New Testament · Gospel

Matthew 11:5

Come to Me

The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Matthew 11:5 · Berean Standard Bible
What It Means

Matthew 11:5, in plain English

Jesus lists the evidence: blind people see, lame people walk, lepers are healed, deaf people hear, dead people are raised, and the poor hear good news. The proof is in the lives being changed.

Why it's here

Jesus is showing that His messiahship is not about political power but about compassion in action. Every miracle is an answer to John's question.

Who's speaking

Jesus is speaking to John's disciples.

Where it sits in the story

Jesus lets His actions speak louder than any title. The evidence of who He is shows up in broken lives made whole and hopeless people given hope.

A Closer Look

The scholarly reading

Jesus catalogs His messianic works -- restoring sight, mobility, cleansing lepers, hearing, raising the dead, and evangelizing the poor -- each corresponding to Isaiah's messianic prophecies (Isaiah 35:5-6, 61:1).

Language and setting

These specific miracles align with Isaianic expectations of the messianic age. The inclusion of 'the poor have good news preached to them' (ptochoi euangelizontai) echoes Isaiah 61:1, Jesus' programmatic text in Luke 4.

Voice

Jesus lists His messianic credentials to John's disciples.

Significance

Jesus does not point to political power or military conquest as evidence of His messiahship. Instead He points to healing, restoration, and good news for the marginalized -- the very signs Isaiah foretold.

In context

Matthew 11:3–7

3to ask Him, “Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?”

4Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see:

5The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.

6Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.”

7As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?

Read all of Matthew 11 — John the Baptist doubts from prison. Cities refuse to repent. And in the middle of it all, Jesus offers rest to the weary.

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