Matthew 4:23-24
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Jesus' ministry wasn't just about healing physical ailments; it was a demonstration that His message about the "kingdom" was deeply practical, addressing the whole person. The repeated emphasis on "all manner" of sickness and disease highlights His comprehensive compassion, mirroring how sin impacts every aspect of human life.
And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage marks the beginning of Jesus' public ministry after his baptism and temptation. Having gathered disciples, he immediately sets out to teach in local synagogues, preach the good news about God's kingdom, and miraculously heal people's illnesses, demonstrating his authority and compassion throughout Galilee. This foundational work sets the stage for his more extensive teachings, like the Sermon on the Mount, and for the gathering of larger crowds who will follow him.
Jesus didn't just appear out of nowhere; He engaged with existing religious structures. Where did He go, and why was it significant?
Matthew 4:23 tells us Jesus went teaching in their synagogues. Synagogues weren't just buildings; they were vital community centers where Jews gathered regularly for worship, prayer, and the reading and expounding of Scripture.
Jesus didn't just preach any message; He proclaimed 'the gospel of the kingdom.' What was this 'good news,' and why was it so revolutionary?
The core of Jesus' early message was 'the gospel of the kingdom.' This wasn't just abstract theology; it was the announcement that God's reign, His rule and authority, was powerfully present and breaking into the world through Jesus Himself.
Ask a follow-up
Jesus' ministry was marked by incredible acts of healing. Why did He heal, and what did these acts signify beyond just physical relief?
Jesus' healing of 'every disease and every affliction' wasn't just random acts of kindness; they were powerful signposts pointing to the reality and nature of God's kingdom.
Understand the original words
euangelion · Greek Noun
The 'good news' of the inauguration of God’s redemptive rule. It signifies the announcement that God is acting decisively in history through Jesus Christ to save His people and restore His creation.
basileias · Greek Noun
The dynamic, sovereign reign and rule of God. It represents both the spiritual reality of God's authority in the hearts of believers and the future consummation of His kingdom over all creation.
therapeuōn · Greek Verb
To make whole or restore to health. In the ministry of Jesus, this serves as a sign of His divine authority and a preview of the restoration of all things in the kingdom of God.
noson · Greek Noun
A general term for any physical sickness or constitutional weakness that prevents an individual from functioning according to their created purpose.
malakian · Greek Noun
Refers to any ailment or bodily malady, emphasizing the suffering and limitation caused by the fallen state of humanity.
akoē · Greek Noun
Reputation or report; in a biblical context, it often refers to the widespread recognition of God's power manifest through the ministry of His anointed messenger.
daimonizomenous · Greek Adjective/Participle
Being under the hostile control or influence of demonic powers. This denotes an external spiritual intrusion into the physical or mental well-being of a person.
This verse captures the beginning of Jesus' public ministry in Galilee, a region characterized by its synagogues and Jewish population living under Roman authority. His activities of teaching, preaching, and healing were deeply embedded in the socio-religious context of the time, demonstrating his authority and compassion.
c. 200 BC - 20 BC
Spread of Synagogues
Following the Babylonian Exile, synagogues became widespread throughout Judea and the Jewish diaspora as centers for worship, prayer, and the reading of scripture. This expansion continued and intensified in the centuries leading up to Jesus' ministry.
c. 20 BC - AD 30
Roman Rule in Galilee
Galilee was under Roman client-king Herod the Great and later his sons, experiencing periods of relative peace and prosperity but also political tension and unrest. Roman presence and taxation were constant factors in the lives of the people.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Jesus' Galilean Ministry Begins
After his baptism by John the Baptist and a period of temptation in the wilderness, Jesus commenced his public ministry. He began by teaching, preaching, and healing throughout the region of Galilee.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Ministry Draws Crowds
Jesus' powerful teaching and miraculous healings attracted large crowds from Galilee and surrounding regions. This growing popularity and influence eventually led to conflict with religious authorities.
This prophecy describes the Spirit of the Lord anointing someone to 'proclaim good news to the poor,' 'bind up the brokenhearted,' 'proclaim freedom for the captives,' and 'comfort those who mourn,' which Jesus was actively fulfilling through his teaching, preaching, and healing.
Psalm 103:3This psalm exalts God for forgiving sins and healing diseases, paralleling the dual focus of Jesus' ministry in Matthew 4:23, which included proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing physical ailments.
Acts 10:38This passage summarizes Jesus' itinerant ministry, stating God 'anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power,' and 'went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil,' directly reflecting the threefold activity described in Matthew 4:23.
Matthew 9:35This verse is a near-verbatim repetition of Matthew 4:23, indicating it serves as a summary of Jesus' ongoing ministry throughout Galilee, reinforcing the comprehensive nature of his teaching, preaching, and healing.
Luke 4:18-19Quoting Isaiah 61, Jesus declares his mission is to bring 'good news to the poor,' 'freedom for the prisoners,' and 'recovery of sight to the blind,' which aligns perfectly with the 'gospel of the kingdom' and the healing of all sickness mentioned in Matthew 4:23.
bensonMatthew 4:23: "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people."
Matthew 4:23 . And Jesus went about all Galilee — Accompanied, it seems, by the four disciples above named; teaching in their synagogues — The word, συναγωγη , rendered, synagogue, may either signify the congregation, or the place in which they assembled. But it seems here, and generally, to mean t…
barnesMatthew 4:23: "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people."
All Galilee - See the notes at Matthew 2:22 . Synagogues - Places of worship, or places where the people assembled together to worship God. The origin of synagogues is involved in much obscurity. The sacrifices of the Jews were appointed to be held in one place, at Jerusalem. But there was nothing…
Jesus' ministry wasn't just about healing physical ailments; it was a demonstration that His message about the "kingdom" was deeply practical, addressing the whole person. The repeated emphasis on "all manner" of sickness and disease highlights His comprehensive compassion, mirroring how sin impacts every aspect of human life.
This passage marks the beginning of Jesus' public ministry after his baptism and temptation. Having gathered disciples, he immediately sets out to teach in local synagogues, preach the good news about God's kingdom, and miraculously heal people's illnesses, demonstrating his authority and compassion throughout Galilee. This foundational work sets the stage for his more extensive teachings, like the Sermon on the Mount, and for the gathering of larger crowds who will follow him.
This passage marks the beginning of Jesus' public ministry after his baptism and temptation. Having gathered disciples, he immediately sets out to teach in local synagogues, preach the good news about God's kingdom, and miraculously heal people's illnesses, demonstrating his authority and compassion throughout Galilee. This foundational work sets the stage for his more extensive teachings, like the Sermon on the Mount, and for the gathering of larger crowds who will follow him.
"And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all t…" — Jesus' ministry wasn't just about healing physical ailments; it was a demonstration that His message about the "kingdom" was deeply practical, addressing the whole person. The repeated emphasis on "a…
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Last reviewed October 2026
