Previous Lesson -- Next Lesson
3. A Beautiful Account of the Savior’s Ministry (Matthew 4:23-25)
MATTHEW 4:23-25
23 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. 24 The report about him went out into all Syria. They brought to him all who were sick, afflicted with various diseases and torments, possessed with demons, epileptics, and paralytics; and he healed them. 25 Great multitudes from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and from beyond the Jordan followed him. (Mark 1:39; Luke 4:31-44; Luke 6:17-19)
How beautiful are these verses, which can be considered a summary of the whole gospel! It states in a few words what Jesus said and did, where and to whom. Read the text again and you will get a panoramic view of the saving ministry of Jesus.
He might have issued a proclamation to summon all to come to him, but to show his humility and the dignity of his grace he went to them. He is gentle and humble in heart, and came to seek and save. Josephus, the famous Jewish historian, says, "There were above two hundred cities and towns in Galilee, and all, or most of them Christ visited."
He taught the godly in the synagogues, and preached to the neglected unbelievers in the streets, courtyards and countryside. Matthew shows us the essential difference between teaching and preaching. Teaching is the thorough study of knowledge through interpreting the given texts, providing well-arranged ideas according to the belief and giving answers to questions from the study. Preaching, on the other hand, is like the sound of a trumpet. It is God’s call to sinners to come into the light of grace to receive salvation. The purpose of teaching is to explain principles that should be implemented in practical life, whereas the purpose of preaching is to offer the gospel of salvation to unbelievers. Jesus was a teacher and preacher at the same time.
The content of his teaching and preaching was the gospel of the kingdom. The word "gospel" in Greek is "euangelion". It was an official announcement used at that time in the house of Roman Caesar for events such as the birth of his children or victory over his enemies. The word signifies a proclamation of good tidings at the royal family level. However, the gospel of Christ is God telling us about the birth of his Son who overcame sin, death and Satan. Victory over this enemy, through Jesus Christ, grants a dwelling place in the spiritual kingdom of heaven to all who believe. This spiritual kingdom grows and no one can stop it. The gospel tells us about the growth of the power of God’s love in the world.
Not only did Christ speak with words but he also spoke with his life. His heart was full of mercy and compassion for those suffering under the authority of Satan. He had mercy upon them and healed them because of his great love.
He has authority over all spirits and all sicknesses and diseases. Three general terms are used here by Matthew to reveal this. First, "all sickness", including those blind, deaf, dumb and lame; second, "all disease", including leprosy, dysentery, dropsy and chronic bleeding; third, "torments," including demon-possession, epilepsy and seizures. Whether the disease were acute or chronic, whether an agonizing or a wasting disease, nothing is too difficult for Christ to heal with a word. He is the sovereign Physician both of soul and body, and has command of all things. In Christ, paradise came to exist in the midst of our world. The Creator came to his creation, and began to renew those who believe in him. This fact may be found, as well, with full clearness, in non-Christian books.
Healing the sick was not Jesus' first priority. He concentrated on preaching to the multitudes then he healed those who believed in him. The renewal of the world did not begin with charity, economic planning or social insurance, but with a spiritual turn through repentance and belief in Christ. Trust in the person of Jesus changes the heart, attitude and the situation. Many who crowed near Christ were not rich, educated, or devoutly religious, but were wretched sinners, sick or demon-possessed. How beautiful is the image of the person of Jesus and the gathering of the needy and the tormented around him! He is the source of mercy and blessing, of cure and hope.
Today, we see large crowds around kings and presidents during big meetings. We hear empty promises. Their words do not comfort the heart nor cure the body. Yet Jesus cured all those who came to him and comforted the hearts of all those who believed in him. No cure ever failed, they were healed speedily and the sick went immediately, sins were taken away and unclean spirits were cast out. Those who committed themselves to his glory, trusted his desire to save them, and his willingness to help them must have directly experienced how the power of Jesus run into their sick bodies.
Do you know who Jesus is? He is the faithful Savior who is full of love for the poor and the smitten. Are you close to him? We congratulate you for your communion with him, for we are also of those who need him every day.
PRAYER: I glorify you, Savior of the world, because you did not reject the downcast, despised, sick and desperate but you accepted them, healed them, and comforted them. God, I pray my tongue would be controlled to glorify you. I ask that many of my friends might come into the kingdom of your love. O Lord, please heal, speak, call, and triumph. I am crowded around you, believing in your power and dominion. I trust your desire and determination to save me and to save my family, friends and neighbors. I thank you for accomplishing your work in my nation today.
QUESTION:
- Why do we call Matthew 4:23-25 the small Gospel or the summary of the Gospel?