What Jesus Said About Health, Sickness & the Body (24 Teachings)

Life is more than food and the body more than clothing.

Read the Scripture Matthew 6:25; Luke 12:22–23

King James Version

Matthew 6:25

²⁵Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Luke 12:22–23

²²And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
²³The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.

It is fitting to release people from bondage on the Sabbath.

Read the Scripture Luke 13:10–17; 14:1–6

King James Version

Luke 13:10–17

¹⁰And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.
¹¹And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
¹²And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
¹³And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
¹⁴And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.
¹⁵The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?
¹⁶And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?
¹⁷And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

Luke 14:1–6

¹And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.
²And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.
³And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?
⁴And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;
⁵And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?
⁶And they could not answer him again to these things.

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, and cast out demons as freely given ministry.

Read the Scripture Matthew 10:8

King James Version

Matthew 10:8

⁸Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

The Twelve were given authority over demons and disease.

Read the Scripture Matthew 10:1; Mark 6:7; Luke 9:1

King James Version

Matthew 10:1

¹And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

Mark 6:7

⁷And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;

Luke 9:1

¹Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

The Twelve were to proclaim the kingdom and heal.

Read the Scripture Luke 9:2

King James Version

Luke 9:2

²And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

The seventy were to heal the sick and announce that God's kingdom had come near.

Read the Scripture Luke 10:9

King James Version

Luke 10:9

⁹And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

Jesus answers Sabbath-healing objections by asking whether it is lawful to do good and save life.

Read the Scripture Matthew 12:9–14; Mark 3:1–6; Luke 6:6–11

King James Version

Matthew 12:9–14

⁹And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:
¹⁰And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.
¹¹And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
¹²How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
¹³Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.
¹⁴Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

Mark 3:1–6

¹And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.
²And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.
³And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.
⁴And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.
⁵And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.
⁶And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.

Luke 6:6–11

⁶And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.
⁷And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.
⁸But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.
⁹Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?
¹⁰And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.
¹¹And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.

The paralytic's healing demonstrates Jesus' authority to forgive sins.

Read the Scripture Matthew 9:2–8; Mark 2:1–12; Luke 5:17–26

King James Version

Matthew 9:2–8

²And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
³And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
⁴And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
⁵For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
⁶But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
⁷And he arose, and departed to his house.
⁸But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

Mark 2:1–12

¹And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.
²And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.
³And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
⁴And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
⁵When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
⁶But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
⁷Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
⁸And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
⁹Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
¹⁰But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)
¹¹I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.
¹²And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

Luke 5:17–26

¹⁷And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judæa, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
¹⁸And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
¹⁹And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
²⁰And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
²¹And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
²²But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?
²³Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?
²⁴But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.
²⁵And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
²⁶And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

The healed demoniac is told to proclaim what God has done for him.

Read the Scripture Mark 5:19; Luke 8:39

King James Version

Mark 5:19

¹⁹Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

Luke 8:39

³⁹Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

The woman with the flow of blood is told that her faith has made her well.

Read the Scripture Matthew 9:20–22; Mark 5:25–34; Luke 8:43–48

King James Version

Matthew 9:20–22

²⁰And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:
²¹For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.
²²But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

Mark 5:25–34

²⁵And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,
²⁶And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
²⁷When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.
²⁸For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
²⁹And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
³⁰And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?
³¹And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
³²And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.
³³But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
³⁴And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

Luke 8:43–48

⁴³And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,
⁴⁴Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.
⁴⁵And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
⁴⁶And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.
⁴⁷And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.
⁴⁸And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

Blind men are healed in relation to their faith in Jesus' ability.

Read the Scripture Matthew 9:27–30

King James Version

Matthew 9:27–30

²⁷And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.
²⁸And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
²⁹Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
³⁰And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

Some spiritual conflicts expose unbelief and the need for prayerful dependence.

Read the Scripture Matthew 17:14–20; Mark 9:14–29

King James Version

Matthew 17:14–20

¹⁴And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
¹⁵Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
¹⁶And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
¹⁷Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
¹⁸And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
¹⁹Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
²⁰And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Mark 9:14–29

¹⁴And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.
¹⁵And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.
¹⁶And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?
¹⁷And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
¹⁸And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.
¹⁹He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.
²⁰And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
²¹And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
²²And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
²³Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
²⁴And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
²⁵When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
²⁶And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.
²⁷But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.
²⁸And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?
²⁹And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

Congenital suffering is not always a simple punishment for a person's or parents' personal sin.

Read the Scripture John 9:1–3

King James Version

John 9:1–3

¹And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
²And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
³Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

Suffering can become an occasion for God's works to be displayed.

Read the Scripture John 9:3

King James Version

John 9:3

³Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

Jesus told the cleansed leper to show himself to the priest and offer what Moses commanded.

Read the Scripture Matthew 8:4; Mark 1:44; Luke 5:14

King James Version

Matthew 8:4

⁴And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

Mark 1:44

⁴⁴And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

Luke 5:14

¹⁴And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

Jesus sometimes told the people he healed to tell no one.

Read the Scripture Matthew 8:4; 9:30; 12:16; Mark 1:44; 5:43; 7:36; 8:26

King James Version

Matthew 8:4

⁴And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

Matthew 9:30

³⁰And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

Matthew 12:16

¹⁶And charged them that they should not make him known:

Mark 1:44

⁴⁴And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

Mark 5:43

⁴³And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

Mark 7:36

³⁶And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;

Mark 8:26

²⁶And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

Jesus healed the paralyzed man and told him to take up his bed and go home.

Read the Scripture Matthew 9:6; Mark 2:11; Luke 5:24

King James Version

Matthew 9:6

⁶But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

Mark 2:11

¹¹I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

Luke 5:24

²⁴But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.

Rest for a while after demanding ministry.

Read the Scripture Mark 6:31

King James Version

Mark 6:31

³¹And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

At the pool of Bethesda, Jesus told a man who had been disabled for thirty-eight years to rise, take up his bed, and walk.

Read the Scripture John 5:8

King James Version

John 5:8

⁸Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

Jesus warned the man he had healed to sin no more, lest something worse happen to him.

Read the Scripture John 5:14

King James Version

John 5:14

¹⁴Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

Jesus told the blind man to wash in the pool of Siloam; he obeyed and came back seeing.

Read the Scripture John 9:7

King James Version

John 9:7

⁷And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

Circumcision and Sabbath practice expose inconsistency in condemning Jesus for healing on the Sabbath.

Read the Scripture John 7:22–23

King James Version

John 7:22–23

²²Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man.
²³If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?

Jesus is compassionate toward crowds who are harassed, hungry, sick, or shepherdless.

Read the Scripture Matthew 9:36; 14:14; 15:32; Mark 6:34; 8:2

King James Version

Matthew 9:36

³⁶But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

Matthew 14:14

¹⁴And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

Matthew 15:32

³²Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.

Mark 6:34

³⁴And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

Mark 8:2

²I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:

Jesus is willing to touch and restore those considered unclean.

Read the Scripture Matthew 8:2–3; Mark 1:40–42; Luke 5:12–13

King James Version

Matthew 8:2–3

²And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
³And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

Mark 1:40–42

⁴⁰And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
⁴¹And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
⁴²And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.

Luke 5:12–13

¹²And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
¹³And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.

How can Jesus help?

What Jesus said about Health, Sickness & the Body

A Guide for Real Life

Explore the teachings of Jesus by area of life

How can Jesus help?

What Jesus said about Health, Sickness & the Body

A Guide for Real Life