John’s Questions and Jesus’ Answer: An ESL Bible Study on Luke 7:18-35

This Bible study series is for people who are learning English. It is designed for advanced beginner and intermediate learners, but children or adults who prefer simple English may also enjoy it. I also have a Sunday School lesson on Luke 7:18-35 that may work better for native English speakers.

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Luke 7:18-35 Printable Discussion Questions

Luke 7:18-35 Printable ERV Passage

Lesson Icebreaker Question

Can you think of a time when you had a big question about something important? Who did you ask for help?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, we will hear about a man named John the Baptizer who had questions for Jesus. We will learn how Jesus answered with kindness and truth. We will also talk about how people can have different ideas about who Jesus is.

Vocabulary Lists for the ERV Bible Translation

Key Vocabulary Words (10 words)

cripple: (noun) A person who cannot walk or move their body correctly.
expert in the law: (phrase) A person who has studied many years to understand religious rules and teaching.
John the Baptizer: (noun) A man sent by God to tell people that Jesus was coming.
leprosy: (noun) A serious skin disease that was very scary in Bible times.
luxury: (noun) Living with very expensive and fancy things.
marketplace: (noun) An open area where people buy and sell things.
messenger: (noun) A person who carries a message.
Pharisee: (noun) A religious leader who was very strict about rules.
prophet: (noun) A person who speaks messages from God.
tax collector: (phrase) A person whose job is to take money from people for the government.

Important Words to Know (20 words)

accept: (verb) To believe that something is true.
blessing: (noun) A good thing that God gives to his people.
cripple: (noun) A person who cannot walk or move their body correctly.
deaf: (adjective) Not able to hear.
demon: (noun) An evil spirit that follows the devil.
desert: (noun) A dry place with very little water.
expert in the law: (phrase) A person who has studied many years to understand religious rules and teaching.
follower: (noun) A person who learns from and obeys a teacher.
Good News: (phrase) The message about Jesus and how he saves people.
John the Baptizer: (noun) A man sent by God to tell people that Jesus was coming.
kingdom: (noun) A country or an area that is ruled by a king.
leprosy: (noun) A serious skin disease that was very scary in Bible times.
luxury: (noun) Living with very expensive and fancy things.
marketplace: (noun) An open area where people buy and sell things.
messenger: (noun) A person who carries a message.
Pharisee: (noun) A religious leader who was very strict about rules.
prophet: (noun) A person who speaks messages from God.
Scripture: (noun) The holy words of God found in the Bible.
tax collector: (phrase) A person whose job is to take money from people for the government.
wisdom: (noun) Being able to understand what is true and right.

Complete Lesson Word Bank

able: (adjective) Having the power or skill to do something.
accept: (verb) To believe that something is true.
again: (adverb) One more time.
agree: (verb) To have the same idea as another person.
ahead: (adverb) In front of someone or something.
back: (adverb) In the place where someone was before.
baptize: (verb) To put someone in water to show they are starting a new life with God.
baptizer: (noun) A person who uses water to show that someone wants to change their life for God.
began: (verb) To have started something.
belong: (verb) To be the property of someone.
blessing: (noun) A good thing that God gives to his people.
blind: (adjective) Not able to see.
blow: (verb) To move air.
born: (verb) To come out of a mother’s body and start to live.
brought: (verb) To have taken someone or something to a place.
call: (verb) To speak a name or shout to get attention.
clothes: (noun) Things that people wear to cover their bodies.
compare: (verb) To look at how things are the same or different.
course: (noun) The path or way that someone goes.
cripple: (noun) A person who cannot walk or move their body correctly.
cry: (verb) To have tears come from your eyes because you are sad.
dance: (verb) To move your body to music.
dead: (adjective) Not living anymore.
deaf: (adjective) Not able to hear.
demon: (noun) An evil spirit that follows the devil.
desert: (noun) A dry place with very little water.
disease: (noun) A sickness or illness.
else: (adverb) Different or more.
even: (adverb) Used to show that something is surprising.
evil spirit: (phrase) A bad and powerful being from the devil that can hurt people.
expect: (verb) To think that something will happen.
expert in the law: (phrase) A person who has studied many years to understand religious rules and teaching.
fancy: (adjective) Very nice or expensive.
fine: (adjective) Very good or of high quality.
flute: (noun) A musical instrument that you blow into.
follower: (noun) A person who learns from and obeys a teacher.
God: (noun) The creator and ruler of everything.
Good News: (phrase) The message about Jesus and how he saves people.
grass: (noun) A green plant that covers the ground.
greater: (adjective) More important or larger than something else.
heal: (verb) To make a sick or hurt person well again.
heard: (verb) To have received sound with your ears.
important: (adjective) Something that matters a lot.
Jesus: (noun) The Son of God and the Savior of the world!
John the Baptizer: (noun) A man sent by God to tell people that Jesus was coming.
king: (noun) A man who rules a country.
kingdom: (noun) A country or an area that is ruled by a king.
least: (adjective) The least important.
left: (verb) To have gone away from a place.
leprosy: (noun) A serious skin disease that was very scary in Bible times.
let: (verb) To allow something to happen.
Lord: (noun) A name that shows someone has power or authority.
luxury: (noun) Living with very expensive and fancy things.
made: (verb) To have created or built something.
marketplace: (noun) An open area where people buy and sell things.
messenger: (noun) A person who carries a message.
more: (adjective) A larger amount of something.
much: (adjective) A large amount of something.
music: (noun) Sounds made by voices or instruments that are pleasant to hear.
palace: (noun) A very large house where a king lives.
Pharisee: (noun) A religious leader who was very strict about rules.
plan: (noun) A set of steps to do something.
play: (verb) To do something for fun.
poor: (adjective) Having very little money or things.
prepare: (verb) To get something ready.
problem: (noun) Something that is hard to deal with.
prophet: (noun) A person who speaks messages from God.
really: (adverb) Truly or very much.
refuse: (verb) To say no to something.
right then: (phrase) At that exact moment.
sang: (verb) To have made musical sounds with your voice.
Scripture: (noun) The holy words of God found in the Bible.
send: (verb) To cause someone or something to go to a place.
sent: (verb) To have caused someone to go to a place.
shall: (verb) A word used to say that something will happen.
should: (verb) A word used to say what is the right thing to do.
shown: (verb) To have let someone see something.
sickness: (noun) A state of being ill or unhealthy.
sinner: (noun) A person who does things that God says are wrong.
sit: (verb) To rest your body on a chair or the ground.
Son of Man: (phrase) A special name Jesus used for himself to show he is the savior sent by God.
song: (noun) A short piece of music with words.
stem: (noun) The long, thin part of a plant.
tax collector: (phrase) A person whose job is to take money from people for the government.
teach: (verb) To help someone learn how to do something.
told: (verb) To have given information to someone.
usual: (adjective) Happening often or normal.
wait: (verb) To stay in a place until something happens.
walk: (verb) To move by putting one foot in front of the other.
way: (noun) A path or a method of doing something.
weak: (adjective) Not strong.
wear: (verb) To have clothes on your body.
wind: (noun) Moving air.
wine: (noun) A drink made from the juice of grapes.
wisdom: (noun) Being able to understand what is true and right.

Summary of the Passage

This passage begins with John the Baptizer, a man who helped people get ready for Jesus. John was in prison, and he had a question. He sent two of his followers to ask Jesus if he was the one God had promised, or if they should wait for someone else.

When John’s messengers came to Jesus, Jesus did not just give them a simple answer. He showed them the answer. Jesus healed sick people, helped blind people see, and brought good news to the poor. This was part of the promise. Then he told the messengers to go back and tell John what they had seen.

After the messengers left, Jesus spoke to the crowd about John. Jesus asked if they went to the desert to see a weak person, like a stem of grass that blows in the wind. He was saying that John was not weak. John was a strong man who did not change his mind about God. Jesus reminded them that John was a prophet sent by God. He said that John was very great, but even the smallest person in God’s kingdom would be greater. Some people had listened to John and obeyed God. Others, like the Pharisees, did not listen or believe.

Jesus finished by saying that many people find reasons not to believe. They did not like John because he fasted. Fasting is when someone goes without food for a time to focus on God. They did not like Jesus because he did not fast and spent time with sinners and people that others did not like. But God’s wisdom is always true, and those who accept it will see that.

This passage shows us that it is okay to have questions. Jesus is patient and kind when we do. It also teaches us that we must listen to the truth, even if it is not what we expect. God wants us to trust him with open hearts.

Read The Passage

Most English learners should use the Easy-to-Read Version (ERV), the New International Reader’s Version (NIRV), or the Good News Translation (GNT). If you want to try something harder, you can read one of the other Bible versions.

John Sends Men to Ask Jesus a Question
18 John’s followers told him about all these things.
John called for two of his followers.
19 He sent them to the Lord to ask,
“Are you the one we heard was coming, or should we wait for someone else?”
20 So the men came to Jesus.
They said, “John the Baptizer sent us to you with this question:
‘Are you the one who is coming, or should we wait for someone else?’”
21 Right then Jesus healed many people of their sicknesses and diseases.
He healed those who had evil spirits and made many who were blind able to see again.
22 Then he said to John’s followers,
“Go tell John what you have seen and heard:
The blind can see.
The crippled can walk.
People with leprosy are healed.
The deaf can hear.
The dead are brought back to life.
And the Good News is being told to the poor.
23 Great blessings belong to those who don’t have a problem accepting me.”
24 When John’s followers left, Jesus began talking to the people about John:
“What did you people go out into the desert to see?
Someone who is weak, like a stem of grass blowing in the wind?
25 Really, what did you expect to see?
Someone dressed in fine clothes?
Of course not.
People who wear fancy clothes and live in luxury are all in kings’ palaces.
26 So what did you go out to see?
A prophet?
Yes, John is a prophet.
But I tell you, he is more than that.
27 This Scripture was written about him:
‘Listen!
I will send my messenger ahead of you.
He will prepare the way for you.’
28 I tell you, no one ever born is greater than John.
But even the least important person in God’s kingdom is greater than John.”
29 (When the people heard this, they all agreed that God’s teaching was good.
Even the tax collectors agreed.
These were the people who were baptized by John.
30 But the Pharisees and experts in the law refused to accept God’s plan for themselves; they did not let John baptize them.)
31 “What shall I say about the people of this time?
What can I compare them to?
What are they like?
32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace.
One group of children calls to the other children and says,
‘We played flute music for you, but you did not dance;
we sang a sad song, but you did not cry.’
33 John the Baptizer came and did not eat the usual food or drink wine.
And you say,
‘He has a demon inside him.’
34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking.
And you say,
‘Look at him!
He eats too much and drinks too much wine!
He is a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’
35 But wisdom is shown to be right by those who accept it.”
Luke 7:18-35 (ERV)

Very Easy: Easy-to-Read Version: Luke 7:18-35 (ERV)
Very Easy: New International Reader’s Version: Luke 7:18-35 (NIRV)
Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 7:18-35 (GNT)
Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 7:18-35 (NLT)
Hard: New International Version: Luke 7:18-35 (NIV)
Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 7:18-35 (ESV)

Luke 7:18-35 Printable ERV Passage

Comprehension Questions

What did John the Baptizer ask Jesus through his messengers?
What was Jesus doing when the messengers came to him?
How did Jesus answer the messengers’ question?
What kinds of people did Jesus help during that time?
What did Jesus say about John the Baptizer after the messengers left?
Why did Jesus say John was more than just a prophet?
Who listened to John and obeyed God’s teachings?
Who did not accept John’s message or baptism?
What did Jesus compare the people of that day to?
Why did some people not believe in either John or Jesus?

Application Questions

Have you ever had questions about God or Jesus? What helped you learn more?
Why do you think Jesus helped people instead of just giving an answer?
What does this story tell us about who Jesus is?
How can we be open to hearing God’s truth, even when it is hard?
What kind of people does Jesus welcome and care for?

Theological Insights

Jesus is the promised one sent by God.
Jesus helps people who are sick, sad, and hurting.
It is okay to ask honest questions about faith.
God shows his wisdom in the way Jesus lived and loved others.
Some people reject God’s truth, but those who accept it find joy and life.

Closing Prayer

Dear Father, Thank you for showing us that Jesus is the one you promised. Help us to listen to your truth and trust you, even when we have questions. Teach us to believe in your wisdom. Amen.