Matthew 4:23-25 23And he was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24And word about him went throughout all Syria; and they brought to him all those who had various sicknesses and pains, those possessed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.
Jesus had a two-part ministry of teaching and healing. His ministry encompassed all of the region of Galilee. These verses offer an expansive view of the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus as teacher is a major theme in how Matthew organized his Gospel. There are five teaching sections. Since Matthew wanted to show Jesus as the fulfillment of Scripture, he may have intentionally organized his material with these five teaching sections in a way that recalls the five books of the Torah or Pentateuch. The focus of Jesus’ teaching was the good news of the kingdom. A new era had begun for humanity. Many Jews longed for God’s intervention in their situation to bring about salvation from enemies. Jesus’ kingdom was more than political. It brought renewal of relationship with God.
Jesus also healed every disease and affliction. Nothing was too difficult for him. Matthew does not go into details here of how Jesus healed people since these verses are introductory, but we find out more with the stories recorded later. However, Matthew does give examples of the types of problems Jesus healed including physical pains, casting out demons, epilepsy, and paralysis. From a human perspective, these were all beyond medical ability. The healing was complete and not partial or temporary. The healing was not a trick of the eye or psychological duplicity but genuine and total changes in people’s circumstances.
One result of Jesus’ healing ministry was that word spread far and wide, throughout the whole nation, from the northern area of Galilee, to the souther part of Judea, from the coast to beyond the Jordan river. This news would have two effects that will show up in the coming chapters. One is that many people will begin to follow Jesus, some out of curiosity and others out of genuine faith. The other is that opposition from the Jewish leaders will increase. Jesus confronts people with a choice of whether to accept him as the Messiah and Lord of their lives or to reject him and face the earthly and eternal consequences. Accepting him brings spiritual and sometimes physical healing. Rejecting him results in the struggle and chaos of sin and a fallen world.
For older posts, click here.