“What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?”
The full verse · Mark 10:51 · KJV
and unto , thou that I should unto ? The blind unto , , I might receive my .
Asked by
Jesus: the Son of God and promised Messiah, going out of Jericho with His disciples and a great number of people on the way up to Jerusalem (Mark 10:46)
Asked to
Bartimaeus: son of Timaeus, a blind beggar by the highway side at Jericho, who cried, "Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me" (Mark 10:46-47)
The Scene
As Jesus leaves Jericho, blind Bartimaeus cries out to Him in spite of the crowd, and Jesus has him called; he casts away his garment and comes (Mark 10:46-50).
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionJesus could see that the man was blind, yet He asked. Bartimaeus had only cried, "have mercy on me" (Mark 10:47-48). Gill fills out what Jesus' question means: "is it money thou askest for, to relieve thy wants? or is it that thy sight may be restored?" The question gave Bartimaeus the chance to say for himself what he believed Jesus could do.
Mark sets this question just after Jesus asked James and John almost the same thing: "What would ye that I should do for you?" (Mark 10:36). They asked for seats of glory. This blind beggar, whom many had told to hold his peace (Mark 10:48), would ask for something very different.
The Response
What Scripture recordsBartimaeus answered plainly: "Lord, that I might receive my sight." Jesus said, "Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole." At once "he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way" (Mark 10:52). He did not go home. He followed Jesus on the road, the road that led up to Jerusalem (Mark 10:32).
Historical Context
The world behind the wordsThe word the KJV translates "Lord" is Rabbouni. Thayer calls it "A title of honor and reverence" by which Jesus is addressed, and notes that John explains it as meaning teacher. It appears in the New Testament only here and in John 20:16, where Mary Magdalene uses it at the empty tomb.
"Thy faith hath made thee whole" uses sesoken, from sozo, a verb that means both to heal and to save. Gill notes it can read "saved thee," and says his faith rested on "Jesus as the Messiah, the son of David."
Barnes explains that the garment Bartimaeus cast away was "his outer garment," and says he threw it off "full of joy at the prospect of being healed, and that he might run without impediment to Jesus" (Mark 10:50).
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyThis question shows a Savior who stops for one person the crowd wanted silenced. "Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called" (Mark 10:49). He does not just meet a need He can see; He invites the person to speak to Him.
Mark puts two answers to the same question side by side. James and John wanted to sit at His right hand and left hand (Mark 10:37) and were told it was "not mine to give" (Mark 10:40). Bartimaeus asked for sight and received it at once. Gill says the faith that saved him "respected not only the power of Christ in restoring his sight, but his faith in Jesus as the Messiah." The blind man saw who Jesus was before he could see Him. Matthew Henry draws the lesson: "It is not enough to come to Christ for spiritual healing, but, when we are healed, we must continue to follow him."
Look Closer
What did many in the crowd do when Bartimaeus cried out?
Carry the question into prayer and conversation.
Lord Jesus, You stood still for a man others tried to silence; when You ask what I want You to do for me, what is the true answer of my heart?
A prayer to carry into the day.
- Jesus asked a question whose answer seemed obvious. Why might it matter to say your need to Him in your own words?
- Bartimaeus kept calling when others told him to stop. Tell about someone whose persistence in seeking Jesus encouraged you.
For you, a small group, a friend, or the dinner table.
Jesus invites you to tell Him plainly what you need. He knew Bartimaeus was blind, yet He waited for him to ask. You do not have to dress up your prayers. "Lord, that I might receive my sight" was short and honest.
Don't let other voices quiet you either. The crowd told Bartimaeus to hold his peace, and he cried out "the more a great deal" (Mark 10:48).
This does not mean Jesus will give you everything you ask for in the way you ask. In the same chapter, James and John asked for seats and were told no (Mark 10:40). Bartimaeus asked for mercy and sight from the Son of David, and he used his new sight to follow Jesus. Ask, and then follow.
Built from the biblical text and checked against trusted commentaries and lexicons. References & Sources