What does Matthew 11:5 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 11:5 recounts a message delivered by Jesus to the disciples of John the Baptist.

The verse lists a series of miraculous deeds as evidence of Jesus' divine mission.

The literal meaning is straightforward: it describes miraculous healings and the preaching of good news to the impoverished.

The deeper meaning, however, reflects the fulfillment of prophecies from the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament) regarding the Messiah, the anointed one sent by God to save and restore Israel.

Each of the signs, giving sight to the blind, making the lame walk, cleansing lepers, enabling the deaf to hear, raising the dead, and preaching to the poor, symbolize not only physical restoration but also spiritual renewal and the inauguration of the kingdom of God.

Historical Context

The Gospel of Matthew is widely believed to have been written in the late first century AD by a Jewish Christian for a predominantly Jewish Christian audience.

During this period, the Jewish people were experiencing social upheaval and oppression under Roman rule.

The miracles mentioned were significant in the context of first-century Jewish expectations of the Messiah, who was anticipated to perform such signs according to prophecies found in passages like Isaiah 35:5-6 and Isaiah 61:1.

Jesus' reference to these works responded to questions about his messianic credentials raised by the imprisoned John the Baptist.

Theological Insights

Different theological perspectives offer varying interpretations of this verse.

Traditional Christian theology sees this verse as reinforcing Jesus' divine nature and messianic identity.

The reported miracles underscore his compassion and his role in initiating a new era in salvation history, a time marked by the kingdom of God breaking into the world.

Liberation theology might emphasize the social implications of the verse, focusing especially on the mention of the poor receiving the gospel, suggesting a call to social justice and attention to the marginalized.

In some evangelical circles, the miracles are also seen as a demonstration of God's power available to believers today, suggesting that signs and wonders should accompany the preaching of the gospel.

Practical Applications

This verse can be applied in various ways. It can inspire believers to engage in charitable and healing ministries, encouraging them to show compassion to those in need and to believe in the healing power of faith.

Additionally, it can be a call to social action, advocating for the rights and needs of the marginalized. On a personal level, individuals may find hope and encouragement in the message that God is attentive to human suffering.

Cross-References

• Isaiah 35:5-6: "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing..."

• Isaiah 61:1: "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek..."
• Luke 4:18: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor..."
• Luke 7:22: "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..."

Language Study

Key words and phrases in the original Greek text of Matthew 11:5 include:

• "τυφλοί" (typhloi): meaning "the blind." This not only refers to the physical inability to see but can also symbolize spiritual blindness.
• "χωλοί" (choloi): "lame" or disabled, referring to those who were unable to walk or hindered in their mobility.
• "λεπροί" (leproi): "lepers." Leprosy in biblical times encapsulated various skin conditions and symbolized uncleanness and social ostracization.
• "πτωχοὶ" (ptochoi): "poor," signifying those who are economically impoverished and often socially marginalized.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the ancient Near East, miraculous healings were not unique to the Jewish faith; other cultures also had stories of gods or special individuals performing miracles.

However, the Jewish perspective was distinct in attributing such powers exclusively to the one God, and in this context, to his anointed Messiah.

Other myths from cultures like those of ancient Greece or Egypt featured gods interacting with humans often in capricious ways, unlike the consistent moral and redemptive purpose seen in the works of Jesus.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern scientific understanding does not typically affirm the possibility of miraculous events as they are described in this verse, given their inconsistency with the known laws of nature.

However, some scholars and theologians suggest that miracles should not be evaluated by scientific criteria but rather understood within the framework of religious experience and testimony. Others might seek to explore psychological or symbolic explanations for these accounts.

Commentaries

• William Barclay notes that the deeds of Jesus described in this verse are the credentials of the Messiah.

They display the kind of activities that Isaiah prophesied the Messiah would perform.

• John Calvin views the verse as indicative of Christ's divine mission, arguing that the restoration of physical ailments symbolizes the greater work of redeeming souls.
• Albert Barnes emphasizes the fulfillment of prophecy in these acts, asserting that they are evidence that the kingdom of God was truly at hand through the work of Christ.
• Adam Clarke suggests that the miracles and preaching to the poor demonstrate God’s care for the whole person, both their physical and spiritual needs.