Destroying the works of the devil: Divine Healing
Let us consider the passages in the Gospel according to Matthew that specifically speak of Jesus’ healing power and presence.
| Passage | Healing |
| 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. Matthew 4:23 | Healing every disease and affliction Disease – Sickness Affliction – an ailment that disables |
| And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Matthew 8:3 | Healing of a man with leprosy. |
| 14 And when Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. 15 He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him. 16 That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.” Matthew 8:14-17 | Healing Peter’s mother in law who was sick and with a fever. Delivering those oppressed by demons and healed all who were sick. |
| But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. Matthew 9:6,7 | Healing of a person with paralysis |
| 18 While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. 20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, 21 for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” 22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. 23 And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, 24 he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. 25 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26 And the report of this went through all that district. Matthew 9:18-26 | Healing a deceased daughter and healing a woman with blood issues. |
| 27 And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” 28 When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” 29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” 30 And their eyes were opened. Matthew 9:27-30 | Healing two blind men. |
| 32 As they were going away, behold, a demon-oppressed man who was mute was brought to him. 33 And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. Matthew 9:32, 33 | Deliverance from a demonic oppression that caused an inability to speak. |
| 35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. Matthew 9:35 | Healing every disease and affliction Disease – Sickness Affliction – an ailment that disables |
| And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. Matthew 10:1 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. Matthew 10:7, 8 | Authority given to the twelve disciples over unclean spirits and healing power over every disease and affliction. |
| 2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” Matthew 11:2-6 | Jesus includes healing as a primary answer to the question, “Are you the one who is to come?” |
| 9 He went on from there and entered their synagogue. 10 And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him. 11 He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. Matthew 12:9-13 | Healing a man with a withered hand (on the Sabbath). |
| 15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all and ordered them not to make him known. Matthew 12:15 | Jesus heals “them all.” |
| 22 Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. Matthew 12:22 | Healing of a man that was blind and mute. |
| 14 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Matthew 14:14 | He healed the sick people in the great crowd. |
| 34 And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent around to all that region and brought to him all who were sick 36 and implored him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well. Matthew 14:34-36 | Jesus healed as many as “touched the fringe of his garment.” |
| 28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly. Matthew 15:28 | Healing of a Canaanite woman’s daughter. |
| 30 And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them, 31 so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel. Matthew 15:30-31 | Healing the lame, blind, paralyzed, mute and many others. |
| 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly. Matthew 17:18 | Healed a boy of seizures. |
| Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. 2 And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. Matthew 19:1, 2 | Healed those in a large crowd. |
| 32 And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” 33 They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” 34 And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him. Matthew 20:32-34 | Healing of two blind men. |
| 14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. Matthew 21:14 | Healing the blind and the lame. |
A visitation of Jesus’ healing presence and power is an antithesis to the pandemic pandemonium in our world today. As of July 19, 2020 there have been 14,429,382 people world-wide who have been infected with the corona virus.
Even Jesus followers align with Isaiah’s (Isaiah 6:9, 10) analysis of the human condition.
Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:
“‘“You will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
15 For this people’s heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed,
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.’ Matthew 13:14-15
When it comes to the role of healing in the Good News, maybe we hear but never understand, see but never perceive.
Maybe our hearts have grown dull and our ears can barely hear.
In our condition, we turn with our hearts to God and He will heal us.