Son of David, have pity on us!

We are more familiar with the Markan story of the cure of the blind Bartimaeus out of which Matthew developed the story of the two blind men.

- 

This prepares for Jesus' answer to the emissaries of John the Baptist that the works of the Messiah would involve the cure of the blind men (Mt 11:4). The two blind men call Jesus "Son of David," that is, the Messiah.

The Messiah was expected to restore the glory of the Davidic reign. Was the Messiah also thought to bring healing? Most probably, in the original context, the faith of the blind men consists mainly in their confidence that Jesus can do what they ask him. They are placing their trust on someone they know, even if only in a very limited way.

This is implied in Jesus' query: "Do you believe that I can do this?" But read on the second level-that of Matthew and his communityJesus as the Davidic Messiah is the fulfiller of the ancient prophecies. A sign of the age of salvation that Jesus brings is healing from blindness: "Here is your God, he comes with vindication ..