Luke 10:9
Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The command isn't just to heal the sick, but to declare that the kingdom of God has drawn near to them. This isn't a distant promise; it's an immediate reality demonstrated through the disciples' healing presence, showing God's reign is actively invading their lives right then and there.
Jesus is sending out seventy-two more disciples, this time in pairs, into towns and villages before he arrives. He’s giving them specific instructions for their mission: to bring peace, rely on their hosts for provisions, and to declare that the kingdom of God is now at hand. This charge is part of a larger pattern where Jesus consistently prepares the way for his own arrival and ministry.
Jesus commissions His followers to do something astounding: heal the sick. Why was this act so crucial?
Jesus didn't just give His disciples a message; He gave them power. The command to "heal the sick" wasn't merely a suggestion, but a demonstration. These miracles were tangible signs that the reign of God, the "kingdom of God," was not a distant dream but a present reality breaking into the world. They were the kingdom’s calling card, proving that God’s power to restore and redeem was actively at work through Jesus’ representatives. This wasn't just about alleviating physical suffering; it was about showcasing God's authority over every aspect of life and death, sickness and health, announcing that His rule had arrived.
The disciples were told to declare, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.' What does it mean for God's kingdom to be 'near'?
The phrase "come near to you" (or "is just upon you") carries a profound sense of immediacy and personal encounter. It's not just that the kingdom is arriving someday, or is a concept somewhere. It means that through the person and work of Jesus, and now through His disciples, God’s reign is touching lives right now. It implies an invitation to step into that reign. When the disciples proclaimed this, they were announcing that the King Himself, and His sovereign rule, was making a personal visit, offering forgiveness, healing, and a new way of life to those who would receive it.
Understand the original words
therapeuete · Greek Verb
The restorative power of God acting through His messengers to remove the physical or spiritual consequences of the Fall, serving as a sign of the kingdom's presence.
basileia tou theou · Greek Noun Phrase
The sovereign reign and rule of God established through Jesus Christ, which is both a present reality in the hearts of believers and a future reality to be fully consummated.
The instruction to heal the sick and declare the 'kingdom of God has come near' was a powerful, tangible sign. It demonstrated God's immediate presence and compassionate power, preparing hearts for Jesus' arrival and the full establishment of His reign.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus commissions the Seventy-Two
Jesus selects and sends out seventy-two disciples, commissioning them to go ahead of him into towns and villages. They are instructed to heal the sick and proclaim that the 'kingdom of God has come near.'
c. 30 AD
Jesus' Public Ministry
This mission of the seventy-two occurs during Jesus' public ministry in Galilee, shortly before his final journey to Jerusalem. The disciples' work is intended to prepare people to receive Jesus himself.
c. 30 AD
Disciples Return Victorious
Following their mission, the seventy-two disciples return to Jesus, filled with joy and reporting that even the demons submit to them in his name. This highlights the impact and spiritual authority of their work.
c. 30-33 AD
Jesus' Ministry in Jerusalem
Jesus then makes his way to Jerusalem, where his ministry culminates in his crucifixion and resurrection. The disciples' earlier mission foreshadows the wider proclamation of the Gospel after Jesus' ascension.
This passage echoes the same core message, showing that Jesus' initial public ministry began with the announcement that the 'kingdom of heaven has come near,' setting the stage for the disciples' later mission in Luke 10.
Luke 10:11This verse is a direct continuation of the instructions given in Luke 10:9, emphasizing that even if a city rejects the message, the 'kingdom of God has come near' is still proclaimed, highlighting its inherent presence regardless of reception.
Isaiah 61:1This prophetic passage describes the Messiah being anointed to 'preach good news to the poor' and 'proclaim liberty to the captives,' which aligns with the disciples' mission of bringing the good news of God's kingdom and its healing power.
Matthew 10:7-8This earlier commission to the twelve disciples directly parallels Luke 10:9 by instructing them to 'heal the sick' and proclaim that 'the kingdom of heaven has come near,' demonstrating a consistent pattern in Jesus' ministry.
Romans 10:14-15This passage reflects on the necessity of messengers to proclaim the good news, asking 'How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?' This underscores the vital role of the disciples in Luke 10:9 announcing the proximity of God's kingdom.
bengelLuke 10:9: "And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you."
Luke 10:9 . Ἐν αὐτῇ , in it ) viz. in the city. So all the sick in a whole region might be healed.— ἤγγικεν , is come nigh ) See Luke 10:1 , at the end.
calvinLuke 10:1-12: "After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come."
- And after these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two by two before his face into every city and place, to which he was to come 2. He said, therefore to them, The harvest is indeed abundant, but the laborers are few; pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest to send out the laborers into his h…
The command isn't just to heal the sick, but to declare that the kingdom of God has drawn near to them. This isn't a distant promise; it's an immediate reality demonstrated through the disciples' healing presence, showing God's reign is actively invading their lives right then and there.
Jesus is sending out seventy-two more disciples, this time in pairs, into towns and villages before he arrives. He’s giving them specific instructions for their mission: to bring peace, rely on their hosts for provisions, and to declare that the kingdom of God is now at hand. This charge is part of a larger pattern where Jesus consistently prepares the way for his own arrival and ministry.
Jesus is sending out seventy-two more disciples, this time in pairs, into towns and villages before he arrives. He’s giving them specific instructions for their mission: to bring peace, rely on their hosts for provisions, and to declare that the kingdom of God is now at hand. This charge is part of a larger pattern where Jesus consistently prepares the way for his own arrival and ministry.
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"Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’" — The command isn't just to heal the sick, but to declare that the kingdom of God has drawn near to them. This isn't a distant promise; it's an immediate reality demonstrated through the disciples' h…
