Matthew 11:5

Comp. Isaiah 35:5; Isaiah 61:1. The first passage describes the work of God, who ‘will come and save you.’

πτωχοὶ εὐαγγελίζονται. In earthly kingdoms envoys are sent to the rich and great. Compare the thought implied in the disciple’s words, ‘Who then can be saved?’ If it is difficult for the rich to enter the kingdom, how much more for the poor?

For the construction see Winer 287. 5, and 326.1, a. It falls under one or other of the following rules: (1) a verb governing dative of person and accusative of thing in active voice retains the accusative of the thing in the passive. Cp. πεπίστευμαι τὸ εὐαγγέλιον from πιστεύω τινί τι. (2) A verb governing a genitive or dative in the active has for subject in the passive the object of the active verb.