Jesus doesn't just list miracles; He points to signs that directly echo the prophecies about the Messiah, especially Isaiah's promises that the blind, deaf, and oppressed would be healed and hear good news. This response is a deliberate, powerful affirmation that He is the one they've been waiting for, not just through actions, but by fulfilling Scripture in a way that should leave no doubt.
And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
John the Baptist, languishing in prison, hears about Jesus' ministry and sends his disciples to ask if Jesus is the promised Messiah. Jesus responds not with a direct "yes," but by pointing to the very signs foretold in Scripture that the Messiah would perform, showcasing His divine power and compassion to the waiting messengers. He then adds that the good news is being proclaimed to the poor, a key characteristic of the Messianic age that John would recognize.
John the Baptist, imprisoned and facing his own end, sends a crucial question to Jesus: 'Are you the one who is to come?' How does Jesus respond? Not with abstract theology, but with powerful, observable truth.
Jesus directs John's disciples to 'Go and tell John what you have seen and heard.' This isn't just a suggestion; it's a strategic directive. Jesus wants John to witness the reality of His ministry through these miraculous acts.
The Prophetic Echo
Jesus meticulously lists specific healings:
These aren't random acts of kindness. They directly echo prophecies found in Isaiah (specifically Isaiah 29 and 35). For John, a scholar of the Scriptures, these signs were undeniable evidence that the promised Messiah had indeed arrived and was fulfilling ancient predictions.
Amidst the dramatic physical healings, Jesus includes one more crucial piece of evidence. It's a sign that speaks volumes about the very nature of God's kingdom.
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Jesus adds, 'and the poor have good news preached to them.' This isn't just another item on a list; it's presented as the climax, the crowning achievement.
A Radical Priority
In the ancient world, the poor were often overlooked, dismissed, or even despised. They lacked status, influence, and resources. Yet, Jesus deliberately prioritizes them.
This focus on the poor was a revolutionary sign, distinguishing the kingdom of God from any earthly power structure and revealing God’s deep compassion for the vulnerable.
Understand the original words
chōlos · Greek Adjective/Noun
A person with a physical disability of the limbs; their healing is a messianic sign that the restoration of creation has begun under the reign of the Messiah.
lepros · Greek Noun
A person afflicted with leprosy, a skin disease that caused ritual impurity and social isolation; their cleansing represents not only physical healing but also spiritual purification and restoration to God's community.
kōphos · Greek Adjective/Noun
The state of lacking the ability to hear; symbolically, it reflects an inability or refusal to hear the Word of God or the truth of the Gospel.
nekros · Greek Adjective/Noun
The state of cessation of life; raising the dead is the ultimate demonstration of God's power over the final enemy and proves Jesus as the Author of Life and the promised Messiah.
ptōchos · Greek Adjective/Noun
Those who are economically disadvantaged or, in a spiritual sense, those who realize their total dependence on God; they are the primary recipients of the Gospel.
John's question wasn't about doubt but a desire to confirm Jesus' identity for his own disciples, who were still hesitant. Jesus' response points to the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecies, demonstrating his messianic power and compassion, especially towards the marginalized.
c. 27-30 AD
John the Baptist's Ministry
John the Baptist begins his public ministry, calling people to repentance and baptizing them. He preaches about the imminent arrival of the Messiah.
c. 28 AD
John the Baptist Imprisoned
John the Baptist is imprisoned by Herod Antipas, likely for his outspoken criticism of Herod's unlawful marriage.
c. 28-30 AD
Jesus' Galilean Ministry Intensifies
Jesus begins his public ministry in Galilee, performing numerous miracles, teaching with authority, and gathering disciples. His fame spreads rapidly.
c. 29 AD— this verse
John's Disciples Visit Jesus
John the Baptist, while imprisoned, hears about Jesus' ministry and sends two of his disciples to ask Jesus directly if he is the one who is to come, or if they should expect another.
c. 29 AD
Jesus Responds with Messianic Signs
Jesus directs John's disciples to report back what they have seen and heard: the blind receiving their sight, the lame walking, lepers cleansed, the deaf hearing, the dead raised, and the poor hearing the good news. These signs directly correspond to prophecies about the Messiah found in Isaiah.
Jesus directly quotes these prophetic verses from Isaiah, showing how the very signs the Old Testament foretold as indicators of the Messiah's coming were being fulfilled in His ministry.
Matthew 11:4-5This passage records the same exchange between Jesus and John's disciples, highlighting the consistency of Jesus' response and the significance of the miracles as evidence of His identity.
Luke 4:18-19Jesus quotes from Isaiah 61 here, showing His self-awareness that He was sent to bring 'good news to the poor,' a theme echoed in the message sent back to John.
1 Corinthians 1:27-29This passage offers a theological perspective on why the Gospel is preached to the poor, emphasizing God's choice to use the weak and humble to confound the wise and strong, reflecting the audience Jesus was reaching.
calvinLuke 7:18-23: "And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things."
- And it happened that when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, [4] he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. 2. Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3. And said to him, Art thou he who was to come, or do we look for another? 4. And Jesus answering said to them, Go and relate to John those things which you hear and see. 5. The blin…
clarkeLuke 7:22: "Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached."
See these verses explained at large on Matthew 11:4-15 (note).
Jesus doesn't just list miracles; He points to signs that directly echo the prophecies about the Messiah, especially Isaiah's promises that the blind, deaf, and oppressed would be healed and hear good news. This response is a deliberate, powerful affirmation that He is the one they've been waiting for, not just through actions, but by fulfilling Scripture in a way that should leave no doubt.
John the Baptist, languishing in prison, hears about Jesus' ministry and sends his disciples to ask if Jesus is the promised Messiah. Jesus responds not with a direct "yes," but by pointing to the very signs foretold in Scripture that the Messiah would perform, showcasing His divine power and compassion to the waiting messengers. He then adds that the good news is being proclaimed to the poor, a key characteristic of the Messianic age that John would recognize.
John the Baptist, languishing in prison, hears about Jesus' ministry and sends his disciples to ask if Jesus is the promised Messiah. Jesus responds not with a direct "yes," but by pointing to the very signs foretold in Scripture that the Messiah would perform, showcasing His divine power and compassion to the waiting messengers. He then adds that the good news is being proclaimed to the poor, a key characteristic of the Messianic age that John would recognize.
"And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them." — Jesus doesn't just list miracles; He points to signs that directly echo the prophecies about the Messiah, especially Isaiah's promises that the blind, deaf, and oppressed would be healed and hear goo…
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Last reviewed October 2026
