Matthew 11:4 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Matthew 11:4

Comments

Luke tells us that at the very hour that John’s disciples arrived, Christ was performing his great miracles: ‘And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight’ (Luke 7:21). His healings were nothing like what some claim today. Vast crowds came bringing all manner of severely sick people, and yet the Lord was always successful in healing them no matter how bad they were. In Luke 7:21 there is a distinction made between types of illness: infirmities and plagues – long-standing, chronic infirmities, and sharp plagues or afflictions; the Greek word translated ‘plagues’ refers to being whipped or scourged. John had never performed such things; his ministry had been limited to preaching the message of repentance. God made this clear distinction between Christ and his forerunner, and the disciples of John could not fail to understand it. Just as John had rooted his ministry in Old Testament prophecy and in the prophet Isaiah in particular (John 1:22-23), so they would be ready to accept that the ministry of Messiah would also be defined in the prophets, and that was what they were now seeing with their own eyes. How could this fail to convince them? No such miracles as these had been done since the time of Elijah and Elisha, the last miracle working prophets, and exceeding what they had done, and on such a vast scale. No wonder Isaiah pointed to this as an identifying feature of Christ when he came. How could John fail to be convinced when the message came back to him, in spite of the gaps in his understanding? These things were so certain, that they would have forced him to re-evaluate his doubts, and to realise that what he did not understand must not be allowed to make him question that Jesus was the Messiah. The believer can live with aspects of the faith that he does not fully understand when there are other things that are so clear to him. He knows that his understanding is limited and will become clearer as God teaches him more. Christ responds, but does not say outright, ‘Yes, I am the Messiah.’ Instead he replies by pointing to his deeds and to what the Scriptures said would be the work of the Messiah.

Application

He healed infirmities – long-term illnesses like leprosy, which are a picture of us before we come to Christ: our guilt will never go away, and we feel the burden of it day after day. Then also he healed plagues, painful afflictions, serious rheumatic diseases or those covered in sores. We have spiritual pains – and may suffer deep disappointment. Only Christ can heal such pain. Some had evil spirits, and today some are in the grip of violence and deep lust. Only conversion can cure it. The healings of Christ were instantaneous. Even that is a picture. He changes our hearts in an instant, the moment we repent and turn to him for pardon and new life. And he healed completely: we don’t just lose our bad temper, while remaining dishonest. No, our whole character is changed.

How does Christ answer our doubts? When people have not found him and have been seeking for a long time, inevitably they get doubts. But all doubts are answered on the authority of Scripture. We need to consider the credentials of Christ, all that the prophets predicted of his person and his works, all the prophecies that were spoken of him which were fulfilled in the providence of God, all his promises to bless those who come to him on his terms and who sincerely repent and trust in him. The hold-ups to salvation always lie on our side, not the Lord’s side.

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Matthew 11:4 Commentary and Bible Study