(And in that same hour, he cured many of their diseases and hurts and evil spirits: and to many that were blind he gave sight.)
εν αυτη δε τη ωρα εθεραπευσεν πολλους απο νοσων και μαστιγων και πνευματων πονηρων και τυφλοις πολλοις εχαρισατο το βλεπειν
10 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 11 commentaries
What did the Lord proclaim? Understanding John's purpose in sending the disciples—to witness His miracles and be led to faith—He instructs those He sent, “Report what you observe.” He then lists the wondrous deeds that had been prophesied. For it is written, “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy,” as foretold in Isaiah (Isaiah 35:5-6).
What happens next? Because Christ embodies both divinity and truth, He was aware of the intent behind John's mission. Understanding the purpose of the disciples’ visit, He began to perform extraordinary miracles far surpassing those He had previously accomplished. As the insightful evangelist reveals, ‘In the same hour He healed many from diseases and scourges and evil spirits, and gave sight to many blind men.’ Witnessing His grandeur and marveling at His might and capacity, they inquire in John's name, seeking confirmation of whether He is the one who is to come.
Miracles
During this time, He healed numerous individuals afflicted by illnesses, diseases, and unclean spirits, restoring sight to many who were blind (Luke 7:21). He enabled them to witness His greatness firsthand, igniting within them profound admiration for His divine power and capabilities. They then posed a question, asking on behalf of John, "Is He the One who is to come?" (Lk 7:20). Observe the remarkable response given by the Savior. He doesn’t merely affirm, “Yes, it is I.” While that statement would have been accurate, He instead provides tangible evidence of His works. His intention was for them to return to the one who sent them, equipped with unwavering faith in Him and a deeper understanding of His deeds.
"Go," He instructs, "and report to John what you have seen and heard" (Luke 7:22). Indeed, you have witnessed how I have raised the dead through My mighty word and the touch of My hand. You have also observed the fulfillment of all that was foretold by the ancient prophets: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, the leprous are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are resurrected, and the poor receive good news (Lk 7:22). The blessed prophets announced these events long ago, indicating that the time for their fulfillment through Me had arrived. I have come to accomplish all that was prophesied, and you are now witnesses to this reality. Return and testify that what you have seen with your own eyes—the promises once declared by the holy prophets—has been realized through My power and authority.
The Lord, grasping the inquiry, responded more through actions than through speech.
The Lord, understanding that without the Gospel true belief is unattainable—since faith has its roots in the Old Testament and reaches completion in the New—responded to inquiries about His nature not merely through words but through actions: Go and share with John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame are able to walk, the deaf hear, the lepers are healed, the dead are brought back to life, and the impoverished are given the good news.
Indeed, this serves as the comprehensive testimony through which the prophet recognized the Lord, as it was prophesied regarding Him alone: the Lord feeds the hungry, the Lord lifts up those who have fallen, the Lord releases those bound, the Lord brings light to the blind, the Lord cares for the righteous, the Lord protects the stranger, and He accepts the orphan and widow, while the path of the wicked is obliterated. He who performs such deeds will reign eternally (Psalm 145:7-9, 10). These acts are not displays of human strength but rather manifestations of divine power—casting away the perpetual darkness from the sightless, healing the afflictions of weary eyes through the gift of light, restoring hearing to the deaf, revitalizing the strength of weakened limbs, awakening those who have fallen into death, and renewing their vitality.
Before the coming of the Gospel, such miraculous occurrences were either exceedingly rare or absent. Tobiah had his sight restored, yet this was through angelic intervention, not human effort (see Tob. 11:15, Tob. 6:5). Elijah brought back the dead (see 1 Kings 17:20-23), but he did so through tears and petitions, while the Lord simply commanded. Elisha’s purification of a leper (see 2 Kings 5:10-14) was not a matter of authoritative command but rather an instance of mysterious foreknowledge at work. The flour, which multiplied at the prophet's instruction, did not run out for the starving widow, yet this miracle benefitted only one widow and served more as a foreshadowing of the sacrament.
from sufferings and injuries. These matters are clarified within the same chapter. However, when referring to wounds, one should understand it as a representation of suffering. There exist afflictions that do not involve pain, such as being blind, deaf, and many similar conditions.
The Lord willingly responded to their inquiry by highlighting His deeds and miraculous signs, which He had performed both in the past and intentionally in their midst. He also referenced the prophetic words that linked these actions to the coming of the Messiah, providing a true account rooted in prophecy and personal observation. After presenting this evidence, the Lord simply stated: Blessed is he who is not offended by Me.
As noted in the Hebrew Scriptures, the Gospel of Matthew recounts that the sending of two disciples to Jesus by John the Baptist was prompted by reports the Forerunner had heard regarding the miracles performed by Jesus Christ. In the Gospel of Luke, after narrating the miraculous resurrection of the widow of Nain's son, it is stated that "the word of this went out in all Judea and throughout the whole region." The disciples conveyed all these matters to John. Therefore, this delegation was initiated both by the accounts of Christ’s miracles generally and particularly by the news of the widow's son being brought back to life.
Though John’s messengers inquired on behalf of their teacher, and even as Jesus instructed them to share with John what they had witnessed, it is important to recognize that John’s mission to Jesus was primarily for the benefit of his disciples rather than for himself. John sent this inquiry to Jesus for his disciples to receive an answer directly from Him. It seems unlikely that John himself questioned Jesus's Messianic role, especially after receiving a divine affirmation from God the Father and witnessing the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus during His baptism. Furthermore, John had boldly declared Jesus as the Messiah in his own testimony. These affirmations reflect a profound understanding of Jesus and His mission, suggesting that the humble condition of Jesus should not have caused him to waver in his belief.
While John’s disciples were seeking clarification from Jesus, asking, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect another?" the Lord performed numerous miracles. In His response, Jesus highlighted these miraculous deeds, using them as evidence to validate His own claims. He referenced His ministry through the prophetic words of Isaiah, thus aligning His actions with Old Testament prophecies that affirm the truth of His mission. Here, the term "preach good news" is used in the context of the suffering state, signifying that the afflicted were receiving the gospel, particularly addressing the oppressed and downtrodden Israelites. Jesus continued by declaring, "Blessed is he who does not take offense at me," indicating His awareness of the discussions the disciples of John had with their leader, which led to their inquiry about His connection to the kingdom of God.
The disciples encountered Jesus Christ amidst His remarkable acts of Divine compassion, and He directly referenced these deeds. To uplift the spirit of the discouraged prophet, the Savior instructed His disciples to communicate to John what they had both witnessed and heard: that ‘the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up and the poor are preached to; and blessed is he that shall not be offended in me.’ By this, Christ conveyed that genuine faith in the Messiah should remain steadfast, regardless of unmet personal expectations, which may have resonated with John, who might have harbored a hidden yearning for a miracle from the Messiah he had known, hoping for relief from his severe captivity.
During that period, He restored health to numerous individuals, a detail uniquely highlighted by Luke, which provides context for the Lord's subsequent instructions to the disciples of John—“tell John what you have seen and heard” (v. 22; in Matthew: “what you see and hear,” Mt. 11:4). Additional commentary can be found on vv. Mt. 11:4-11.
When the envoys arrived before the Lord Jesus, He discerned the thoughts of John and chose not to respond directly, instead inviting them to observe the miracles themselves. At that time, as the holy Evangelist Luke recounts, He healed many who suffered from various ailments and afflictions, freed individuals from evil spirits, and restored sight to numerous blind people. Such remarkable acts, foretold by the prophet Isaiah (35: 5-6; 61: 1), could only be accomplished by the Messiah. Thus, the Lord directed those sent to convey to John’s disciples what they had witnessed and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor receive the good news; and blessed is he who is not offended by Me. In these concluding words, as noted by St. John Chrysostom, He was indicating the disciples of John.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 18 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS