Matthew 11:4-6
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. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus doesn't just defend Himself; He points to His actions as the truest witness. He directs John's messengers to see and hear for themselves, emphasizing that the fulfillment of prophecy isn't just spoken, but demonstrably lived out in His healing and preaching.
John the Baptist, imprisoned and facing his own mortality, sends messengers to Jesus to ask if He is the long-awaited Messiah or if they should look for another. Jesus responds by directing John's disciples to witness His ongoing miracles and the preaching of the gospel to the poor, which directly fulfill prophecies about the Messiah.
John the Baptist, a prophet in prison, sends a crucial question: 'Are you the one or should we wait for another?' Jesus' response isn't a theological treatise, but a call to observe.
Jesus directs John's messengers to report what they 'hear and see.' This points to the powerful, tangible evidence of His ministry: miracles.
Prophecy Fulfilled
These weren't random acts of power. They directly mirrored prophecies about the Messiah.
The Gospel for the Poor
Beyond the dramatic miracles, Jesus highlights a less visible but equally significant sign: 'the poor have the gospel preached to them.' This aligns with Isaiah 61:1, indicating the Messiah's mission to bring good news to the marginalized, those often overlooked by society and religious leaders. This shows Jesus' ministry was for everyone, not just the elite.
Why send John's disciples back with this 'report card' of miracles? It wasn't just about answering John, but about solidifying faith—both John's and his followers'.
Jesus' response is strategic. While John is a seasoned prophet, his disciples are still learning and likely grappling with their leader's imprisonment and Jesus' non-confrontational approach.
Strengthening Weak Faith
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.
c. AD 28
John the Baptist's Ministry
John the Baptist begins preaching in the wilderness of Judea, calling people to repentance and baptizing them. He proclaims the imminent arrival of the Messiah.
c. AD 29
Jesus' Baptism and Early Ministry
Jesus is baptized by John and begins his public ministry in Galilee. His teachings and miracles attract large crowds.
c. AD 29
John the Baptist Imprisoned
John the Baptist is imprisoned by Herod Antipas for denouncing his unlawful marriage. He languishes in prison for an extended period.
c. AD 29— this verse
John's Disciples Question Jesus
While imprisoned, John hears about Jesus' ministry and sends two of his disciples to ask Jesus directly if he is the one who is to come.
c. AD 29
Jesus' Miraculous Ministry Continues
Jesus performs numerous healings and miracles, demonstrating the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah.
This passage prophesies the coming Messiah would 'preach good news to the afflicted,' directly aligning with Jesus's instruction to John's disciples to report that 'the poor have the gospel preached to them,' fulfilling prophecy through His actions.
Luke 7:22This parallel account in Luke echoes Jesus's response, emphasizing the miracles performed 'in that very hour' and underscoring that the disciples were to report what they 'heard and saw,' reinforcing the evidentiary nature of Jesus's ministry.
John 10:25Jesus here tells the crowd that if they do not believe Him, they should believe His works, which is a similar appeal to evidence that He makes in response to John the Baptist, highlighting that His deeds testify to His identity.
1 Peter 2:8This verse describes Jesus as a 'stone of stumbling and a rock of offense,' which connects to the later part of the passage (Matthew 11:6) where Jesus blesses those not offended by Him, indicating that while His works prove His identity, some will still reject Him.
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 just defend Himself; He points to His actions as the truest witness. He directs John's messengers to see and hear for themselves, emphasizing that the fulfillment of prophecy isn't just spoken, but demonstrably lived out in His healing and preaching.
John the Baptist, imprisoned and facing his own mortality, sends messengers to Jesus to ask if He is the long-awaited Messiah or if they should look for another. Jesus responds by directing John's disciples to witness His ongoing miracles and the preaching of the gospel to the poor, which directly fulfill prophecies about the Messiah.
John the Baptist, imprisoned and facing his own mortality, sends messengers to Jesus to ask if He is the long-awaited Messiah or if they should look for another. Jesus responds by directing John's disciples to witness His ongoing miracles and the preaching of the gospel to the poor, which directly fulfill prophecies about the Messiah.
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Jesus doesn't dismiss John's question but uses it as an opportunity to teach John's disciples.
makarios · Greek Adjective
In a biblical context, this term denotes a state of profound, God-given happiness and spiritual well-being that is independent of external circumstances. It describes the condition of those who are in a right relationship with God and enjoy His favor.
skandalizō · Greek Verb
To cause someone to stumble, fall into sin, or lose faith by an act or an attitude. In this context, it refers to rejecting or being repelled by the person and message of Jesus due to a failure to recognize His divine mission.
"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. And blessed…" — Jesus doesn't just defend Himself; He points to His actions as the truest witness. He directs John's messengers to see and hear for themselves, emphasizing that the fulfillment of prophecy isn't ju…
