Note 1 at Mt. 20:31: There are similarities in three of the gospel writers' accounts of Jesus healing these blind men in Jericho and there are also differences in their stories that make it difficult to determine if they are describing one instance or possibly multiple instances.

The similarities are that all of these accounts took place in Jericho and during the same time frame, probably the same day (see chronological chart on p. viii). In all three instances the blind men called out to Jesus for healing, were told by the crowds to hold their peace, continued calling for help even louder, and were finally summoned by Jesus. All three writers also record the blind men saying basically the same thing. In all three accounts, Jesus asked the blind men what they desired Him to do and Mark and Luke record Jesus as saying that their faith had produced their healing.

The differences are that Luke says this incident took place as Jesus came nigh unto Jericho (Lk. 18:35) while Matthew and Mark state it happened as Jesus left Jericho (Mt. 20:29; Mk. 10:46). Matthew records two blind men while Mark and Luke mention only one. Matthew records Jesus touching the blind men while Mark and Luke mention Jesus speaking out that their faith had healed them.

It is possible to harmonize these accounts. There were actually two cities side by side -- the old city of Jericho and the new city of Jericho which was built by Herod the Great (see note 5 Lk. 10:30, p. 253). Therefore, this instance could have taken place while Jesus was coming out of one Jericho into the other. Mark and Luke also did not say that there was only one blind man healed but they only recorded one. It is possible that all three writers recorded the same instance with Mark and Luke singling out Bartimaeus for some reason. Possibly the other man didn't continue on with the Lord or perhaps Bartimaeus went on to become very well known among the believers and therefore rated special mention.

It is also possible that the writers are recording separate incidents. Jericho was the second largest city of Israel with approximately 100,000 people living there. Therefore, it would not be unreasonable to believe that Jesus healed many blind men in Jericho under similar circumstances in the same day.

We have placed all three writers' accounts together because it is certain that they all took place during the same time in approximately the same place and are possibly the same account. At any rate, there are possible explanations to any apparent discrepancies in the accounts, which once again shows that the scriptures are completely accurate, inspired of God, and without contradictions.