Luke 7:19, commentary and pictures

John in prison called two of his disciples and sent them to Jesus to ask whether He is the promised One who was to come or whether they should look for another. He had openly heralded Christ's kingdom and condemned Herod's immorality and unlawful marriage, and for this he was confined in Herod Antipas's fortress prison where his active ministry gave way to captivity and suffering. His question grew from discouragement and perplexity, because he expected the Messiah to claim royal authority, establish an earthly kingdom from David's throne, and overthrow Roman power, and he was troubled that Jesus did not free him or act as that kingly deliverer. He sent the disciples in part for their sake, that meeting Jesus would strengthen their faith and turn them to follow Him as the great teacher, while he also longed for a word from Christ for himself. Jesus answered with evidence of His divine power in healing the deaf, blind, sick, and demon-possessed and told them to report what they had seen and heard, teaching that in discouragement faith is strengthened by remembering His works and looking to Him.

Imprisonment and Inquiry

The verse belongs to the account of John's imprisonment and death. After heralding Christ's kingdom, John openly condemned Herod's sexual immorality and unlawful marriage, and for that was confined in Herod Antipas's fortress prison. There his active ministry gave way to captivity and suffering.

While in prison John could not hear Jesus' gracious words for himself nor see His work with his own eyes. He learned through his disciples about Jesus' mighty works. Their reports comforted him.

John called two of his disciples and sent them to Jesus. He sent them to ask whether Jesus is the One who was to come, the promised Messiah and coming One, or whether they should expect another. He sent them in part for their own sake, hoping that meeting Jesus would strengthen their faith and through them assure the others. At the same time he longed for a word from Christ directly for himself, and he taught his followers to look to Jesus and follow Him as the great teacher.

Mistaken Expectations and Faith

John's question, "Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?" grew out of discouragement, doubt and perplexity in prison, for he wondered why Jesus did not use His power to free him. He was troubled that Jesus did not act as the kingly deliverer he expected and did not claim royal authority. His confinement sharpened that perplexity, because he had looked for a Messiah who would assert Himself as king and release His forerunner.

He expected the Messiah to establish a temporal earthly kingdom, to rule from David's throne in Jerusalem, to subdue earthly kingdoms and overthrow Roman power. He expected Jesus to proclaim Himself publicly as the Saviour of the world. When Jesus did not take kingly authority and did not set up that rule, John grew impatient and uncertain, asking whether another was still to come.

That impatience and unbelief reflected an indistinct understanding of Christ's mission. He did not clearly understand that Christ's kingdom was not the earthly rule he anticipated, nor did he clearly grasp the future immortal life through Christ. Christ's first coming brought light into the moral darkness caused by sin, and His practical teaching illuminated the prophecies.

Although John's prophetic mission was great, he did not live to witness the full display of Christ's ministry, power and miracles. Those who heard and saw Jesus therefore had clearer light and greater privilege than John.

Jesus answered the two disciples with evidence of His divine power, healing the deaf, the blind, the sick and the demon-possessed. He told them to report what they had seen and heard. In discouragement and difficulty, faith is strengthened by remembering Jesus' works and looking to Him rather than giving way to unbelief.