“And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?”
He sent them to the Lord to ask, are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else? — the question from the imprisoned forerunner is the chapter's theological center: are you the one who is to come (ho erchomenos, the expected messianic figure) or should we expect someone else? The question is honest, not faithless — John is asking Jesus to confirm what he has proclaimed about him.
Church Fathers on Luke 7:19
Certain of His disciples relate to the holy Baptist the miracle which was as known to all the inhabitants of Judea and Galilee, as it follows, And they told John, &c.
Not, as it seems to me, in simpleness of heart, but provoked by envy. For in another place also they complain, Rabbi, he that was with you beyond Jordan, behold the same baptizes, and all men come to him.
But we are then most raised up to Him when we are fallen into straits. John therefore, being cast into prison, takes the opportunity, when his disciples were most in need of Jesus, to send them to Christ. For it follows, And John calling two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Are you he that should come, &c.
Read all 13 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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