Luke 7 27

Luke 7:27 kjv

This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Luke 7:27 nkjv

This is he of whom it is written: 'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.'

Luke 7:27 niv

This is the one about whom it is written: "?'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.'

Luke 7:27 esv

This is he of whom it is written, "'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.'

Luke 7:27 nlt

John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say, 'Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
and he will prepare your way before you.'

Luke 7 verses

Luke 7 27 Meaning

Luke 7:27 identifies John the Baptist as the prophetic forerunner, the divinely appointed "messenger" foretold in scripture, specifically Malachi 3:1. Jesus makes this declaration to the crowds after John’s disciples leave, affirming John’s unique and exalted role as the one sent by God to prepare the way directly before the Messiah, thereby confirming Jesus’ own messianic identity and the precise fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan.

Luke 7 27 Context

Luke 7:27 follows Jesus' interaction with the disciples of John the Baptist. John, from prison, sent them to ask if Jesus was truly the Messiah ("the Coming One"). Jesus responded not with a direct "yes," but by highlighting the miracles He performed (healing, raising the dead, preaching to the poor), fulfilling Messianic prophecies (Lk. 7:20-22). After John’s disciples departed, Jesus turned to the crowds to speak about John, beginning in Luke 7:24. He sought to clarify John's identity, correcting any diminished view the people might have held of him, especially since John was now imprisoned. Jesus declares that John is "more than a prophet," for he fulfills the very ancient prophecy about the messenger who would prepare the way for the Lord. This establishes both John's unique, divinely ordained role and Jesus' own identity as the "Lord" for whom the preparation was made. In the historical and cultural context, first-century Judaism deeply anticipated the Messiah, often believing a forerunner (like Elijah) would precede Him. Jesus’ statement powerfully confirms John’s role within this divine timeline and Jesus' own claim as the awaited Messiah.

Luke 7 27 Word analysis

• This is he: (οὗτός ἐστιν - houtos estin). A definitive, assertive declaration by Jesus. It directly identifies John the Baptist with the specific figure of prophecy. It means "this one definitively is that one," emphasizing certainty and absolute fulfillment.
• of whom it is written: (περὶ οὗ γέγραπται - peri hou gegraptai). Gegraptai is in the Greek perfect tense, signifying that the prophecy was written in the past and its truth continues to stand. This highlights the enduring authority and divine nature of the prophetic word being cited. It is a standing divine declaration.
• Behold,: (Ἰδοὺ - Idou). An emphatic interjection meaning "Look!", "Pay attention!", "Indeed!" It draws the listener’s immediate focus to the crucial and authoritative statement that follows, signaling a significant revelation from God.
• I send: (ἀποστέλλω - apostellō). A divine commission. In the Greek, it indicates a deliberate and purposeful action by the divine Speaker, God the Father. It signifies God's sovereign act of dispatching or commissioning.
• My messenger: (τὸν ἄγγελόν μου - ton angelon mou). Angelos can refer to a human messenger or a spiritual angel. Here, it unmistakably refers to John the Baptist. The possessive "My" underlines God's direct ownership and unique appointment of this individual for this specific mission.
• before Your face: (πρὸ προσώπου σου - pro prosōpou sou). Literally "before face of you." This expression emphasizes extreme closeness, directness, and immediate proximity to the person. It signifies a personal presence and mission immediately preceding and in the sight of the Lord.
• Who will prepare: (ὃς κατασκευάσει - hos kataskeuasei). From kataskeuazō, which means "to prepare thoroughly," "to make ready," often used in ancient times for preparing or constructing a road, or setting up a household. It implies a complete and effective work of readiness.
• Your way before You: (τὴν ὁδόν σου ἔμπροσθέν σου - tēn hodon sou emprosthen sou). "Way" (hodos) signifies a path, journey, or the approach/advent of a person. Here, it denotes the arrival and ministry of the Messiah. The phrase emprosthen sou ("before you") reinforces the immediate precedence and purpose of the messenger—to precede and make ready specifically for Jesus Himself.

Word-Group Analysis

• "This is he of whom it is written": This powerful introductory phrase places John the Baptist directly within God’s prophetic timetable. Jesus unequivocally identifies John as the promised prophetic figure, underscoring the authenticity of John’s mission and implicitly, His own. This serves to vindicate John and reveal Jesus' own authority in interpreting scripture.
• "Behold, I send My messenger": This emphasizes God's sovereign initiative and pre-ordained plan. The "I" refers to God the Father, actively sending His specially chosen herald. This is not a human undertaking but a divine appointment for a divine purpose.
• "before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You": This core part of the prophecy (adapted from Malachi 3:1) explicitly defines the messenger’s mission as one of preparation directly for Jesus. The change from Malachi's "before Me" (referring to Yahweh) to "before Your face / Your way / before You*" (referring to Jesus) is extremely significant. It implicitly identifies Jesus with the divine "Lord" whose coming was foretold, thereby making a powerful statement about Jesus' divine status. The preparation involved moral and spiritual readiness, turning hearts through repentance for His arrival.

Luke 7 27 Commentary

Luke 7:27 encapsulates Jesus' profound theological interpretation of John the Baptist's role and, by extension, His own identity. By quoting and adapting Malachi 3:1, Jesus definitively asserts that John is not merely another prophet, but the pre-ordained messenger who perfectly fulfills ancient scripture. This declaration serves as both a powerful vindication of John's unique ministry and a profound, implicit revelation of Jesus' own divine nature. If John is the herald sent by God to prepare the way for "the Lord" of prophecy, then Jesus Himself is that very Lord. John's ministry, centered on repentance, was critical in readying hearts to receive the Kingdom of God embodied in Christ, clearing spiritual and moral "paths" so people could truly recognize and embrace their Savior. This statement firmly places Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament Messianic hope, arriving according to God’s deliberate and precise plan.

Bonus SectionThe critical insight within Luke 7:27 (and its parallels in Mt. 11:10, Mk. 1:2) lies in the nuanced alteration of the Old Testament text from Malachi 3:1. Malachi reads, "Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me." However, in the Gospel citations, it reads, "before Your face," "prepare Your way before You." In Malachi, "Me" refers to Yahweh (the LORD). By applying this prophecy to John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus, the Gospel accounts implicitly assert that Jesus is the Divine One, the Yahweh whose coming John heralds. This subtle but profound shift in pronouns underscores Jesus' divine identity and nature, going beyond merely presenting Him as the Messiah to proclaiming Him as God incarnate. This passage is a crucial testament to Jesus' claims of deity, framing His arrival as the ultimate fulfillment of God’s redemptive presence among His people.