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.
Jesus.
Matthew 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
Mark 6:6 And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.
John 7:1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.
teaching.
Matthew 12:9 And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:
Matthew 13:54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
Psalm 74:8 They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.
the gospel.
Matthew 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Mark 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
healing.
Matthew 8:16,17 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: …
Matthew 10:7,8 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand…
Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
teaching in their synagogues
Synagogues were central to Jewish religious life, serving as places of worship, education, and community gatherings. Jesus teaching in synagogues highlights His role as a rabbi and teacher, respected enough to be given a platform in these communal spaces. This setting also underscores His connection to Jewish tradition and law, as He often interpreted and fulfilled the Scriptures (Luke 4:16-21).
preaching the gospel of the kingdom
The "gospel of the kingdom" refers to the good news of God's reign and the coming of His kingdom, a central theme in Jesus' teachings. This message was revolutionary, offering hope and salvation, and calling for repentance and faith (Mark 1:15). It connects to Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah establishing God's eternal kingdom (Daniel 2:44).
and healing every disease and sickness among the people
Jesus' healing ministry demonstrated His compassion and divine authority, fulfilling messianic prophecies such as those in Isaiah 53:4-5. These miracles authenticated His message and revealed the inbreaking of God's kingdom, where suffering and illness would be eradicated. Healing "every disease and sickness" signifies the comprehensive nature of His power and the holistic salvation He offers.
“Jesus went throughout Galilee…” (Matthew 4:23)
• Galilee was a mixed region—rural villages, fishing towns, trade routes—so by covering it all, Jesus demonstrated that no corner is beyond His reach (cf. Matthew 9:35; Mark 1:39).
• His movement shows purposeful obedience to the Father’s timing and plan, echoing Isaiah 9:1-2, where light dawns “by way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.”
• Note the verb “went”: continuous action. Christ is actively seeking the lost, modeling the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to find the one (Luke 15:4-7).
“…teaching in their synagogues…” (Matthew 4:23)
• Synagogues were the heart of community life. By starting there, Jesus met people where they gathered for Scripture each Sabbath (Luke 4:16-21).
• His teaching carried divine authority: “He taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes” (Matthew 7:28-29).
• Content included explaining the Law, exposing traditions that obscured God’s intent (Matthew 15:3), and unveiling Scripture’s fulfillment in Himself (John 5:39-40).
“…preaching the gospel of the kingdom…” (Matthew 4:23)
• “Gospel” means good news; the news is the arrival of God’s reign in the person of His Son (Mark 1:14-15).
• Core themes:
– Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matthew 4:17).
– Believe the promise of forgiveness and new life (John 3:16-17).
– Anticipate the ultimate consummation when the King returns (Revelation 11:15).
• This message ties present salvation to future hope, linking the cross, resurrection, and coming glory (1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 24-25).
“…and healing every disease and sickness among the people.” (Matthew 4:23)
• Physical healing authenticated His identity as the promised Messiah (Isaiah 35:5-6; Matthew 11:2-5).
• Compassion drove His miracles: He “was moved with compassion for them” (Matthew 14:14).
• The scope—“every disease and sickness”—reveals unlimited power, previewing the complete restoration believers will experience (Revelation 21:4).
• Peter later testified, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power… He went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil” (Acts 10:38).
• Hebrews 13:8 assures us, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever,” encouraging faith for His continued work.
Matthew 4:23 paints a comprehensive picture of Jesus’ earthly ministry: moving intentionally, teaching Scripture with authority, proclaiming the life-changing news of God’s kingdom, and demonstrating divine compassion through limitless healing. Together, these actions unveil the King who brings light to dark places, truth to searching hearts, and wholeness to broken bodies, inviting all to trust and follow Him today.
(23) Preaching the gospel of the kingdom.--As far as regards St. Matthew this is the first occurrence of the phrase. It tells of a vast amount of unrecorded teaching, varying in form, yet essentially the same--a call to repentance--the good news of a kingdom of heaven not far off--the witness, by act for the most part rather than words, that He was Himself the Head of that kingdom.Healing all manner of sickness.--In the Greek, as in the English, sickness implies a less serious form of suffering than "disease," as the "torments" of the next verse imply, in their turn, something more acute. St. Matthew's first mention of our Lord's miracles cannot be read without interest. It will be seen that they are referred to, not directly as evidence of a supernatural mission, but almost, so to speak, as the natural accompaniments of His work; signs, not of power only or chiefly, but of the love, tenderness, pity, which were the true marks or "notes" of the kingdom of heaven. Restoration to outward health was at once the pledge that the Son of Man had not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them, and often, we cannot doubt, served to strengthen that faith in the love of the Father, some degree of which was all but invariably required as an antecedent condition of the miracle (Matthew 13:58).
Verses 23-25. - The firstfruits of popular enthusiasm. As on Christ's call a few followed him (vers. 20-22), so after his circuit in Galilee did crowds, from all parts of the Holy Land, also follow him (ver. 25), though less immediately and devotedly. As to these verses (23-25), notice -(1) Nearly all ver. 23 recurs in Matthew 9:35.
(2) Vers. 24, 25 occur in the parallels in different connexions. St. Mark places them in Matthew 3:7, 8, after he has recorded details of many miracles which are found later in Matthew. St. Luke places them in Matthew 6:17, 18, immediately before the sermon on the mount (as in Matthew), but after the call of the Twelve.
(3) St. Matthew, therefore, did not arrange his Gospel with a sole regard to chronology. . . .
Parallel Commentaries ...