Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 7:20
When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come or look we for another?
29. John Baptist ] Rather, The Baptist.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
When the men were come to him,…. To Jesus; “those two men”, as the Arabic version reads; “the disciples”, as the Persic version; the same that John sent from the castle of Machaerus, where he was now a prisoner, to Christ, who was teaching in some city or town of Galilee:
they said, John the Baptist; so well known by his being the administrator of the ordinance of baptism:
hath sent us unto thee, saying, art thou he that should come, or look we for another? [See comments on Mt 11:3].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
1) “When the men were come unto him, they said,” (paragenomenoi de pros auton hoi andres eipan) “Then when the men came to him they said,” the two whom John had sent, Luk 7:19; Mat 11:2.
2) “John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying,” (loannes ho Baptiste apestelen humas pros se legon) “John the Baptist sent us directly to you saying,” to us to ask you personally, confidentially.
3) “Art thou he that should come?” (su ei ho erchomenos) “Are you the one who should come,” Mat 11:3; Heb 10:37. It appears that John may have been also hoping that Jesus would “get his act together” and establish His earthly kingdom, so prevalent in the minds and desires of even our Lord’s disciples and apostles, Luk 24:21; Act 1:6.
4) “Or look we for another?” (e allon prosdokomen) “Or may we expect another?” one similar to you? as foretold Deu 18:15-19; Act 3:22-23. John had long languished in prison and depression seemed to have seized him, as the one who came to set “captives” free had not sought to help him.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(20) He that should come.Literally, as in St. Matthew, He that cometh, or, the coming One.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘And when the men were come to him, they said, “John the Baptiser has sent us to you, saying, Are You He Who is coming, or look we for another?”
So the men came to Jesus with the message. The question is repeated a second time so as to bring it home to the reader. It was the question that all were asking.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
Ver. 20. See Trapp on “ Mat 11:3 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Luk 7:20 . On their arrival the men are made to repeat the question.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
men. Greek. Plural of aner. App-123.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Luk 7:20. , men) John had disciples of a more advanced age: Jesus had those who were youths.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Reciprocal: Isa 35:5 – the ears Mal 3:1 – and Joh 11:27 – which Act 2:22 – a man Act 26:7 – hope
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Vers. 20-23. The Reply.
As Matthew does not mention the miracles which were wrought, according to Luke, in the presence of John’s messengers, criticism has suspected the latter of having invented this scene himself. This conclusion is logical if it be admitted that he makes use of Matthew, or of the same document as Matthew. But by what right are such charges preferred against a historian whose narrative indicates at every step the excellence of his own information, or of the sources upon which he drew? Do we not see Matthew continually abridging his historical outline, in order to give the fullest possible report of the words of Jesus? In the present case, do not the words: Go, tell John what ye do see and hear, imply the historical fact which Matthew omits? It is precisely because the word implied the fact, that this evangelist thought he might content himself with the former. The demonstrative force of Jesus’ reply appears not only from the miracles, but still more from the connection between these facts and the signs of the Messiah, as foretold in the Old Testament (Isa 35:4-5; Isa 61:1 et seq.). Jesus does not mention the cure of demoniacs, because, perhaps, no mention is made of them in the O. T. Neander and Schweitzer take the words: the dead are raised up, in a figurative sense. Keim thinks that the evangelists have taken all these miracles in the literal sense, but that Jesus understood them in the spiritual sense: the people, blinded by the Pharisees, gain knowledge; the publicans (the lepers) are cleansed from their defilement, etc. The works of the Christ should be understood in the same spiritual sense (his instructions and missionary efforts). But the spiritual fruits of the ministry of Jesus are not facts which fall under the cognizance of the senses. What ye do see and hear can only denote bodily cures and resurrections, which they either witness or have related.
The preaching of the gospel is intentionally placed at the end; it is the characteristic feature of the Messianic work, as it was being accomplished by Jesus, in opposition to the idea which John had formed of it. Jesus, at the same time, thereby reminds His forerunnner of Isa 61:1. These words form the transition to the warning of the 23d verse: Blessed is he who shall not be offended in me, who shall not ask for any other proof than those of my Messianic dignity; who shall not, in the humble, gentle, and merciful progress of my work, despise the true characteristics of the promised Christ! Isaiah had said of the Messiah (Luk 8:14-15): He shall be for a stone of stumbling; and many among them shall stumble and fall. It is this solemn warning of which Jesus reminds both John and his disciples, as well as the people who witnessed the scene; : to hurt oneself by stumbling.
To what a height Jesus here soars above the greatest representative of the past! But, at the same time, what sincerity is manifested by the sacred authors, who do not fear to exhibit in the clearest light the infirmities of their most illustrious heroes!