Compassion of the Christ

Who can truly see? Matthew 20:29–34 prepares us for the sermon in the morning public worship on the coming Lord's Day. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the one who can see his own great need, and Jesus's great compassion and ability for that need, is the one who sees truly. The sermon centers on the encounter between Jesus and two blind men outside Jericho, contrasting their heartfelt cries for mercy with the misguided noise of a surrounding multitude focused on outward displays of greatness. Drawing from Psalm 72 and Matthew 20, the message emphasizes that true recognition of Jesus lies not in worldly acclaim but in acknowledging his compassionate nature and willingness to personally engage with the needy, as demonstrated by his touch and subsequent healing. Ultimately, the sermon calls listeners to emulate the blind men's faith, recognizing their own neediness and using any newfound ability or strength to follow Christ with humility and confidence, trusting in his divine compassion and ability to remedy their spiritual and physical limitations.