Matthew 11:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The 'poor' who proclaim the good news refer to the apostles, as they were humble and looked down upon for their straightforwardness, much like fishermen. This also includes those who receive the gospel and the message of everlasting blessings.

The Lord commenced with what appeared to be more manageable, yet within the domain of miracles, the minor and major hold equal significance. 'The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, lepers are purified, and the deaf hear'; ultimately, to encapsulate it all, He proclaimed: 'the dead are raised,' for this act stands as the utmost demonstration of the love of the Only-begotten, through which the malevolence brought into existence by Adam is obliterated and expelled.

John, through his followers, inquires: Are you the one who is to come, or should we anticipate someone else? Christ responds by showcasing the miraculous works, addressing not the inquiry itself but the uncertainty of those who were sent. He instructs them to return to John and share what they have witnessed: the blind receiving sight, the lame being restored to health, and more. Additionally, He emphasizes an equally significant point: the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. This encompasses both the spiritually impoverished and those lacking material wealth, indicating that there is no separation between the affluent and the destitute, the esteemed and the unlearned in the dissemination of the Gospel. The unwavering commitment of the teacher and the integrity of the guide are evident in His declaration, for in His eyes, all who can attain salvation are valued equally.

The Lord Jesus performed numerous miracles, each carrying not only its literal interpretation but also a deeper, allegorical meaning. When we hear of ‘the blind receiving sight,’ it signifies that a person who remains fixated on the transient hopes of this world is truly blind; yet, if he turns away from those fleeting desires and gazes upon the enduring hope to come, he regains his vision. Similarly, when we learn of ‘the lame walking,’ it indicates that an individual who seeks God while still clinging to his earthly inclinations is immobilized. However, should he abandon such thoughts and devote his heart entirely to God, he will begin to journey righteously.

Given this understanding, the Lord, after detailing the marvels of His might, promptly addresses the inquiry concerning the humiliation of His death, stating, “Blind men see and lame men walk, lepers are cleansed and deaf men hear, dead men arise and the poor hear the gospel. And blessed is he who will not be tempted to fear Me.” In response to such miraculous signs, it is difficult for anyone to feel tempted; rather, they could only marvel. However, the hearts of the unbelievers experienced a significant temptation when, following these wonders, they witnessed His crucifixion. Hence, Paul asserts, “But we preach Christ crucified; for to the Jews it is a stumbling block, and to the Greeks it is foolishness” (1 Corinthians 1:23).

Observe that this prophecy has come to realization in Me: the sightless regain their vision, the crippled are able to walk, those unable to hear are made whole, the dead come back to life, and the humble, including My disciples and those burdened by their struggles, who yearn for the message of salvation, find joy in their spirits upon receiving this glad tidings and share it with others. Relay this to John, and he will provide a more profound testimony concerning Me.

The inquiry was framed in such a way as to appear to warrant a brief affirmation, ‘Yes, I am the One who must come.’ However, if Jesus Christ had responded like this, the followers of John might have doubted His claim, assuming He was merely attesting to Himself. Instead of providing such a response, Jesus chose to perform numerous miracles in the presence of those sent by John, enabling them to recognize that His works served as a testimony to His identity. Those sent must have realized that the miracles Jesus performed were foretold by Isaiah, who proclaimed that the Messiah would engage in these acts: “Say to the timid of heart, ‘Be steadfast, do not be afraid; behold your God, vengeance is coming, the recompense of God is coming; He will come and save you.

The disciples encountered Jesus Christ amidst the remarkable acts of His Divine compassion, and He explicitly directed their attention to these manifestations. To uplift the troubled spirit of the great prophet, the Savior instructed His followers to report to John what they had 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.’ Moreover, Christ declared, ‘And blessed is he that shall not be tempted concerning Me,’ thereby indicating that genuine faith in the Messiah should remain steadfast, regardless of any unmet personal expectations, as John himself might have experienced a hidden longing for some sign or miracle from the Messiah he had seen liberating him from his deep confinement.

"The impoverished announce the good news": the impoverished signify those who are destitute, afflicted, and downtrodden, as perceived by the world, the laboring, and those laden with burdens (Matt. 11:28). They were gathered around the Lord, who announced the arrival of the Kingdom of God; they were eligible for this kingdom if they, as those poor in spirit, genuinely recognized their need for salvation, embraced His teachings with love and diligence, and shared them with others. Blessed Theophylact also refers to the apostles as ‘the beggars,’ who, like fishermen, were indeed seen as beggars and disdained for their simplicity.

When the messengers arrived to speak with the Lord Jesus, He, understanding John's thoughts and refraining from a direct response, invited them to draw insights from His actions. At that moment, as the holy Evangelist Luke recounts, He healed numerous individuals afflicted with illnesses and injuries, cast out evil spirits, and restored sight to many who were blind. These remarkable deeds, as foretold by the prophet Isaiah (Is. 35:5-6; Is. 61:1), could only be performed by the Messiah. Thus, the Lord, highlighting the undeniable evidence of His miracles, instructed those sent to Him: “Go and report to John what you hear and see: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended by Me!” With these concluding words, as described by St. John Chrysostom, He directed His message toward John's disciples.