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Bible study online
King James Version (KJV)
“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody
Scripture focus
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.
Luke 7:22 — KJV
Jesus answering said. Toward the close of the day Jesus turned to the two messengers and gave them a message to bear back to the one who had sent them, a message that proved sufficient to answer the questionings of John and his disciples (see DA 217). All doubts were set at rest, even though there might yet be aspects of Christ’s kingdom that were not completely understood.
Tell John. Christ’s answer to the question of the two disciples of John is a paraphrase of Isa. 61:1, a passage recognized by the Jews of Christ’s day as definitely Messianic (see on Luke 4:18-21). No more impressive answer could have been given.
Christ did not mention the “day of vengeance,” either at Nazareth or upon this occasion (see Isa. 61:2; Luke 4:19). In His message to John, Jesus also said nothing of “liberty” for the “captives” (Isa. 61:1). Such a reference could easily be misunderstood and might stir a false hope in John’s heart for release from prison. Implied in Christ’s answer was the unspoken explanation that He had not come to destroy sinners (see Luke 9:56; John 3:17; 12:47), but to restore them, physically, mentally, and spiritually. He had “come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Jesus’ answer to John’s question, “Art thou he that should come?” was, so to speak, “Yes, but I am not the kind of Messiah you expected.”
Seen and heard. There are no better witnesses than eyewitnesses. Christ made these two messengers eyewitnesses of the work He was doing for men’s souls and bodies (cf. Luke 1:2; John 1:14; 2 Peter 1:16; 1 John 1:1, 2).
To the poor. The common, illiterate peasants and laborers received little attention from the proud Pharisees and the learned rabbis. Their attention, for the most part, was reserved for men of wealth and influence. The “common people,” with their open hearts and simple faith, were the very ones who were attracted to Christ and who “heard him gladly” (Mark 12:37). Often among the Jews of Christ’s day, “the poor” not only were poor in worldly goods, but were also oppressed and afflicted at the hands of men in positions of power and influence (see on Matt. 5:3). See p. 55.
Gospel. Or, “good news” (see on Mark 1:1).
By SdaBc
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