Bible Strands
Matthew 20:31
The crowd admonished them to be silent, but they cried out all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The crowd attempts to silence two blind men, but they persist in addressing Jesus as “Lord, Son of David” and pleading for mercy as He passes by.
The words — ἐπετίμησεν (epetimēsen) literally means “rebuked,” describing the crowd’s command to stop, while σιωπήσωσιν (siōpēsōsin) means “they may be silent,” indicating the enforced quiet the blind men deliberately ignore.
The thread — This pattern of persistent appeal against opposition appears when disciples rebuke those bringing children to Jesus (Matthew 19:13) and aligns with the biblical instruction to devote oneself to continual prayer (Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Why it lands — The text requires readers to maintain direct, unshaken appeal to Jesus despite external pressure to cease, treating His authority as the only practical source of intervention.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.
Cross-references
- Matthew 19:13 Then little children were brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them. And the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
- Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful,
- 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
- Genesis 32:25 When the man saw that he could not overpower Jacob, he struck the socket of Jacob’s hip and dislocated it as they wrestled.
- Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.
- Matthew 15:23 But Jesus did not answer a word. So His disciples came and urged Him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”
- Luke 11:8 I tell you, even though he will not get up to provide for him because of his friendship, yet because of the man’s persistence, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
- Luke 18:1 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart:
- Luke 18:39 Those who led the way admonished him to be silent, but he cried out all the louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”