What Does the Bible Say about Healing?
Jesus always has the power to physically heal. He took away the physical illnesses of many people while He walked the earth. Healing is a sign Jesus is the Messiah. The Jewish people and leaders knew this. Jesu made a clear statement when He miraculously cured a person of the incurable. Cleansed lepers showing up at the Temple for confirmation of their healing were a testimony to Jesus’ position. God put a sacrifice in the Bible to confirm the curing of a leper. Leprosy was incurable. That ritual remained unused from the time of Moses until Jesus arrival. The healed lepers then began showing up in droves. For More on this watch Overcoming Obstacles to Get to Jesus and Sunday Sermon Series – Acts 3:1-10 Are You a Jesus Person?
Yet, Jesus also did not heal others. The man healed in John 5 by the pool appears to be the only one Jesus touched that day. Jesus does not physically cure everyone.
The Book of Acts contains accounts of healings as well. Jesus gave His disciples the power to cure sickness and diseases. The dead are raised, the lame walk and people are restored from terrible maladies. Yet, these healings were done to only a small portion of the sick of the world at the time. Acts also took place over roughly 40 years. Many remained sick and eventually died during the Apostolic age.
The Apostle Paul was one of them. He had a thorn in his flesh. Many believe this was a particular eye condition picked up in his missionary travels. It caused intense pain and constant oozing of pus from the eyes. Paul is an amazing man of God. He wanted to be healed. He prayed fervently. His faith was rock solid. Yet, God does not heal Paul. Does God Answer All Prayers? Why Some Prayers Seem Unanswered
The Bible is more complex on the question of healing than a simply “Yes” or “No”. Does Jesus have the power? This part is obvious. Do we have the power as His disciples? I would say again, yes. But we are the servants, not that master. All healing or not is solely done at His discretion.
When examining the question of physical healing, it is most important to note what is not unclear.
By Jesus’ stripes, we are all guaranteed spiritual healing. Salvation is guaranteed. This is a clear promise from God. We have to want it though Do You Want to Be Healed?
Here are some of the best Bible verses on healing that can get you started:
What Does the Bible Say about Healing?
1) 1 Peter 2:24
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds, you have been healed.
2) Isaiah 53:5
But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes, we are healed.
3) Proverbs 3:5-8
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
4) Luke 4:18
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
5) Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
6) James 5:14-16
Is anyone among you sick? 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 will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
7) Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8) Luke 8:48
And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
9) Matthew 17:20
He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”
10) Romans 5:3-4
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
11) Psalm 41:3
The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health.
12) Psalm 103:2-3
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
13) Jeremiah 33:6
Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security.
14) Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
15) Psalm 103:2-4
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
16) Matthew 10:1
And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.
17) Psalm 6:2
Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.
18) Isaiah 54:17
No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.”
19) Exodus 15:26
Saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.”
20) Psalm 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
21) Proverbs 17:22
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
22) Proverbs 4:20-22
My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.
23) Jeremiah 30:17
For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord, because they have called you an outcast: ‘It is Zion, for whom no one cares!’
24) Matthew 10:8
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.
25) Psalm 107:20
He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.
26) Romans 5:3-4
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
27) Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
28) John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
30) Matthew 4:23
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.
31) Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
33) 2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
