"Seeing" Jesus
Matthew 20:29-34 (ESV)
Jesus Heals Two Blind Men
And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.
Study Guide Questions:
Observation Questions
Observation Questions focus on gathering facts and identifying key details. This can include repeated words, themes, and characters). Observation asks "what does the text say?" not "what does the text mean?" It is not intended to go into interpretation or life application yet. Observations provide a crucial foundation for accurate interpretation and application, preventing misconceptions.
What observations do you note in today's passage?
What specific title did the blind men use when addressing Jesus, and what does this title signify about their understanding of Him?
How did the crowd react to the blind men’s cries, and how did the blind men respond to the crowd’s rebuke?
What actions did Jesus take in response to the blind men’s plea?
Interpretation Questions
Interpretation Questions focus on interpreting what has been observed. The goal is to try to understand the original author's intended meaning and purpose for the intended audience. Interpretation bridges observations with life applications. It will consider key terms, explores context, and answers "why" to uncover the main point.
What are some key points that resonated with you from the message?
Why do you think the crowd was trying to silence the blind men?
What did the blind men's pleas demonstrate about their view of Jesus?
In the sermon, the crowd is described as following Jesus “for the wrong reasons.” What might this look like in modern contexts, and how does it contrast with the blind men’s approach?
Life Application Questions
Life Application questions are intended to transform knowledge gleaned from observations and interpretations to practical application in your life. These questions are intended to move the facilitator and the participant from understanding what the text meant to how it applies to daily life. Life application questions are intended to transform listeners into doers, bridging biblical truth with current circumstances to foster personal transformation and spiritual maturity.
What is your key take away from the message?
When have you felt discouraged (like the the crowd tried to do to the blind men) from bringing your needs to God, and what practical step could you take to persist in prayer?
What distractions or habits do you turn to when facing pain or need, and how might you intentionally shift to crying out to Jesus instead?
Jesus asked the blind men, “What do you want me to do for you?” If He asked you this today, how would you answer? Are there desires or needs you’ve hesitated to name before Him?