Albert Barnes on Matthew 11:3

Art thou he that should come. That is, art thou the Messiah, or the Christ. The Jews expected a Saviour. His coming had been long foretold, Gen 49:10, Is 9:1-6, 11:1-5, 35:4-6, 53:1-12, Dan 9:24-27. See also Jn 6:14. Comp. De 18:18,19. In Common language, therefore, he was familiarly described as he that was to come. Luke adds here, (Lk 7:21) that at the time when the messengers came to him, Jesus cured many of their infirmities, and plagues, and of evil spirits. An answer was, therefore, ready to the inquiries of John.