Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 18:36
And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.
See Poole on “Mat 20:30“, and following verses to Mat 20:34, See Poole on “Mar 10:46“, and following verses to Mar 10:52, where this whole history is more fully opened. It is here again very remarkable, how much Christ attributes to faith:
Thy faith hath saved thee, Luk 18:42, which can be no otherwise understood, than of faith as the condition that was required in the person to be healed, for it is most certain that Christ by his Divine power was the efficient cause of this blind mans healing; but he exerted this Divine power upon that exercise of faith which he discerned in the blind man, whose faith seemeth to be a degree higher than that of the lepers, Luk 17:13, who said no more than Jesus, Master. Jesus, thou Son of David, was much more than this. It speaks the blind mans persuasion, that Christ was the Messiah; for it was an uncontrolled tradition amongst the Jews, that the Messiah was to be the Son of David. Christ rewards the least exercises of true faith, but much more the higher exercises of it. It doth not appear that this blind man was fully informed who the Messiah should be, viz. God man, but so far as he knew he professeth, he calleth Jesus the
Son of David.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And hearing the multitude pass by,…. Their “voice”, as the Syriac version expresses it; the noise of their feet, and especially of their tongues;
he asked what it meant? what was the meaning of this concourse of people, and of this clamorous noise; or, as the Syriac version reads, “who it should be?” what person of note was passing by, that there was such a multitude after him? to which the answer best agrees.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Inquired (). Imperfect middle. Repeatedly inquired as he heard the tramp of the passing crowd going by ().
What this meant ( ). Literally, What it was. Without the optative is due to indirect discourse, changed from . With (margin of Westcott and Hort) the potential optative of the direct discourse is simply retained.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “And hearing the multitude pass by,” (akousas de ochlou diaporeuomenou) “Then when he heard a crowd passing through,” the area where he sat, referring specifically to the one Bartimaeus, Mar 10:46, This was his only sense of really knowing what was going on.
2) “He asked what it meant.” (epunthaeto ti eie touto) “He inquired just what it might be,” that was happening, Mar 10:47; Mat 20:30. For he could hear the commotion of the crowds, but see no one.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(36) Hearing the multitude pass by.Better, a multitude, the Greek having no article, and its absence better expressing the vague impression left on the blind man by the sound of many footsteps and voices.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘And hearing a crowd going by, he enquired what this meant.’
When the blind man became aware that larger crowds than usual were passing along the road he asked what it meant. Being blind he was sensitive to every movement.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
36 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.
Ver. 36. See Mat 20:29 ; Mar 10:46 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
36. ] Luke generally inserts see ch. Luk 9:46 : Act 5:24 ; Act 10:17 alli [106] . and var. readings.
[106] alli= some cursive mss.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Luk 18:36 . : in Lk. what he hears is the multitude passing through, which he would have seen if he had not been blind. In the parallels what is heard is that it was Jesus around whom the multitude had gathered, which even a seeing man might have had to learn by the ear. Lk. is careful to bring out the fact of blindness. is an instance of a participle serving as the object of a verb. What was heard was the passing of the crowd. ., the optative without in an indirect question makes the question definite ( cf. Luk 3:15 , Luk 8:9 , Luk 15:26 ).
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
he asked = he kept asking (Imperative mood) He knew not; but the other two heard and knew.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
36. ] Luke generally inserts -see ch. Luk 9:46 : Act 5:24; Act 10:17 alli[106]. and var. readings.
[106] alli= some cursive mss.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Luk 18:36. , this) viz. this great crowd.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
he: Luk 15:26, Mat 21:10, Mat 21:11
Reciprocal: Mar 10:47 – Jesus Mar 14:22 – this Act 2:12 – What
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
6
This wayside was a common place for people to travel, else the blind man would not have been occupying such a place to be seen by the people. Asked what it meant indicates that some unusual commotion was going on.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Luke alone mentioned that it was the noise of the multitude passing him by that led the blind man to ask what was happening. The writer may have done this simply to present a more vigorous scene, or the inclusion may reflect his characteristic interest in the multitudes, or both.