἵνα - hina): This introduces a purpose clause, indicating the precise and singular objective of their plea. Their only desire was for this specific outcome.
  • our eyes (ἡμῶν οἱ ὀφθαλμοί - hēmōn hoi ophthalmoi): "Our" confirms the joint nature of their request. "Eyes" refers distinctly to their physical organs of sight, demonstrating their physical blindness and desire for physical restoration.
  • may be opened (ἀνοιχθῶσιν - anoichthōsin): This is an aorist passive subjunctive verb.
    • Passive voice highlights that the action of opening their eyes would be performed by another (Jesus, as God's agent), not by themselves.
    • Aorist tense points to a completed, instantaneous act – once opened, their sight would be fully restored.
    • Subjunctive mood expresses their strong desire, wish, or petition. It's not a demand but a fervent request made in hope.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "They said to Him, 'Lord,'": This initial phrase reveals their deliberate approach to Jesus and their profound respect or even spiritual recognition of His status. Their calling Him "Lord" signifies more than a social address, especially considering their persistence and earlier use of "Son of David." It's an acknowledgement of His power over their condition.
• "'that our eyes may be opened.'": This brief petition is remarkably specific, direct, and focused. It conveys their desperate need without elaboration or manipulation. It contrasts sharply with the earlier requests for status by James and John's mother, showing that the most fundamental and vital needs, presented in humility and faith, are met by Jesus. It is a profound request for complete physical restoration from utter darkness, signifying an act of creation or new creation.

Matthew 20 33 Bonus section

• Public Witness: The healing takes place along a busy road as Jesus leaves Jericho. This public setting amplifies the testimony of Jesus' power and Messianic authority, witnessed by a large crowd.
• Precedent in Matthew: This healing echoes Jesus' earlier healing of two blind men in Galilee (Mt 9:27-31), demonstrating His consistent ministry and power to restore sight, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy.
• The Power of Asking: The verse emphasizes the necessity of asking specifically and faithfully for what is needed, highlighting the responsive nature of Jesus to sincere, faith-filled prayers.
• Divine Action: The passive construction "may be opened" underlines that sight is a gift, an act of God through Christ, rather than something achieved by human effort or merit.

Matthew 20 33 Commentary

Matthew 20:33 is a poignant illustration of faith meeting compassion. The two blind men, physically marginalized and in complete darkness, exhibit profound spiritual insight that often eluded even Jesus' own disciples. Their plea, "Lord, that our eyes may be opened," is short, direct, and unadorned, yet it encompasses deep recognition of Jesus' authority ("Lord," coupled with their prior "Son of David") and His miraculous capability. Unlike the disciples' request for worldly power, the blind men's desire is for a fundamental restoration of life, an act only possible through divine intervention.

This scene stands in powerful contrast to the spiritual blindness of the ambitious disciples earlier in the chapter. While those who claimed to see were seeking positions of glory, these physically blind men were clear-sighted about Jesus' true power and role as Messiah, seeking His grace alone. Jesus' immediate compassion (shown in Mt 20:34) confirms that true spiritual understanding is found not in status or human schemes, but in humble faith and reliance on Him for fundamental healing and deliverance. Their physical sight being restored becomes a metaphor for the spiritual opening of eyes to Jesus' identity and the reality of God's Kingdom.