Luke 7:18–30

The disciples of John told him about all these things.

John, calling to himself two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for another?”

20

When the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptizer has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?’”

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 20. The men; (οι ανδρες) that is the two disciples sent by John, who delivered their master’s message; but, before Jesus Christ undertook to reply to their question, he performed on the spot various kinds of miracles.

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21

In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits; and to many who were blind he gave sight.

22

Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John the things which you have seen and heard: that the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 22. Then addressing himself to these disciples of John, he ordered them to go and relate to their master all they had seen and heard; and to tell him, that he declared all those to be happy, who, strong in faith, should not take occasion to doubt of his divine power, (the proofs of which they had so recently seen) from the weakness of his flesh, which he had taken upon himself for the love of man.—Jesus Christ alludes to the known and full testimonies that had been given of him by the prophets. The Lord giveth food to the hungry, the Lord looseth them that are in fetters, the Lord enlighteneth the blind, he lifteth up them that are cast down, … and he who does these things, shall reign for ever thy God, O Sion, from generation to generation. Psalms 145 Saint Ambrose.—The words of the prophet Isaias are not less descriptive of the promised Messias: God himself will come, and will save you. Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped. The lame man shall leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall be free. Isaiah 35:4, 5, 6. Theophylactus.

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23

Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me.”

24

When John’s messengers had departed, he began to tell the multitudes about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

25

But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are gorgeously dressed and live delicately are in kings’ courts.

26

But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 26. Because the Scripture styles him an angel; or, because he is the immediate precursor of him whom all the prophets announced at a distance.

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27

This is he of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’

28

“For I tell you, among those who are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptizer; yet he who is least in God’s Kingdom is greater than he.”

29

When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they declared God to be just, having been baptized with John’s baptism.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 29. Justified God; that is feared and worshipped God, as just, merciful, and so forth Witham.—There are only two different sets of men, who glorified God for the baptism of John, and these seemed the most remote from works of piety; that is the ignorant multitude, who scarcely knew the law; and the publicans, who were in general the most avaricious of mortals, and were looked upon as public sinners. If the preaching of the Baptist had such an effect upon these men; what kind of hearts must not the Scribes have had, who, with all the advantage of the knowledge of the law, still refused to believe? This verifies the saying of our Lord, in S. Matt. chapter 21:31: Amen, I say unto you, that the publicans and harlots shall go into the kingdom of heaven before you. Maldon.—God has hidden these things from the wise and prudent, and has revealed them to little ones; (Saint Luke, 10:21) for so it hath seemed good in his sight. Ibid.

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30

But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the counsel of God, not being baptized by him themselves.