Matthew 4:23 · Bible study
Matthew 4:23 Commentary: Teaching, Preaching, Healing Ministry
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Examine how Jesus' teaching, preaching, and healing work together to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom in Matthew 4:23, with insights from Greek grammar and
Research Summary
- Meaning: A summary of Jesus' Galilean ministry, showing how teaching, preaching, and healing together announce the arrival of God's kingdom.
- Key words: περίηγεν (periēgen, he went about, continuous action), κηρύσσων (kērussōn, heralding), εὐαγγέλιον (euangelion, good news), βασιλείας (basileias, kingdom), νόσον/μαλακίαν (noson/malakian, severe disease/debility).
- Main debate: Whether the phrase 'every disease and sickness' teaches a universal healing promise or indicates healing of every kind; also the relationship between word-based and deed-based ministry.
- Theological theme: The kingdom of God is not a distant hope but a present reality demonstrated through word and power, addressing spiritual and physical brokenness.
- Best use: As a model for the church's mission, balanced, incarnational, and complete ministry.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.
KJV King James Version 1769
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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of disease and all manner of sickness among the people.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And Jesus was going about all Galilee teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the reign, and healing every disease, and every malady among the people,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And [Jesus] went round the whole [of] Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the glad tidings of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every bodily weakness among the people.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom: and healing all manner of sickness and every infirmity, among the people.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y rodeó Jesús toda Galilea, enseñando en las sinagogas de ellos, y predicando el evangelio del reino, y sanando toda enfermedad y toda dolencia en el pueblo.
E Jesus rodeava toda a Galileia, ensinando em suas sinagogas, pregando o Evangelho do Reino, e curando toda enfermidade e toda doença no povo.
Jésus parcourait toute la Galilée, enseignant dans les synagogues, prêchant la bonne nouvelle du royaume, et guérissant toute maladie et toute infirmité parmi le peuple.
Und Jesus ging umher im ganzen galiläischen Lande, lehrte sie in ihren Schulen und predigte das Evangelium von dem Reich und heilte allerlei Seuche und Krankheit im Volk.
En Jezus omging geheel Galilea, lerende in hun synagogen en predikende het Evangelie des Koninkrijks, en genezende alle ziekte en alle kwale onder het volk.
E Gesù andava attorno per tutta la Galilea, insegnando nelle loro sinagoghe e predicando l’evangelo del Regno, sanando ogni malattia ed ogni infermità fra il popolo.
I obchodził Jezus wszystkę Galileją, ucząc w bóżnicach ich, i każąc Ewangieliją królestwa, a uzdrawiając wszelką chorobę i wszelką niemoc między ludem.
И ходил Иисус по всей Галилее, уча в синагогах их и проповедуя Евангелие Царствия, и исцеляя всякую болезнь и всякую немощь в людях.
耶穌走 遍 加利利，在 各 會堂 裡教訓人， 傳 天國 的福音， 醫治 百姓 各樣的 病 症。
And Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their Synagogues and preaching the good news of the kingdom, and making well those who were ill with any disease among the people.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Matthew 4:23
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
The imperfect περίηγεν (periēgen, 'he was going about') carries the sense of continuous, customary action. Jesus did not stay in one place but moved through all of Galilee. The three present participles that follow, teaching, preaching, healing, describe the ongoing character of his work. Commentators across traditions take this verse as a summary of Jesus' Galilean ministry (Gill, Matthew Henry, Calvin).
The message Jesus proclaimed is the 'gospel of the kingdom', not merely advice for better living but the announcement that God's reign has arrived. Wesley calls it 'the joyous message' that is 'the proper name of our religion.' Vincent's Word Studies observes that νόσον (noson, 'disease') connotes something severe, while μαλακίαν (malakian, 'sickness') suggests debility or weakness. Together they cover the full range of human ailment. Scholars agree that teaching, preaching, and healing are not separate compartments but a unified demonstration of the kingdom's power. Calvin says Christ 'never remained in one place, but scattered every where the seed of the Gospel.'
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Jesus' ministry involved teaching, preaching, and healing as integrated expressions of the inbreaking kingdom of God.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Relationship between teaching, preaching, and healing | All commentators affirm that Jesus engaged in all three activities as part of his public ministry. | Some traditions (e.g., those emphasizing verbal proclamation) see healing mainly as a sign that confirms preaching; others (e.g., Pentecostal traditions) view healing as an essential component of the gospel itself, not merely a confirmation. |
| Meaning of 'all' in 'every disease and every sickness' | Christians agree that Jesus healed many people and that his miracles demonstrated divine power and compassion. | Some (Gill, Poole) argue that 'all' here denotes every <em>kind</em> of disease, not every individual; they use this as an example of the limited sense of 'all' in Scripture. Others hesitate to apply this linguistic observation to other doctrinal contexts, noting that the healing accounts are unique to Jesus' messianic mission. |
| The origin and role of synagogues | Synagogues were local assembly places for worship, reading Scripture, and prayer, and they shaped early Christian church structure. | Some (Barnes) allow that synagogues may have existed in some form before the exile, citing gatherings at schools of prophets; others (Clarke) date their origin to after the Babylonian captivity. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Synagogues were the heartbeat of Jewish community life. According to Clarke, they were established after the Babylonian captivity; a minimum of ten men of independent property were needed to form one. They functioned as places of worship, courts of law, and schools. The Cambridge Bible notes that the synagogue was as familiar in a Jewish town as a church in an English village. It had a ruler, an 'angel of the church' (the reading leader), and deacons for alms. The service included reading the Law and Prophets, prayer, and exposition, a pattern that shaped early Christian worship.
Galilee was a fertile, densely populated region. Lange reports that Josephus counted 204 cities and towns in Galilee, not including villages. It was a region of mixed population, with Gentiles and Jews living alongside each other, earning it the name 'Galilee of the Gentiles.' The people were industrious and brave, yet Judeans often looked down on them. That Jesus began his public ministry here, rather than in Jerusalem, underscores the sovereign freedom of God's grace (Gill).
Jesus 'went about all Galilee', a phrase that suggests deliberate itinerancy. He did not confine himself to a single synagogue or town but brought the kingdom to every corner of the region.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Matthew 4:23. The wording is stable across the manuscript traditions.
Reception History
Christians have long read this verse as a programmatic summary of Jesus' work. The early church saw in it a pattern for their own ministry: Acts 2 describes the apostles teaching, proclaiming, and performing wonders. In the 16th century, the Reformers used it to argue that the gospel must be both preached and embodied in tangible care. Missionaries across the centuries have taken this verse as a charter for full mission, planting churches, schools, and hospitals. The phrase 'gospel of the kingdom' continues to challenge believers to expand their understanding of salvation to include every dimension of life.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Going About: Jesus took the initiative, moving through all Galilee to meet people where they were. His ministry was mobile, not stationary.
- Three Actions, One Purpose: Teaching instructed the mind, preaching announced the good news, healing touched the body. All three served the same goal: proclaim the kingdom.
- No Limit to His Compassion: The phrase 'every disease and every sickness' shows that no suffering was beyond his reach. He addressed the whole person.
Five-point outline
- Geography of Grace: Jesus went throughout Galilee, a region both populous and despised.
- Sacred Spaces Redeemed: He taught in their synagogues, using the existing worship system as a platform for the new covenant.
- The Message That Changes Everything: The gospel of the kingdom is not just information but an announcement of God's reign breaking in.
- Healing as Herald: Miracles were not spectacles; they were demonstrations that the King had come.
- The Fullness of Salvation: Teaching, preaching, healing, together they show that God cares for the whole person.
Illustration hooks
- A teacher who not only explains a math problem but also helps a struggling student step by step, and then gives them confidence by celebrating small successes, that mirrors the integration of teaching, encouragement, and practical help.
- A doctor who listens, explains the diagnosis, and then treats with skill, the patient feels seen, not just fixed.
- A community garden project where people learn techniques (teaching), hear stories of hope (preaching), and work together to grow food (healing), a picture of renewal that touches every part of life.
Questions your congregation is asking
- If Jesus healed every disease, why are people still sick today?
- Which is more important: preaching or social action?
- How can our church model this threefold ministry without becoming overwhelmed?
Leading a Discussion
This verse is a snapshot of Jesus' entire ministry. It prompts us to ask: What does it mean to proclaim the kingdom today? The discussion moves from what the text says to how it shapes our mission.
Discussion questions
- What strikes you about the way Jesus moved through Galilee? What does his itinerancy teach us about mission?
- Why do you think Jesus taught in synagogues? What are the 'synagogues' in your community where the gospel needs to be announced?
- What does 'the gospel of the kingdom' mean in your own words? How is it different from a message about going to heaven when you die?
- Jesus healed 'every disease and sickness.' How do you think the first hearers understood this? Did they expect all sickness to vanish?
- How do teaching, preaching, and healing relate to each other in your experience of church? Which one gets the most attention? Which the least?
- What might it look like for your group to practice all three, teaching the Bible, sharing the good news, and caring for physical needs?
- What is one step you can take this week to imitate Jesus' pattern in your own sphere of influence?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Psalms 74:8 | They said in their heart, “We will crush them completely.” They have burned up all the places in the land where God was worshiped. |
| Psalms 103:3 | who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases, |
| Matthew 3:2 | “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” |
| Matthew 8:16 | When evening came, they brought to him many possessed with demons. He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, |
| Matthew 8:17 | that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, “He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.” |
| Matthew 9:35 | Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people. |
| Matthew 10:7 | As you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!’ |
| Matthew 10:8 | Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. Freely you received, so freely give. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke details the synagogue's origin after the Babylonian captivity and the requirement of at least ten respectable men to form one. He describes its physical features including the ark, pulpit, seats, lamps, and apartments, along with its governance by a ruler and council, and the three daily services held there.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes traces the synagogue's origin to practical need: Jewish worship was not limited to the Jerusalem temple, so local gathering places developed naturally. In these community centers the law and prophets were read and explained by any qualified person, which is why Jesus regularly attended and taught there.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible commentary highlights the synagogue as a multi-purpose institution: a place of worship, a law court, a public school, and a theological college. This arrangement partly shaped the early Christian church's organization. The commentary also stresses that "preaching the gospel" originally meant heralding good tidings, not a narrow or polemical sense.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
So Iesus went about all Galile, teaching in their Synagogues, and preaching the Gospel of the kingdome, and healing euery sicknesse and euery disease among the people.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill observes that Jesus deliberately began his public ministry in despised Galilee among poor, illiterate, and wicked people, demonstrating the freeness and sovereignty of God's grace. He also notes that the phrase "every sickness" means every kind of disease, not every individual case, applying the same limited sense to the word "all" when used in redemption.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
J
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry emphasizes that the gospel is the charter of the kingdom of heaven, containing both the King's promises to pardon and save and the subjects' oath of allegiance. He notes that Christ deliberately preached in synagogues because they were already places of worship where people were prepared to receive the kingdom's announcement.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent draws attention to the specific Greek words behind the ailments, showing that each carries a distinct force: "nosos" means severe, even divinely sent disease, while "malakia" suggests simple debility. He notes that "basanos," originally a touchstone for testing gold, had lost its metaphorical sense and meant only torment in the New Testament, and "lunatic" correctly alludes to the moon's supposed influence on epilepsy.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley stresses that the Gospel is not a mere label for Christian teaching but its fitting name, because it is fundamentally joyful news. He insists this character will be fully confirmed in every person who sincerely and persistently receives it.