Events in Jericho

Bartimaeus (Matthew 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43)

Matthew and Mark state that this event occurred when Jesus left Jericho. Luke’s account says it took place as he was coming near Jericho. This causes some difficulties at first glance and is a passage that some reference to claim that the Bible contains contradictions. However, the difference arises because, at this time, there were two Jerichos. Herod had built a new Jericho about two miles from the original city, on the side closer to Jerusalem. The Gentiles mostly occupied the new city, while the Jews occupied the older city. Thus, this event takes place as Jesus leaves the ancient city of Jericho and approaches the new city of Jericho.

Matthew’s account tells us that there were two blind men involved, while Mark and Luke’s accounts mentioned one blind man. Mark’s account tells us precisely who the blind man is: Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus. His name is a bit striking as the meaning of Bartimaeus is “son of Timaeus.” The difference in number is not contradictory. Neither Mark nor Luke stated that there was only one man. The fact that they focused on one man doesn’t preclude that there were actually two involved.

The men were sitting at the side of the road begging. There was a large crowd with Jesus, and the blind men realized something important was happening. Hearing that Jesus was going by, they began crying loudly, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” The people out in front of Jesus tried to quiet the men down, but they shouted out all the more. These men knew who Jesus was, they knew his lineage, and they knew that he could cure blindness. By calling Jesus the Son of David, they confessed their belief that Jesus was the Messiah.

Jesus stopped before them and asked what they wanted him to do for them. Those in the crowd told the men that Jesus was calling for them. Mark mentions that Bartimaeus cast aside his outer cloak, which would have slowed him down, and thus hints that Bartimaeus, though blind, hurried to Jesus’ voice. They stated that they wanted to regain their sight. This tells us that they once saw but lost their sight sometime in the past. Jesus told them to receive their sight. They were made well because of their faith.

They demonstrated faith by calling Jesus the Messiah, asking for mercy from him, preserving to call upon Jesus despite the opposition, and running to Jesus when called. Bartimaeus and the other man began following Jesus and giving glory to God. The people who witnessed this miracle also gave glory to God.

Zaccheus (Luke 19:1-10)

Jesus continued through the new Jericho, and the multitude followed him. A rich tax collector named Zaccheus wanted to see Jesus, but he couldn’t see above the crowd because he was short. He ran ahead of the crowd and climbed into a sycamore tree.

When Jesus reached the spot, he called up to Zaccheus by name. He told him to hurry down because he would stay at his house that day. This is the only recorded incident where Jesus invites himself to someone’s house. Interestingly, Jesus said it was something he “must” do.

Zaccheus was ecstatic. He hoped to catch a glimpse of the Messiah, and here, the Messiah was coming to spend time in his home. Others, though, who saw this murmured that Jesus would visit a sinner. It could have been that envy of Zaccheus’ good fortune that prompted this response. That Zaccheus was an agent of the Roman government made the matter worse in their sight.

Zacchaeus stood up in his own defense. He declared that he would give half of his wealth to the poor on this day. Remember that he was a wealthy man. He does not state that he will be doing this on an ongoing basis. In addition, he states that if he had defrauded anyone, he would restore their money fourfold. The law required various fines for different types of theft (Exodus 22:1-4; Numbers 5:7). The amount he set was higher than what the Law of Moses required. This is not an admission that Zacchaeus had purposely defrauded anyone. If he made his wealth by fraud, he would not have enough money to pay all that he had just promised.

Jesus praises Zaccheus, stating that salvation has come to his house and that he has confirmed himself as a true descendant of Abraham (Galatians 3:7). This was the purpose of Jesus' coming into the world (Matthew 18:11).

Parable of the Minas (Luke 19:11-27)

Once again, Luke introduces a parable of Jesus by telling us why it was told. Those following Jesus thought he would establish his kingdom shortly after he headed to Jerusalem. This parable was to prepare people for what would truly happen. The people dreamed of great deeds, honors, and rich blessings coming upon them when the kingdom was established. Like James and John, they hoped for positions in the kingdom.

The parable starts out with a nobleman leaving for a distant country to receive possession of a kingdom. He would eventually return afterward. Before leaving, he gives ten servants a mina, each with a command to invest the money until he returns. A mina equals 60 shekels (a day’s wage) and 1/60 of a talent. Thus, a mina is roughly what a laborer makes in two months. We are also told that some who were a part of his country did not want him as their ruler. They sent a delegation to the distant country to protest his appointment.

The nobleman in this parable is Jesus. He is again warning people that he would shortly be leaving for the distant country of Heaven to receive his kingdom (Daniel 7:13-14; I Corinthians 15:25-26; Hebrews 2:8). The servants are Christians who have been given the same amount with which to work. They were told to do business with what they were given until Jesus returns. Using the number 10 represents a complete or whole set – in this case, all Christians. The citizens who rejected Jesus were the Jews. They were already members of God’s kingdom, but they did not want Jesus as their leader (John 1:11). It brings to mind what the Jews said of Jesus as he was being crucified (John 19:15, 21).

The concept of going elsewhere to receive a kingdom was familiar to Jesus’ audience. The Roman Empire was in control of the world. While they allowed some of their territories to have self-rule, those rulers had to be approved by the Roman government. Herod the Great was a friend of Caesar and gained a political appointment to rule over Palestine. His son was removed from power because of protests to Rome by the Jews over his cruel methods of ruling.

After receiving the kingdom, the nobleman returns and asks for an accounting from his servants. One man took his one mina and made ten more from it. For that, he was awarded authority over ten cities. Another man took his one mina and made five more from it. For that, he was awarded authority over five cities. But one man feared the lord and kept the mina hidden in a handkerchief. For this, he was punished.

Though each servant was given the same opportunity, the amount made reflected the skills of each man. Though the amount invested was relatively small, it became proof of each individual's ability. Thus, the most profitable received the most responsibility (II Corinthians 4:17). Notice that each servant attributed the increase to the Lord’s investment and not to their own abilities (I Corinthians 15:10).

The man who returned his Lord’s mina had disobeyed the Lord’s command to do business with money. By his own statement, he acknowledged that the Lord was expecting profit from his investment, yet he returned to him none. He even hinted that it was his Lord’s fault because he was such a severe man. Yet the Lord’s generous gifts to the two prior servants show this charge was untrue. The Lord points out that, at a minimum, he could have placed the mina in a bank to draw interest while he was gone.

The man’s mina was taken from him and given to the man with ten minas. This surprises those listening. After all, the man had the most minas; why should he receive more? But if you think of it from the point of view of an investment, it makes very good sense. If you were going to invest money, would you do it with the one who has shown he can get a ten-fold increase or the one who gained a five-fold increase? Thus, the one who has shown the greatest ability will be given more responsibility, a point made before (Matthew 13:12; Mark 4:25; Luke 8:18).

Finally, those who had rejected Jesus as their king were commanded to appear before him to be killed. This is probably an allusion to the destruction of Jerusalem.