Luke 7:22
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)
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Jesus doesn't just list a string of miracles; he's carefully selecting signs that directly echo prophecies about the Messiah, particularly from Isaiah. The inclusion of "the poor have good news preached to them" is the most powerful point, showing that the Messiah's work is primarily for those overlooked and marginalized by society.
John the Baptist, imprisoned and facing his own mortality, sends his disciples to Jesus with a crucial question: "Are you the one who is to come, or should we wait for another?" Jesus responds by pointing to His immediate actions – healing the blind, lame, deaf, and cleansing lepers, even raising the dead – and crucially, that the good news is being preached to the poor, directly fulfilling ancient prophecies about the Messiah's coming.
John the Baptist, imprisoned and waiting, sends a crucial question to Jesus: 'Are you the one?' Jesus' answer isn't a simple yes or no, but a powerful reminder of ancient promises.
Jesus doesn't just perform amazing feats; He fulfills Scripture! He tells John's disciples to report what they've seen and heard, directly echoing prophecies from Isaiah.
Signs of Messiah
Jesus is saying, 'Look at what's happening! These aren't random acts; they are the very signs the prophets foretold would announce the coming of God's promised King.' It's a direct, undeniable connection to the Old Testament Scriptures John himself had taught.
Amidst the dramatic physical healings, Jesus includes one particular group in His message, revealing a core aspect of His mission that might surprise us.
Jesus doesn't just list physical restorations; He adds, 'the poor have good news preached to them.' This isn't just another miracle; it's a declaration of the Gospel's heart and purpose.
Good News for the Needy
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.
John the Baptist's question about Jesus' identity, though seemingly doubtful, prompted Jesus to directly point to his miraculous works as evidence of fulfilling ancient Messianic prophecies, including the proclamation of good news to the poor.
c. 27 AD
Jesus' Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his public ministry in Galilee after his baptism by John the Baptist. He starts teaching, healing, and gathering disciples.
c. 28 AD
John the Baptist Imprisoned
John the Baptist is imprisoned by Herod Antipas for condemning his unlawful marriage. His ministry largely ceases as he is confined.
c. 28 AD— this verse
John's Disciples Visit Jesus
John, hearing about Jesus' miracles from his own disciples, sends them to ask Jesus if he is the promised Messiah.
c. 28 AD
Jesus' Reply to John
Jesus directs John's messengers to report the miracles they have seen and heard, directly fulfilling prophecies of the Messiah.
c. 28 AD
This passage in Isaiah directly foretells the very signs Jesus lists: the opening of blind eyes, deaf ears, and the lame leaping, showing Jesus' actions are fulfilling ancient prophecy.
Isaiah 61:1Jesus' statement that 'the poor have good news preached to them' directly echoes this verse, highlighting the Messianic mission to bring liberation and hope to the marginalized.
Matthew 11:4-5This is the parallel account in Matthew's Gospel, providing the same context of John the Baptist questioning Jesus and Jesus responding with these specific signs.
1 Corinthians 1:27Paul echoes the theme of God choosing the 'weak' and 'foolish' things to shame the wise, which aligns with Jesus preaching the Gospel to the poor, showing God's upside-down kingdom.
Acts 10:38Peter describes Jesus as one 'who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil,' which captures the essence of the restorative miracles Jesus performed as detailed in Luke's account.
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 a string of miracles; he's carefully selecting signs that directly echo prophecies about the Messiah, particularly from Isaiah. The inclusion of "the poor have good news preached to them" is the most powerful point, showing that the Messiah's work is primarily for those overlooked and marginalized by society.
John the Baptist, imprisoned and facing his own mortality, sends his disciples to Jesus with a crucial question: "Are you the one who is to come, or should we wait for another?" Jesus responds by pointing to His immediate actions – healing the blind, lame, deaf, and cleansing lepers, even raising the dead – and crucially, that the good news is being preached to the poor, directly fulfilling ancient prophecies about the Messiah's coming.
John the Baptist, imprisoned and facing his own mortality, sends his disciples to Jesus with a crucial question: "Are you the one who is to come, or should we wait for another?" Jesus responds by pointing to His immediate actions – healing the blind, lame, deaf, and cleansing lepers, even raising the dead – and crucially, that the good news is being preached to the poor, directly fulfilling ancient prophecies about the Messiah's coming.
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Jesus is showing John that His kingdom isn't about earthly power or societal status, but about bringing the transforming message of God's love to those who need it most.
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.
Jesus Commends John the Baptist
Following the departure of John's messengers, Jesus speaks to the crowds about John, highlighting his role as a forerunner and commending his faithfulness.
"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 a string of miracles; he's carefully selecting signs that directly echo prophecies about the Messiah, particularly from Isaiah. The inclusion of "the poor have good news preac…
