“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.”
My Notes
What Does Luke 7:21 Mean?
"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 records this summary of Jesus' healing activity as the context for His response to John the Baptist's question: "Art thou he that should come?" (verse 19). Jesus doesn't answer with words — He answers with evidence. Look at what's happening right now.
The three categories of healing — infirmities (chronic conditions), plagues (acute diseases), and evil spirits (spiritual oppression) — cover the full spectrum of human suffering. Jesus doesn't specialize. He addresses every category of affliction simultaneously.
The phrase "in that same hour" connects the healing to the question. John's disciples are watching. Jesus performs the healings while they observe, and then says (verse 22): "Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard." The answer to the question is the evidence. Don't believe what I say — believe what you see.
Reflection Questions
- 1.When doubt whispers, what evidence of Jesus' work can you point to?
- 2.Why does Jesus answer doubt with evidence rather than theology?
- 3.What category of suffering — chronic, acute, or spiritual — most needs Jesus' attention in your life?
- 4.How do you 'report what you've witnessed' to someone who's doubting?
Devotional
John asks: are you the one? Jesus doesn't answer with theology. He answers with evidence: in that same hour, He heals chronic illness, acute disease, spiritual oppression, and blindness. Then He says: go tell John what you saw.
The answer to doubt isn't an argument. It's evidence. Jesus doesn't lecture John's disciples about messianic prophecy. He doesn't send back a theological treatise. He performs healings in front of them and says: report what you witnessed. Let the evidence speak.
The three categories of healing — infirmities (long-term conditions), plagues (severe acute illness), and evil spirits (spiritual bondage) — show that Jesus doesn't specialize. He's not just a healer of one kind of problem. He addresses everything: the chronic, the acute, and the spiritual. No category of human suffering is outside His competence.
The blind receiving sight is mentioned separately because it's the messianic marker Isaiah predicted (Isaiah 35:5, 61:1). Blind eyes opening is the specific evidence that the Messiah has arrived. Jesus includes it because John — a student of Isaiah — will recognize its significance.
When you doubt, Jesus points to evidence. Not to feelings. Not to arguments. To the things you can see and hear. What has Jesus done in your life that constitutes evidence? When doubt whispers "is He really the one?" — what have your eyes seen and your ears heard?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Then Jesus answering said unto them,.... "To the disciples", as the Persic; to both, as the Arabic: when he had wrought…
See this passage explained in Mat. 11:2-19. Luk 7:29 The people - The common people. That heard him - That heard “John.”…
Infirmities and plagues - The following judicious note from Bp. Pearce is worthy of deep attention: "Luke mentions here…
All this discourse concerning John Baptist, occasioned by his sending to ask whether he was the Messiah or no, we had,…
in that same hour Omit -same," which has no equivalent in the Greek.
plagues Literally, "scourges."
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture