The Emphasis of Healing in the New Testament

In the previous post, “Healing in the Old Testament,” the subject of healing was discussed from the perspective of Israel’s constant backsliding and rebellion against God. The Lord, through His prophets, spoke of Israel’s sin as a terrible wound or incurable disease, which served as a metaphor for Israel’s spiritual state. The four gospels and the Book of Acts, discuss the healing ministries of the Lord Jesus and the Apostles. Healing is a controversial subject in the Church and brings up a lot of questions, such as “Is healing for today?” “Is healing in the atonement?” and “Why don’t we see miracles today?”

I believe the spiritual gifts are for today. I believe that if God in His sovereignty chooses to heal a person, He will heal them, whether through supernatural or natural means. Gifts of healings are mentioned in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 12:9 and 12:30). However, the spiritual gifts are bestowed upon believers as deemed by the Holy Spirit. Thus, not every believer will be gifted with the gift of healing nor will every church flow in the gift of healing. After studying healing in the New Testament, there are certain principles that must be understood.

The Word must first be preached

The gospels and Acts show that Jesus and the Apostles first preached the Gospel before healing took place.

“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, KJV).

“And they [the Disciples] went out, and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.” (Mark 6:12-13, KJV, brackets mine).

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:18-19, KJV).

“The Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many were taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.” (Acts 8:5-7, KJV).

Salvation must be emphasized before healing

Matthew 9:2-8, Mark 2:3-12, and Luke 5:16-26 all tell a story of a paralyzed man who was brought to Jesus. The first thing Jesus said to the man was that his sins were forgiven. Of course, this caused a stir with the religious leaders who witnessed the event. Neither the paralyzed man nor his friends made any comment concerning his spiritual condition. However, Jesus being God in the flesh, saw the man’s need for forgiveness and salvation as more important than his physical healing. Jesus also healed the paralyzed man and he walked away from the gathering. As believers, we must always keep in mind that God is more concerned about our long-term spiritual growth than our short-term comforts. There are times believers will struggle with a sickness, disease, or affliction, and may not receive physical healing. God can use these difficult times to draw us closer to Him and teach us to rely on Him. Just like the paralyzed man, Christ wants us to know that our sins are forgiven, for that alone God is worthy to be praised. Multiple New Testament writers wrote about the healing that comes when we confess our sins and accept Christ as Lord and Savior.

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as they soul prospereth.” (3 John 2, KJV).

“Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:14-16, KJV).

“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps…Who his own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” (1 Peter 2:21, 24, KJV).

The Word must be put into action

As the Church, it is important that we study the Word of God to show ourselves approved of God and teach the truth (2 Timothy 2:15). It is doubly important to put the Word into action. Just as Paul emphasized to the Philippian church, we must apply and share what we have been taught. At various times during His ministry, Jesus sent out His Disciples and gave them authority to preach the Word and heal sicknesses, thus the Disciples applied what they learned. Jesus is the Living Word who came to bring salvation and freedom to all people in all nations. Maybe one of the reasons the Church in the United States does not see miracles take place because we are not correctly studying the Word, not properly representing Christ, or not putting the Word into action. Miracles, however, are taking place all over the world. From my own personal experience, when I went on a missions trip to Thailand and saw many mighty miracles and tens of thousands come to Christ because Jesus was declared as the way to salvation and signs and wonders followed the message. In New Testament times, the miracles took place to validate the ministries of Jesus and the Apostles, spreading the Gospel all around the world. I believe the same thing can happen for the Church in these last days and cause the reaping of a great harvest.

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Healing in the Old Testament

The subject of healing is a controversial topic. Some churches teach that healing and the other spiritual gifts are for today, while others teach that the gifts ended with the death of the Apostles. To those outside of the Church, the word healing may bring to mind images disgraced televangelists with their theatrics and “miracle” products such as oils and cloths. I believe that God in His sovereignty can heal someone supernaturally or through modern medicine- instantly or over time. It may also be God’s will for someone not to be healed, which could result in death or lifelong illness. We as mere people cannot begin to understand the ways and thoughts of God because His ways and thoughts are higher than our ways and thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). The purpose of this post is to simply show what the Bible teaches on the subject of healing. More specifically, this post will examine healing in the Old Testament. 

Our Relationship with God and His Word

Before we go any further, let me state that not all physical sickness is a direct result of sin. Though sickness came into the world because of sin, not everybody is sick because they sinned. As we know from modern science and medicine that sicknesses are caused by germs, bacteria, and viruses. There are also genetic and environmental factors that can play a role in sickness. People may also be afflicted with sickness so they glory of God can be revealed (John 9:1-3).  However, all of us are sick with the sickness of sin. God has sent us the cure for our sin sickness when His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ came to earth to pay the penalty for our sins on the cross. Once we accept Christ as Savior, we come into relationship with God. The best way to get to know God is through His Word. Though we may not be able to avoid all germs, bacteria, and viruses, we can avoid major problems if we study the Word of God. For example, if we study what the Word says about sex outside of marriage, gluttony, drunkenness, etc., we can avoid health problems that are associated with such sins. What does the Bible say about God’s Word and our spiritual and physical health?

“Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:1-5, NKJV).

“He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.” (Psalm 107:20, NKJV).

“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.” (Proverbs 3:6-8, NKJV).

“My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.” (Proverbs 4:20-22, NKJV).

The Hebrew word used the most to describe healing is the word Raphah (Strong’s #7495), which means to heal or restore to normal. Of course there are examples in the Old Testament of people who were healed and even raised from the dead, but we will focus on the relationship between Israel and God.

Sickness and the Spiritual Condition of Israel

Throughout the Old Testament, especially in the Prophets, Israel’s constant backsliding and rebellion towards God is compared with an incurable sickness.

“Return, you backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Indeed we do come to You, for You are the Lord our God.” (Jeremiah 3:22, NKJV).

“For thus says the Lord: ‘Your affliction is incurable, your wound is severe. There is no one to plead your cause that you may be bound up; you have no healing medicines. All your lovers have forgotten you; they do not seek you; for I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of your iniquities, because your sins have increased.’” (Jeremiah 30:13-14, NKJV).

“Your injury has no healing, your wound is severe. All who hear news of you will clap their hands over you, for upon whom has not your wickedness passed continually? (Nahum 3:19, NKJV).

God’s Desire to Restore Israel

Through sending His word to the prophets, God desired for Israel to repent of their sins, just as He desires for us to repent of our sins and accept Christ.

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14, NKJV).

“’Therefore all those who devour you shall be devoured; and all your adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; those who plunder you shall become plunder, and all who prey upon you I will make a prey. For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds, says the Lord, ‘Because they called you an outcast saying: ‘this is Zion; no one seeks her.’” (Jeremiah 30:16-17, NKJV).

The Messiah

God’s ultimate healing for the sickness of sin for Israel and all of the world was to send His Only begotten Son, the Messiah Jesus Christ into the world. The Old Testament prophets looked forward to the day of Christ because of the healing and restoration.

“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:4-5, NKJV).

“Come, and let us return to the Lord; for he has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight.” (Hosea 6:1-2, NKJV).

“But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings…” (Malachi 4:2a, NKJV).

Though we will battle physical bouts of physical sickness while we are in these bodies and in this sin-stricken world, we must make sure that are spiritual health is in order by allowing the sacrifice and shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ to heal us of our sins. Grace and peace to you all.