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)
The verse highlights that "the poor have good news preached to them." This isn't just about financial poverty, but spiritual poverty—those who recognize their need for God are the ones most receptive to the Gospel.
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)
John the Baptist, imprisoned and facing uncertainty, sends his disciples to Jesus to ask if he is the awaited Messiah. Jesus responds by pointing to his miraculous works, especially the healing of the sick and the proclamation of the good news to the poor, as direct evidence of his identity, quoting Old Testament prophecies. These signs demonstrate that the promised kingdom has indeed begun to arrive in Jesus, fulfilling divine promises.
Jesus's response to John the Baptist isn't just a list of good deeds. It's a divine signature, pointing back to ancient promises.
When Jesus tells John's disciples to report what they 'hear and see,' He's directly referencing prophecies about the Messiah.
Isaiah's Vision
In Isaiah 35, the prophet foretells a time when God Himself will come to save. As part of this divine intervention, he promises:
Jesus's actions—healing the blind, deaf, and lame—are not random acts of kindness; they are direct fulfillments of this Messianic prophecy. He's showing John, and all of us, that He is the promised One.
A Message for the Afflicted
Isaiah 61 also speaks of the Spirit of the Lord being upon the Messiah to 'proclaim good news to the poor' and 'bind up the brokenhearted.' Jesus's ministry, especially reaching out to the marginalized and proclaiming the Gospel, echoes this prophetic call.
Jesus highlights a specific group receiving the good news. Who are these 'poor,' and why are they central to His mission?
When Jesus says 'the poor have the gospel preached to them,' He's not just talking about those lacking money. The term 'poor' in this context carries a deeper meaning:
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Spiritual Poverty
This refers to those who recognize their utter dependence on God. They are the humble, the meek, the ones who acknowledge their spiritual bankruptcy and have no illusions of self-sufficiency. These are the individuals who are open to receiving God's grace because they know they can't save themselves.
Reaching the Marginalized
Historically, and even today, the 'poor' and marginalized are often overlooked by society and even by religious institutions. Jesus intentionally turns this on its head. His ministry actively seeks out those who are socially, economically, and spiritually destitute. This demonstrates that the kingdom of God isn't built on worldly status or human achievement, but on receptivity to God's love and power.
A Scandal and a Sign
This focus on the poor was often a stumbling block for the religious elite (as Calvin notes), who expected the Messiah to come with worldly power and prestige. But Jesus's embrace of the poor is a powerful sign that God's priorities are different from human ones.
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.
The verse is a direct response to John the Baptist's query from prison, serving as a powerful confirmation of Jesus' identity as the Messiah. The miracles described are not random acts but specific fulfillments of Old Testament prophecies, designed to assure John and his followers that Jesus is indeed the one they had been waiting for.
c. AD 27-28
Jesus begins public ministry
Jesus starts his public ministry in Galilee, calling disciples and performing miracles like healing the sick and casting out demons.
c. AD 28
John the Baptist imprisoned
John the Baptist is imprisoned by Herod Antipas for denouncing his unlawful marriage. This marks a period of discouragement and isolation for John.
c. AD 29— this verse
John sends disciples to Jesus
While in prison, John hears about Jesus' ministry and sends his disciples to ask if Jesus is the 'Coming One' or if they should wait for another.
c. AD 29
Jesus sends his answer to John
Jesus directs John's disciples to report the miracles they see and hear: the blind receiving sight, the lame walking, lepers cleansed, deaf hearing, dead raised, and the poor hearing the good news.
c. AD 29
Jesus testifies about John
After the messengers leave, Jesus speaks to the crowds about John the Baptist, affirming his prophetic role and highlighting the people's unresponsiveness to both John and himself.
This prophecy directly foretells the very signs Jesus is performing in Matthew 11:5, showing that His miraculous works are the fulfillment of God's promises for the Messiah's arrival.
Isaiah 61:1This passage speaks of the Spirit of the Lord being upon the Anointed One to 'preach good news to the poor,' directly mirroring Jesus's proclamation to John's disciples about the poor hearing the Gospel.
Luke 7:22In this parallel account, Jesus explicitly tells John's messengers to report back the exact same miracles – healing the blind, lame, lepers, deaf, and raising the dead – to confirm His identity.
1 Corinthians 1:20This verse highlights that God's wisdom, demonstrated through the 'foolishness' of preaching Christ and His miracles, often appeals to the humble and poor rather than the outwardly wise and powerful.
John 3:2Nicodemus, a learned Pharisee, comes to Jesus at night, acknowledging that 'no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him,' reflecting the awe and confirmation these miracles provided, even to those with intellectual understanding.
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.
The verse highlights that "the poor have good news preached to them." This isn't just about financial poverty, but spiritual poverty—those who recognize their need for God are the ones most receptive to the Gospel.
John the Baptist, imprisoned and facing uncertainty, sends his disciples to Jesus to ask if he is the awaited Messiah. Jesus responds by pointing to his miraculous works, especially the healing of the sick and the proclamation of the good news to the poor, as direct evidence of his identity, quoting Old Testament prophecies. These signs demonstrate that the promised kingdom has indeed begun to arrive in Jesus, fulfilling divine promises.
John the Baptist, imprisoned and facing uncertainty, sends his disciples to Jesus to ask if he is the awaited Messiah. Jesus responds by pointing to his miraculous works, especially the healing of the sick and the proclamation of the good news to the poor, as direct evidence of his identity, quoting Old Testament prophecies. These signs demonstrate that the promised kingdom has indeed begun to arrive in Jesus, fulfilling divine promises.
"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." — The verse highlights that "the poor have good news preached to them." This isn't just about financial poverty, but spiritual poverty—those who recognize their need for God are the ones most receptive…
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Last reviewed October 2026