Luke 7:22 - Printer Friendly

ESV: 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.

NIV: So he replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.

NASB: And He answered and said to them, 'Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: people who were blind receive sight, people who limped walk, people with leprosy are cleansed and people who were deaf hear, dead people are raised up, and people who are poor have the gospel preached to them.

CSB: He replied to them, "Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news,

NLT: Then he told John’s disciples, 'Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard — the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.'

KJV: 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.

NKJV: Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.

John the Baptist's disciples have delivered John's question to Jesus: "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?" (Luke 7:19–20). While they are present, Jesus accomplishes a full array of impressive miracles (Luke 7:21). He tells the disciples to pass on what they have seen and heard Him do.

Most of the miracles Jesus is performing are specifically mentioned in Old Testament prophecy about the Messiah. The lame will be healed according to Isaiah 35:6, the dead raised per Isaiah 26:19, and the poor receive good news as stated in Isaiah 61:1. These particular miracles, are also seen in the ministry of Old Testament prophets. The two signs unique to Messiah are the deaf hearing and the blind seeing (Isaiah 35:5). These are strong indications that Jesus is, in fact, the Promised One.

But when John sent his messengers, Jesus had not yet fulfilled the two signs of the Messiah likely close to John's heart at the present moment: He has not freed the prisoners nor brought vengeance on the wicked (Isaiah 61:1–2). John is currently imprisoned and will soon be executed by an evil man (Mark 6:25–28). Judgment and repentance are the core of John's message. He called the insincere crowds a "brood of vipers" and warned them that their identity as Jews would not save them from God's wrath (Luke 3:7–9). Jesus will make similar remarks during His altercations with religious leaders (John 8:39–47), but if He is the Messiah, John would expect Him to bring God's judgment, not just warn about it.

Jesus wants to open John's eyes to the truth, to heal his spiritual blindness. This is the beginning of a special time. God's full plan will not be entirely completed, yet. The earthly prisoner will not be released, yet. Jesus is "winnowing:" establishing the distinction between God-follower and God-rejector. He is not yet gathering "the wheat into his barn" nor burning the chaff with unquenchable fire as John prophesied (Luke 3:17).

The list Jesus gives is representative, not inclusive, and reflects what He proclaimed in Nazareth (Luke 4:18–19). The poor receiving good news might refer to the physical healing; injury and disease were erroneously seen as God's judgment for sin. Ultimately, however, the good news is forgiveness from sins, as the woman in Luke 7:37–38 knows personally.

Luke 7:18–23 speaks about John the Baptist's expectations regarding Jesus. He understands how Jesus has fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah in His healing and good news. Yet Jesus hasn't completed every aspect of prophecy yet. He has not freed the prisoners—like John—nor judged the wicked. Jesus doesn't criticize John. He simply asks him to be patient. Next, Jesus describes the different reactions to His and John's contrasting lifestyles, though both come with the same message. John's doubt is also recorded in Matthew 11:2–6. Later verses tie Old Testament prophecy to John with references to Malachi 3:1 and to Jesus via several passages in Isaiah.

Luke 7 presents a chiasm: a set of themes mirrored around a reflection point. The humble centurion (Luke 7:1–10) contrasts the legalistic Pharisee (Luke 7:39–50). The widow of Nain (Luke 7:11–17) and the sinful women (Luke 7:36–38) have nothing to offer but gratitude for Jesus' blessings. In the center are John the Baptist and his disciples who struggle to trust that Jesus is worth following (Luke 7:18–23), then the sinners who do choose to follow Jesus and the religious leaders who refuse (Luke 7:24–35).

Luke 7 continues Jesus' mission primarily to the people of Galilee expressed as a series of pointed events and teachings punctuated by calls to follow Him. He has finished teaching the rigors of discipleship (Luke 6:17–45) and invited the crowd to place their faith in Him (Luke 6:46–49). Here, Luke describes different reactions to Jesus' miracles and message. Next, Jesus will reveal the mechanics of and reactions to His call (Luke 8:4–21) before showing His great authority over nature, demons, sickness, and worldly powers (Luke 8:22—9:17). After a final call to the disciples to deepen their faith (Luke 9:18–50), Jesus will turn toward Jerusalem (Luke 9:51—19:27).

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.