Matthew 11:4-5
And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus doesn't offer a direct verbal defense; instead, He directs John's messengers to observe His actions. This highlights that true validation comes from tangible evidence of God's work, not just pronouncements. He's showing that His kingdom is revealed through its impact on the suffering and the poor, fulfilling prophecy in ways words alone couldn't convey.
John the Baptist, languishing in prison, sends messengers to Jesus with a crucial question: "Are you the one who is to come, or should we wait for another?" Jesus' response doesn't directly answer the question but directs John's disciples to witness and report the very miracles and teachings that fulfill prophecies about the Messiah, particularly focusing on the healing of the sick and the proclamation of the gospel to the poor.
When the most important messenger of the age, John the Baptist, had doubts, how did Jesus respond? Not with a lengthy theological debate, but with a powerful, yet simple, instruction.
John the Baptist, imprisoned and awaiting his fate, sent messengers to Jesus with a crucial question: "Are you the one who is to come, or should we wait for another?" (Matthew 11:3). Jesus's reply, recorded in Matthew 11:4, is striking in its directness:
"Go and tell John what you hear and see."
This wasn't a deflection. Jesus was pointing to the tangible evidence of His ministry as the answer. He didn't rely on abstract arguments but on the actual works He was doing. This approach highlights:
Jesus didn't just perform miracles; He performed specific miracles that the prophets foretold. And who were the primary recipients of this divine attention?
Jesus's instructions to John's messengers aren't just about the what of the miracles, but also the who.
He directed them to report:
(Matthew 11:5 ESV).
This list is deeply significant. It's not just a catalog of amazing feats, but a declaration of the Kingdom of God's in-breaking into the world. Notice the inclusion of "the poor have the gospel preached to them."
Understand the original words
typhlos · Greek Adjective
A state of physical or spiritual darkness, often used in Scripture to describe those unable to see God’s truth or His redemptive works.
lepros · Greek Noun
In the biblical context, leprosy represents not only a severe skin disease but also a state of ritual impurity and separation from the community, requiring divine intervention for restoration.
ptōchos · Greek Adjective
A theological term referring to those who are socially, economically, or spiritually marginalized and lack the means to save themselves, thereby being uniquely receptive to the grace of God.
euangelizō · Greek Verb
Derived from 'euangelion,' meaning to proclaim the gospel or glad tidings, specifically the message of salvation and the coming of God’s kingdom in Jesus Christ.
John the Baptist, imprisoned and facing his own mortality, experienced a moment of doubt about Jesus' identity. Jesus' response, pointing to the fulfillment of messianic prophecies through His healing and evangelistic works, anchors His identity in concrete actions, validating His mission to those who observe His ministry.
c. AD 27-28
John the Baptist's Ministry Begins
John the Baptist begins his public ministry in the wilderness of Judea, calling people to repentance and baptizing them in the Jordan River. He proclaims the imminent arrival of the Messiah.
c. AD 28-29— this verse
Jesus' Galilean Ministry and Miracles
Jesus begins His public ministry in Galilee, teaching, preaching, and performing numerous miracles, including healing the sick and casting out demons. These signs draw large crowds.
c. AD 29
John the Baptist Imprisoned
John the Baptist is imprisoned by Herod Antipas for denouncing his unlawful marriage to Herodias. His ministry is effectively silenced, though his disciples continue to follow him.
c. AD 29
John's Disciples Question Jesus
Hearing about Jesus' powerful works, John, while still in prison, sends two of his disciples to ask Jesus directly, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we wait for another?"
Jesus directly quotes this prophecy when answering John, showing that His miraculous works are signs that the promised Messiah has indeed come to restore and heal.
Isaiah 61:1Jesus also references this passage, highlighting that a key sign of the Messiah is the proclamation of good news to the poor, underscoring the compassionate nature of His mission.
Luke 7:22This passage from Luke's Gospel records Jesus' answer to John in a similar way, emphasizing the miracles He performed as direct evidence of His identity.
John 5:36Jesus here points to the works the Father has given Him to accomplish as testimony that the Father sent Him, paralleling His response to John by pointing to His actions as proof.
Matthew 13:16-17Jesus speaks of the blessedness of seeing and hearing His current works, contrasting it with the longing of prophets and righteous people of old who desired to witness such things but did not.
barnesMatthew 11:4: "Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:"
Go and show John again ... - Jesus referred them for an answer to these miracles. They were proof that he was the Messiah. Prophets had indeed performed miracles, but no prophet had performed so many, or any so important. Jesus, moreover, performed them "in his own name" and by his own power. Prophets had done it by the power of God. Jesus, therefore, performed the works which none b…
calvinMatthew 11:1-6: "And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities."
- 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 answeri…
Jesus doesn't offer a direct verbal defense; instead, He directs John's messengers to observe His actions. This highlights that true validation comes from tangible evidence of God's work, not just pronouncements. He's showing that His kingdom is revealed through its impact on the suffering and the poor, fulfilling prophecy in ways words alone couldn't convey.
John the Baptist, languishing in prison, sends messengers to Jesus with a crucial question: "Are you the one who is to come, or should we wait for another?" Jesus' response doesn't directly answer the question but directs John's disciples to witness and report the very miracles and teachings that fulfill prophecies about the Messiah, particularly focusing on the healing of the sick and the proclamation of the gospel to the poor.
John the Baptist, languishing in prison, sends messengers to Jesus with a crucial question: "Are you the one who is to come, or should we wait for another?" Jesus' response doesn't directly answer the question but directs John's disciples to witness and report the very miracles and teachings that fulfill prophecies about the Messiah, particularly focusing on the healing of the sick and the proclamation of the gospel to the poor.
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Jesus concluded His message with a statement that sounds almost like a warning. What is it about His ministry that could cause people—even faithful followers—to stumble?
Following the evidence of His miracles and the fulfillment of prophecy, Jesus added a pivotal statement:
"And blessed is the one who is not offended by me." (Matthew 11:6 ESV).
This isn't a casual remark. It points to a significant challenge in recognizing Jesus as the Messiah:
c. AD 29
Jesus' Response to John's Messengers
Jesus directs John's messengers 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 gospel. He then pronounces a blessing on anyone not offended by Him.
"And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them." — Jesus doesn't offer a direct verbal defense; instead, He directs John's messengers to observe His actions. This highlights that true validation comes from tangible evidence of God's work, not just pr…
