Luke 9:2
and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Luke 9:2
and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The disciples were sent to "proclaim the kingdom of God" and also to "heal," highlighting that both the message and tangible acts of restoration are core to God's reign. This wasn't just about spiritual pronouncements; Jesus equipped them with the authority to physically demonstrate the kingdom's power to bring wholeness.
Jesus commissions his twelve disciples for a crucial mission, granting them authority over demonic forces and the power to heal. He sends them specifically to the Jewish people, instructing them to proclaim that the "kingdom of God" is now accessible. This mission serves as a foundational step in Jesus' ministry, demonstrating the reality of his authority and the nature of his kingdom before his wider outreach.
When Jesus talked about 'the kingdom of God,' what did he really mean? Was it just a far-off dream, or something that could impact lives right then and there?
Jesus commissioned his disciples with a powerful, twofold mission: to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. This wasn't merely about announcing a future event; it was about demonstrating the present reality of God's reign.
God's Rule Now
The 'kingdom of God' refers to God's active rule and reign. While it has future, perfected aspects, Jesus emphasized its present inbreaking into the world. This kingdom is spiritual, operating not by force or outward show, but by truth and love within people's hearts and lives.
Visible Signs of an Invisible Reign
Healing the sick was a crucial part of this proclamation. It served as a tangible sign that God's reign was truly at hand, bringing restoration, wholeness, and deliverance from the effects of sin and suffering. It wasn't just a medical intervention; it was a demonstration of the kingdom's power to overcome the brokenness of this world.
Jesus didn't just ask his disciples to go; he equipped them. What did this equipping entail, and why was it so important?
Jesus didn't send his disciples out empty-handed. He 'gave them power and authority' (Luke 9:1) over diseases and demonic forces. This wasn't a permission slip; it was an empowerment.
Divine Authority
This authority came directly from Jesus, who himself had power over all sickness and evil. When the disciples acted, they were not operating on their own merit but as representatives of Christ, wielding his divine authority.
Dual Mission: Word and Deed
The mission involved both proclamation (the 'word') and action (the 'deed'). They were to preach the kingdom and heal the sick. This holistic approach demonstrated the comprehensive nature of God's saving work – addressing spiritual needs through the message and physical needs through healing, all as evidence of the kingdom's reality.
Understand the original words
basileia tou Theou · Greek Noun
The sovereign reign and active rule of God over all creation and specifically within the hearts of those who believe. It is both a present spiritual reality and a future kingdom to be fully consummated.
therapeuō · Greek Verb
To restore to wholeness or health, often used in the New Testament to describe the miraculous removal of sickness or infirmity as a sign of the kingdom's presence.
This mission was a localized prelude to the global expansion of God's kingdom after Jesus' resurrection, training the disciples and demonstrating God's power.
c. 27-30 AD— this verse
Jesus commissions the Twelve Apostles
Jesus calls his twelve closest disciples and empowers them to preach about God's kingdom and to heal people, sending them on a limited mission within Israel.
c. 30 AD
Ministry of John the Baptist
John the Baptist also preached about the coming kingdom of God, calling people to repentance and baptism.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' public ministry intensifies
Jesus' own ministry of preaching, teaching, and miraculous healing gains widespread attention throughout Galilee and Judea.
c. 33 AD
Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus
The pivotal events of Jesus' death and resurrection lay the foundation for the future expansion of his kingdom beyond Israel.
c. 33 AD
This passage mirrors Luke 9:2 by giving the disciples the same commission: to proclaim the kingdom and to heal, highlighting the dual nature of Jesus' mission. It emphasizes the 'freely you have received, freely give' principle inherent in Jesus' ministry.
Isaiah 61:1This Old Testament prophecy, which Jesus himself quotes in Luke 4:18-19, speaks of a coming anointed one who would 'proclaim good news to the poor,' 'bind up the brokenhearted,' and 'proclaim liberty to the captives,' aligning with the mission of preaching the kingdom and healing.
1 Corinthians 12:7-10This passage details the spiritual gifts given to believers, including gifts of healing and the working of miracles, showing that the ability to heal and minister God's power continues through the church, echoing the authority given to the disciples in Luke 9:2.
Acts 3:6Here, Peter declares, 'Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk,' demonstrating the same reliance on Jesus' authority for healing that the disciples operated under when sent out in Luke 9:2.
expositorsLuke 9:2: "And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick."
2-43 Chapter 15THE KINGDOM OF GOD. IN considering the words of Jesus, if we may not be able to measure their depth or to scale their height, we can with absolute certainty discover their drift, and see in what direction they move, and we shall find that their orbit is an ellipse. Moving around the two centers, sin and salvation, they describe what is not a geometric figure, but a glorious reality, "the kingdom of G…
clarkeLuke 9:2: "And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick."
To preach the kingdom of God - For an explication of this phrase, see on Matthew 3:1 (note).
The disciples were sent to "proclaim the kingdom of God" and also to "heal," highlighting that both the message and tangible acts of restoration are core to God's reign. This wasn't just about spiritual pronouncements; Jesus equipped them with the authority to physically demonstrate the kingdom's power to bring wholeness.
Jesus commissions his twelve disciples for a crucial mission, granting them authority over demonic forces and the power to heal. He sends them specifically to the Jewish people, instructing them to proclaim that the "kingdom of God" is now accessible. This mission serves as a foundational step in Jesus' ministry, demonstrating the reality of his authority and the nature of his kingdom before his wider outreach.
Jesus commissions his twelve disciples for a crucial mission, granting them authority over demonic forces and the power to heal. He sends them specifically to the Jewish people, instructing them to proclaim that the "kingdom of God" is now accessible. This mission serves as a foundational step in Jesus' ministry, demonstrating the reality of his authority and the nature of his kingdom before his wider outreach.
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Pentecost and the spread of the Gospel
The coming of the Holy Spirit empowers the apostles to preach the kingdom of God to all nations, transforming their understanding and the scope of the mission.
"and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal." — The disciples were sent to "proclaim the kingdom of God" and also to "heal," highlighting that both the message and tangible acts of restoration are core to God's reign. This wasn't just about spir…