Then Jesus answering said to them, Go your way, and tell John what things you 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.
Go.
John 1:46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
how.
Luke 7:21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.
Luke 18:35-43 And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: …
Job 29:15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
the lame.
Matthew 15:30,31 And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them: …
Acts 3:2-8 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; …
Acts 8:7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
the lepers.
Luke 5:12-15 And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean…
Luke 17:12-19 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: …
the deaf.
Isaiah 43:8 Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.
Mark 7:32-37 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him…
the dead.
Luke 7:14,15 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise…
Luke 8:53-55 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead…
to.
The blind receive sight,
This phrase highlights Jesus' miraculous power and fulfillment of Isaiah 35:5, which prophesies that the eyes of the blind will be opened. Healing the blind was a sign of the Messiah's arrival, demonstrating divine authority and compassion. In the cultural context, blindness was often seen as a curse or punishment, and Jesus' healing acts as a reversal of such societal stigmas.
the lame walk,
The healing of the lame is another messianic sign, as foretold in Isaiah 35:6. This miracle not only demonstrates Jesus' power over physical ailments but also symbolizes spiritual restoration and the coming of God's kingdom. In the historical context, the lame were marginalized, and Jesus' actions show His concern for the outcast and His role as a restorer.
the lepers are cleansed,
Leprosy was a highly stigmatized disease, rendering individuals ceremonially unclean and socially isolated. Jesus' cleansing of lepers fulfills the messianic prophecy of healing and restoration (Isaiah 61:1). It also signifies His authority over both physical and spiritual impurity, as He reintegrates the marginalized into the community.
the deaf hear,
This miracle fulfills Isaiah 29:18, where the deaf will hear the words of a book. It signifies the opening of spiritual understanding and the breaking of barriers to receiving God's word. In the cultural context, the deaf were often excluded from religious life, and Jesus' healing represents the inclusivity of His ministry.
the dead are raised,
Raising the dead is a profound demonstration of Jesus' divine power and authority over life and death, prefiguring His own resurrection. This act fulfills prophecies such as those in Isaiah 26:19, which speak of the dead living again. It serves as a powerful testament to Jesus' identity as the Son of God and the bringer of eternal life.
and the good news is preached to the poor.
Preaching the good news to the poor fulfills Isaiah 61:1, where the anointed one brings good tidings to the afflicted. This phrase underscores Jesus' mission to reach the marginalized and oppressed, offering hope and salvation. It highlights the inclusivity of the Gospel, breaking down social and economic barriers, and emphasizing the kingdom of God is accessible to all, regardless of status.
Jesus answers John’s disciples directly, not with abstract theology but with observable evidence. Earlier, John had asked, “Are You the One who was to come?” (Luke 7:19). Christ’s response embodies Isaiah 35:4-6 and 61:1; instead of simply saying “yes,” He points to fulfilled prophecy, allowing Scripture and facts to testify for Him.
• The instruction shows respect for John’s prophetic ministry (Luke 1:76-77).
• It underscores that faith can be strengthened by testimony (John 20:30-31).
• As John is in prison (Luke 3:19-20), this message brings hope despite circumstances—an echo of Psalm 146:7-8 where God “sets prisoners free.”
• Christian witness is grounded in firsthand experience (Acts 4:20).
• “Seen” and “heard” join tangible sight with authoritative word, fulfilling Deuteronomy 19:15’s principle of reliable testimony.
• Jesus ties revelation to real history, assuring believers that faith rests on verifiable acts, not myth (2 Peter 1:16).
• Literal healings such as Bartimaeus (Luke 18:35-43) validate Isaiah 35:5.
• Beyond physical sight, Christ grants spiritual illumination (John 9:39).
• The manifestation proves Messiah’s power over creation’s brokenness, reversing the curse hinted in Exodus 4:11.
• The paralytic lowered through the roof (Luke 5:18-25) demonstrates both forgiveness and healing.
• Isaiah 35:6 foretold “the lame will leap like a deer”; Jesus fulfills this openly.
• Acts 3:6-8 shows the same authority continuing through His apostles, confirming His ongoing reign.
• Leprosy symbolized sin and separation (Leviticus 13-14).
• Jesus touches lepers (Luke 5:12-14), displaying holiness that conquers impurity rather than being contaminated by it.
• His action previews the ultimate cleansing offered at the cross (1 John 1:7).
• Mark 7:32-35 records Jesus opening deaf ears, echoing Psalm 94:9, “He who formed the ear, does He not hear?”
• Physical hearing points to spiritual receptivity; Romans 10:17 links faith to “hearing through the word of Christ.”
• The widow’s son at Nain, just prior in Luke 7:11-17, is a precise example.
• These resurrections prefigure Jesus’ own (Luke 24:6-7) and guarantee ours (1 Corinthians 15:20-22).
• Only the Creator holds power over life and death (Deuteronomy 32:39).
• Isaiah 61:1 and Luke 4:18 show this as Messiah’s charter.
• “Poor” includes the economically needy and the humble in spirit (Matthew 5:3).
• The gospel reaches those society overlooks, proving that salvation is by grace, not status (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).
Luke 7:22 is Jesus’ self-authentication as Messiah through deeds that mirror prophetic Scripture. Each miracle reverses effects of the Fall, previewing the coming kingdom. Christ’s actions confirm His identity, offer tangible hope, and invite believers to trust the One who heals, cleanses, opens ears and eyes, raises the dead, and proclaims saving good news to the lowly.
(22) Go your way.--The exact agreement of the answer as reported in the two Gospels is significant as to the impression which they made at the time on those who heard them.Verse 22. - 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. These miracles which the messengers witnessed that day, striking though they were, were no novel ones in the work of our Lord. They were, too, precisely similar to those which had already been reported to him in his prison (ver. 18). But Jesus, pointing to these signs, bade the friends of the Baptist return and tell their master what they had seen in these words. The great Messianic prophet, whose writings were so well known to John, had said that Messiah's advent would be heralded by these very acts. John would in a moment catch the meaning of the reply. The passages in question are Isaiah 29:18 and Isaiah 35:4, 6. Wordsworth, on these works wrought by the great Physician, very beautifully writes, "One of the most consolatory reflections produced by these mighty and merciful works of Christ on earth is the assurance they give that at the great day of resurrection he will remove all infirmities and blemishes from the bodies of his servants, and clothe them in immortal health, beauty, and glory, so as to be like his own glorious body, once marred on the cross, but raised by himself from the dead, and now reigning for ever in glory" (Bishop Wordsworth). To the poor the gospel is preached. John would be able to draw his inference, too, from this feature in Jesus' work. His messengers would have heard the Teacher's words, and would have marked from what class especially his hearers were drawn. It was a new experience in the world's story, this tender care for the poor. No heathen teacher of Rome or Athens, of Alexandria or the far East, had ever cared to make this vast class of unprofitable hearers the objects of their teaching. The rabbis of Israel cared nothing for them. In the Talmud we often find them spoken of with contempt. But John knew that this speaking to and consorting with the poor would be one of the marked characteristics of Messiah when he came.