Rev. Dr. Matthew Richard, pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Minot, ND, and author of Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up? available from Concordia Publishing House, joins Andy and Sarah in our series on the Sundays in Advent to talk about the Gospel Reading for the Third Sunday in Advent. Why is John the Baptist so important in Advent? Why does Jesus ask questions when He already knows the answers? What do all of these miracles mean?

Matthew 11:2-10

²Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples ³and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” ⁴And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: ⁵the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers[a] are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. ⁶And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

⁷As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ⁸What then did you go out to see? A man[b] dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. ⁹What then did you go out to see? A prophet?[c] Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ¹⁰This is he of whom it is written,

“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,

who will prepare your way before you.’

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Footnotes

Matthew 11:5 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13
Matthew 11:8 Or Why then did you go out? To see a man…
Matthew 11:9 Some manuscripts Why then did you go out? To see a prophet?

Looking Forward to the Third Sunday in Advent

Matthew 11:2-10

Footnotes