Luc. 18:31-43.
And he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things shall be accomplished which were written by the prophets concerning the Son of man. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles; and he shall be mocked, and reviled, and spit upon; and they shall scourge him, and kill him; and the third day he shall rise again. But they heard none of these things, and the words were hid from them, neither knew they what they spake. Now it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Jericho, that a blind man sat by the way side begging. When he heard the people passing by, he inquired what it was. Then they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he cried out, saying, JEsu, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. But they that went on before afflicted him, that he should hold his peace. But he cried much more, Son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus held his peace, and commanded him to be brought unto him. And when they had brought him nigh unto him, he asked him, saying, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may see. And Jesus said unto him, Be thou seen; thy faith hath helped thee. And straightway he saw, and followed him, and glorified God. And all the people who saw these things praised God.
*) Cf. Erl. A. opp. var. ar^. VII, 384 sq. D. Red.
Son of David, have mercy on me. These are words or a prayer of a faith that proves itself brave and steadfast against all obstacles of reason. For this reason Christ is pleased with such a sincere prayer, which comes from faith, and immediately proves willing, and as it were gives himself captive to his will, saying, "What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?" as if to say, Thy faith overcomes me; ask what thou wilt. This is said to us and is done so that we may learn to be impetuous, impudent, and constant in faith, petition, and perseverance; just as all other examples teach this throughout the Gospel! And especially is this blind man and beggar pictured before others as one who is especially insolent; for he does not cease from others' reproaches and threats, but continues until he receives them; and as if there were no man in the world but he and Christ, so he plugs his ears against all their cries, and hangs and perseveres in Christ's grace alone.
2. "Your faith has helped you". It is a very special word, that not he himself, but the faith of that man does such a miracle. He humbled himself and filled his faith with all glory and honor because of the miracle. He himself does it, but he wants it to be seen, not as having been done by him, but by faith. True faith is such a great and delicious thing in God's eyes. For the blind man undoubtedly deserved nothing, he had done nothing to benefit Christ, so much so that he did not even recognize him. But this is his merit, that he takes hold of the grace of Christ and trusts in it, and does not worry how worthy or unworthy he is; but this is his one object, namely, that Christ is kind, pious, and merciful, like-minded toward all who so believe. Therefore Christ saith not, Thy works, thy worthiness, thy nobility, which thou hast from Abraham; nothing, nothing; but, Thy faith hath saved thee: that is, because thou believest that I can and will, therefore whatsoever thou believest be done unto thee.