Matthew 11:5
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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While Jesus lists amazing physical healings, the crowning miracle is that the poor receive the good news. This highlights that Jesus' mission wasn't just to mend bodies, but to bring a message of hope and restoration specifically to those overlooked and marginalized by society.
John the Baptist, imprisoned and facing his own mortality, sends his disciples to ask Jesus if he is the promised Messiah. Jesus responds by describing his miraculous works, echoing prophecies about the Messiah, as proof of his identity. These deeds, from healing the sick to raising the dead and proclaiming good news to the poor, are meant to confirm Jesus' mission.
John the Baptist, imprisoned and facing his own mortality, sent a crucial question to Jesus: 'Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?' Jesus' answer wasn't a direct 'yes,' but a powerful report of His actions. Why did He choose this method?
Proving the Messiah
Jesus' response to John's disciples was a masterclass in demonstrating His identity through His deeds. He didn't just claim to be the Messiah; He showed it by fulfilling ancient prophecies.
Isaiah's Prophecy Fulfilled
These specific miracles directly echo the prophecies found in Isaiah, particularly Isaiah 35 and 61. These passages foretold the coming of the Messiah with a ministry of healing and restoration.
By listing these actions, Jesus was essentially saying, 'Go tell John what you see and hear. These aren't random acts; they are the very signs the prophets said the Messiah would perform.' It was a powerful, undeniable testimony to His divine authority and mission.
Jesus highlights a specific group in His message: 'the poor have good news preached to them.' This wasn't just a casual mention; it reveals a core aspect of God's kingdom that might surprise us.
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.
This exchange occurs while John the Baptist is imprisoned. His message from prison, and Jesus' reply, are framed by the ongoing ministry of Jesus and the eventual martyrdom of John.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Public Ministry Begins
Jesus commences his public ministry in Galilee, calling disciples and performing numerous miracles of healing and deliverance.
c. AD 28
John the Baptist Imprisoned
John the Baptist is imprisoned by Herod Antipas for denouncing his unlawful marriage. He continues to minister from prison.
c. AD 29— this verse
John Questions Jesus
Hearing of Jesus' growing fame and works, John, from his prison cell, sends disciples to ask Jesus if he is the expected Messiah.
c. AD 29
Jesus' Response to John
Jesus sends John's disciples back with a report of his miracles, particularly highlighting the fulfillment of prophetic signs pointing to the Messiah.
c. AD 30
This prophetic passage in Isaiah describes a future time of restoration where the eyes of the blind will be opened, the ears of the deaf unstopped, and the lame will leap like a deer, directly mirroring the signs Jesus points to as proof of His identity.
Isaiah 61:1-2Jesus directly quotes from this passage when speaking about His mission, highlighting that He was anointed 'to proclaim good news to the poor,' 'to proclaim liberty to the captives,' and 'to set at liberty those who are oppressed,' which perfectly aligns with the 'poor have good news preached to them' in Matthew 11:5.
Luke 7:22This passage is a parallel account where Jesus directly answers John the Baptist's question by listing the very same miracles: 'Go and tell John what you have seen: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.'
1 Corinthians 1:27-29This New Testament passage reflects on God's consistent pattern of choosing the seemingly weak and insignificant—the 'foolish,' 'weak,' and 'lowly'—to demonstrate His power, echoing Jesus' emphasis on preaching the good news to the poor, who are often overlooked by the world.
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…
vincentMatthew 11:5: "The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them."
The lame walkTynd., The halt go.
While Jesus lists amazing physical healings, the crowning miracle is that the poor receive the good news. This highlights that Jesus' mission wasn't just to mend bodies, but to bring a message of hope and restoration specifically to those overlooked and marginalized by society.
John the Baptist, imprisoned and facing his own mortality, sends his disciples to ask Jesus if he is the promised Messiah. Jesus responds by describing his miraculous works, echoing prophecies about the Messiah, as proof of his identity. These deeds, from healing the sick to raising the dead and proclaiming good news to the poor, are meant to confirm Jesus' mission.
John the Baptist, imprisoned and facing his own mortality, sends his disciples to ask Jesus if he is the promised Messiah. Jesus responds by describing his miraculous works, echoing prophecies about the Messiah, as proof of his identity. These deeds, from healing the sick to raising the dead and proclaiming good news to the poor, are meant to confirm Jesus' mission.
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Kingdom Priorities
Jesus' emphasis on preaching the gospel to the poor is a profound statement about the nature of God's kingdom. It challenges worldly assumptions about status and worth.
More Than Just Material Poverty
While 'poor' certainly includes those lacking material resources, it also encompasses a broader spiritual condition:
A Subversive Message
In the Roman world, good news and royal decrees were typically reserved for the elite and the powerful. Jesus flips this script entirely. His message of hope, forgiveness, and a new kingdom is first and foremost for those who have been historically excluded.
This radical inclusivity isn't about denying the value of anyone else, but about demonstrating that God's grace is not earned or based on human merit, but freely offered to all who will receive it. It's a declaration that God's heart beats strongest for the ones society often counts out.
John the Baptist Beheaded
Herod Antipas, influenced by his stepdaughter Salome, has John the Baptist beheaded in his prison.
"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." — While Jesus lists amazing physical healings, the crowning miracle is that the poor receive the good news. This highlights that Jesus' mission wasn't just to mend bodies, but to bring a message of h…
