Luke 7:21

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.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(21) And in that same hour he cured . . . The statement of the facts is peculiar to St. Luke, and obviously adds much force to our Lord’s answer. He pointed to what was passing before the eyes of the questioners.

Plagues.—See Note on Mark 3:10.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

7:19-35 To his miracles in the kingdom of nature, Christ adds this in the kingdom of grace, To the poor the gospel is preached. It clearly pointed out the spiritual nature of Christ's kingdom, that the messenger he sent before him to prepare his way, did it by preaching repentance and reformation of heart and life. We have here the just blame of those who were not wrought upon by the ministry of John Baptist or of Jesus Christ himself. They made a jest of the methods God took to do them good. This is the ruin of multitudes; they are not serious in the concerns of their souls. Let us study to prove ourselves children of Wisdom, by attending the instructions of God's word, and adoring those mysteries and glad tidings which infidels and Pharisees deride and blaspheme.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See this passage explained in Matthew 11:2-19.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Lu 7:18-35. The Baptist's Message the Reply, and Consequent Discourse.

(See on [1592]Mt 11:2-14.)

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Luke 7:18"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And in that same hour,.... Or at that same time, for a precise hour is not intended: one exemplar reads, "in that day", in which these men came to Christ,

he, Jesus, as the Persic version expresses it,

cured many of their infirmities; bodily weaknesses and disorders: and plagues; which were inflicted on them as scourges and corrections for sin, very severe diseases, as epilepsies, leprosies, palsies, &c. and of evil spirits; or devils, which he dispossessed and commanded out of the bodies of men; though sometimes evil spirits, with the Jews, signify some kinds of bodily diseases: as when it is said (i).

"whoever puts out a lamp because he is afraid of Gentiles, or of thieves, or of , "an evil spirit", or because of a sick man that is asleep, he is free.''

Upon which Maimonides observes,

"an evil spirit they call all kinds of diseases, which, in the Arabic language, go by the name of "melancholy"; for it is one kind of the diseases mentioned, which makes a sick man to fly, and separate himself from mankind, as if he was afraid of the light, or of coming into the company of men:''

and unto many that were blind he gave sight; freely, as an act of grace and kindness, as the word signifies, without any merit, or motive, in them.

(i) Misn. Sabbat, c. 2. sect. 5. Vid Maimon. Hilchot Gerushin, c. 2. sect. 14.

Geneva Study Bible

And {b} 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.

(b) When John's disciples came to Christ.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Luke 7:21. Lk. makes Jesus reply not merely by word, as in Mt. (Matthew 11:5), but first of all by deeds displaying His miraculous power. That Jesus wrought demonstrative cures there and then may be Lk.’s inference from the expression ἀκούετε καὶ βλέπετε, which seems to point to something going on before their eyes.—ἐχαρίσατο: a word welcome to Lk. as containing the idea of grace = He granted the boon (of sight).

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

21. in that same hour] Omit ‘same,’ which has no equivalent in the Greek.

plagues] Literally, “scourges.”

Bengel's Gnomen

Luke 7:21. Νόσων καὶ μαστίγων, diseases and plagues) The νόσοι were lingering diseases; the μάστιγες, plagues, were attended with acute pain.—ἐχαρίσατο, He freely gave) A magnificent expression. To bestow as a free gift, χαρίσασθαι, was not a prerogative of the Apostles in their miracles. Comp. ἔδωκεν, He gave, in Luke 7:15.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 21. - 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. "He knew as God what John's design was in sending to him, and he put it into his heart to send at that very time when he himself was working many miracles which were the true answer to the question" (Cyril, quoted by Wordsworth). Luke 7:21

Vincent's Word Studies

Diseases - plagues (νόσων - μαστίγων)

See on Matthew 4:23; and Mark 3:10. Marking the two classes of disease recognized in medical writings, chronic and acute.

Evil spirits (πνευμάτων πονηρῶν)

On πονηρός, evil, see Luke 3:19. It is applied to evil spirits by Luke only, with the single exception of Matthew 12:45. In accordance with its signification of evil on its active side, it is applied in medicine to that which spreads destruction or corruption; as the poison of serpents. Note, moreover, that Luke distinguishes here between disease and demoniac possession, as often. See Luke 6:17, Luke 6:18; Luke 8:2; Luke 13:32.

He gave (ἐχαρίσατο)

More is expressed by this verb than simple giving. He gave as a free, gracious, joy-giving gift. See on χάρις, favor, Luke 1:30; and compare freely give, Romans 8:32. Also, 1 Corinthians 2:12.