Matthew 4:23–25 (ESV)
Jesus Ministers to Great Crowds
23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24 So
his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And
great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.
Jesus’s ministry takes off. He begins by teaching and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom. Next comes healing. The forgiveness of sins and eternal life are more important than healing. The people unfortunately will be
more interested in healing than eternal life. Jesus feeds them spiritually before healing. The crowds begin to grow as word spreads of what Jesus is doing.
I pray: O Lord, I give thanks for your healing hands, but I value your teachings and forgiveness even more. Help me to always appreciate you Word and Sacraments. Amen.