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68. How many blind men were healed near Jericho? Matthew 20:30 vs. Mark 10:46, Luke 18:35

Matthew 20:30
And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.

Mark 10:46
And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimæus, the son of Timæus, sat by the highway side begging.

Luke 18:35
And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:

If I told you that I have two children, you would know that I have two children, but if I introduced you to my son, would you know I don’t have a daughter? Two.

Matthew tells us there were two blind men. Mark and Luke tell us about one of them specifically. Why? I can think of two reasons:

1. People knew who Bartimæus was, so Mark and Luke told his story specifically to lend credibility, personality, and intimacy to the account.
2. Mark and Luke were highlighting the particular faith of Bartimæus over his companion. 

Famous Bartimæus

Luke calls him “a certain blind man,” indicating that he is singling out one. Mark even names him, and gives his family – Bartimæus, son of Timæus, so it’s probable that the man was well known. Why else would Mark have bothered to name him? He may have been well known as a beggar, because he had been in one spot for decades or because he had an unusual personality. He may have become well known after his healing – as a Christian teacher or evangelist.

The other blind man isn’t mentioned by Mark or Luke, not because he wasn’t there, but because readers – especially Mark and Luke’s readers – probably knew of Bartimæus. Telling a man’s story by name means that people could verify it. It also makes the story more personal, which brings us to reason number two.

Faith for the Gentiles

It’s interesting to note that Matthew wrote his gospel for a Jewish audience, whereas Mark and Luke structured theirs for a more international readership. Something about Bartimæus’ story was evidently more important or interesting or well-known to a non-Jewish audience. I think it may have been his persistent faith.

Matthew’s account simply remembers the conversation, and that Jesus “had compassion” and healed them. Mark, however, makes sure to tell his readers that Bartimæus “[threw] aside his garment,” and both Mark and Luke make a special point to quote Jesus explaining, “Your faith has made you well.”

Because until Jesus came, salvation was of the Jews. The rest of us were unclean sinners outside of God’s promises. The Jewish people were God’s people, and the rest of us Gentiles were not.

In Christ, however, “there is neither Jew nor Gentile.” In Christ, we are saved and adopted into the family by faith. Our sin is forgiven, we are healed and delivered, and the promises of a “new” and “better” covenant are ours.

Mark and Luke were writing to non-Jewish audiences, so they probably had it in mind to use Bartimæus’ story to demonstrate the role and the power of faith in our relationship to Jesus and the Father. Bartimæus was the one who threw off his garment in his haste to get to Jesus, and thus he was probably the one leading his friend to healing and salvation. Mark and Luke are talking to people who felt like God had been ignoring or overlooking them, and they’re saying, “Your time has come. God is available for you if you really believe it.

Short Answer

Two, but which one are you?