Matthew 4:23 (KJV)

What does Matthew 4:23 mean?

Matthew 4:23 describes Jesus traveling throughout the region of Galilee, where he taught in Jewish synagogues, announced the good news about God’s kingdom, and healed every kind of sickness and disease among the people. This verse shows Jesus actively reaching out to people both through his words and his actions.

In this scene, Matthew is narrating what Jesus did at the start of his public ministry. Jesus is shown teaching in places of worship, sharing a message called “the gospel of the kingdom,” and performing acts of healing that drew attention to his compassion and authority. This summary sets the stage for the stories that follow, highlighting the main activities that defined Jesus’s work.

The Greek behind Matthew 4:23

• The word for “preaching” is κηρύσσων (kērýssōn), which means to proclaim or announce publicly. This suggests Jesus was not just teaching quietly but making a bold, open declaration about God’s kingdom.
• The phrase “gospel of the kingdom” uses εὐαγγέλιον (euangélion) for “gospel,” meaning “good news,” and βασιλεία (basileía) for “kingdom,” referring to God’s reign. Together, this points to Jesus sharing a hopeful message about God’s active rule coming near.
• The word for “healing” is θεραπεύων (therapeúōn), which means to care for or restore health. This word often carries the sense of attentive, compassionate action, not just a miraculous cure.

Why Matthew 4:23 matters

• Matthew 4:23 clarifies that Jesus’s ministry was not limited to teaching or miracles alone; it was a blend of proclaiming God’s message and showing practical care for people’s needs.
• This verse helps explain why crowds began to follow Jesus—his actions matched his words, and he addressed both spiritual and physical suffering.
• By summarizing Jesus’s main activities, Matthew 4:23 prepares the reader for the detailed stories of teaching and healing that follow in the next chapters.