SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:23
¶ Y rode Jess toda Galilea, enseando en las sinagogas de ellos, y predicando el Evangelio del Reino, y sanando toda enfermedad y toda flaqueza en el pueblo.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 4:23
Verse 23. Teaching in their synagogues] Synagogue, sunagwgh, from sun, together, and agw, I bring, a public assembly of persons, or the place where such persons publicly assembled. Synagogues, among the Jews, were not probably older than the return from the Babylonish captivity. They were erected not only in cities and towns, but in the country, and especially by rivers, that they might have water for the convenience of their frequent washings.
Not less than ten persons of respectability composed a synagogue; as the rabbins supposed that this number of persons, of independent property, and well skilled in the law, were necessary to conduct the affairs of the place, and keep up the Divine worship. See Lightfoot. Therefore, where this number could not be found, no synagogue was built; but there might be many synagogues in one city or town, provided it were populous.
Jerusalem is said to have contained 480. This need not be wondered at, when it is considered that every Jew was obliged to worship God in public, either in a synagogue or in the temple.
The chief things belonging to a synagogue were: 1st. The ark or chest, made after the mode of the ark of the covenant, containing the Pentateuch.
2dly. The pulpit and desk, in the middle of the synagogue, on which he stood who read or expounded the law.
3dly. The seats or pews for the men below, and the galleries for the women above.
4thly. The lamps to give light in the evening service, and at the feast of the dedication. And, 5thly. Apartments for the utensils and alms-chests.
The synagogue was governed by a council or assembly, over whom was a president, called in the Gospels, the ruler of the synagogue. These are sometimes called chiefs of the Jews, the rulers, the priests or elders, the governors, the overseers, the fathers of the synagogue. Service was performed in them three times a day-morning, afternoon, and night.
Synagogue, among the Jews, had often the same meaning as congregation among us, or place of judicature, see James ii. 2.
Preaching the Gospel of the kingdom] Or, proclaiming the glad tidings of the kingdom. See the preceding notes. Behold here the perfect pattern of an evangelical preacher: 1. He goes about seeking sinners on every side, that he may show them the way to heaven. 2. He proclaims the glad tidings of the kingdom, with a freedom worthy of the King whom he serves. 3. He makes his reputation and the confidence of the people subservient not to his own interest, but to the salvation of souls. 4. To his preaching he joins, as far as he has ability, all works of mercy, and temporal assistance to the bodies of men. 5. He takes care to inform men that diseases, and all kinds of temporal evils, are the effects of sin, and that their hatred to iniquity should increase in proportion to the evils they endure through it. 6. And that nothing but the power of God can save them from sin and its consequences.
For glad tidings, or Gospel, see chap. 1. title. Proclaiming, see chap. iii. 1, and end; and for the meaning of kingdom, see chap. iii. 2.
All manner of sickness, and all manner of disease] There is a difference between nosov, translated here sickness, and malakia, translated disease.
The first is thus defined: nosov, thn cronian kakopaqeian, a disease of some standing, a chronic disorder.
Infirmity, malakia thn proskairon anwmalian toi swmatov, a temporary disorder of the body. Theophylact. This is a proper distinction, and is necessary to be observed.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 23. And Jesus went about all Galilee , etc.] Having called four of his disciples, he took a tour throughout Galilee; a country mean and despicable, inhabited by persons poor, illiterate, vile, and wicked: such had the first fruits of Christs ministry, and messages of his grace; which shows the freeness, sovereignty, and riches, of his abounding goodness. He went about all this country, both upper and nether Galilee, which was very populous: Josephus says f228 , there were two hundred and four cities and towns in it; he means, which were places of note, besides villages. He went about, not like Satan, seeking the destruction of men; but as one that went along with him says, doing good, ( Acts 10:38), both to the bodies and souls of men; for he was teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Gospel of the kingdom .
The places where he taught were their synagogues: he did not creep into private houses, as the Pharisees then, and false apostles afterwards did; but he appeared openly, and declared his doctrine in places of public worship; where the Jews met together for divine service, to pray, read the Scriptures, and give a word of exhortation to the people; for though they had but one temple, which was at Jerusalem, they had many synagogues, or meeting places, all over the land: here Christ not only prayed and read, but preached; and the subject matter of his ministry was, the Gospel of the kingdom: that is, the good news of the kingdom of the Messiah being come, and which now took place; wherefore he exhorted them to repent of, and relinquish their former principles; to receive the doctrines, and submit to the ordinances of the Gospel dispensation: he also preached to them the things concerning the kingdom of heaven; as that except a man be born again, he cannot see it; and unless he has a better righteousness than his own, he cannot enter into it: he was also healing all manner of sickness, and all manner of disease among the people . It is in the Greek text, every sickness and every disease; that is, all sorts of maladies, disorders and distempers, which attend the bodies of men; and is another instance, besides ( Matthew 3:5) in which the word all, or every, is to be taken in a limited and restrained sense, for some, or some of all sorts; which teaches us how to understand those phrases, when used in the doctrine of redemption by Christ.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 23-25 - Wherever Christ went, he confirmed his Divine mission by miracles which were emblems of the healing power of his doctrine, and the influences of the Spirit which accompanied it. We do not now find the Saviour's miraculous healing power in our bodies; but if we are cure by medicine, the praise is equally his. Three general words are her used. He healed every sickness or disease; none was too bad; none to hard, for Christ to heal with a word. Three diseases are named; the palsy, which is the greatest weakness of the body; lunacy, which is the greatest malady of the mind; and possession of the devil, which is the greatest misery and calamity of both; yet Christ healed all, and by thus curing bodily diseases, showed that his great errand into the world was to cure spiritual maladies. Sin is the sickness, disease, an torment of the soul: Christ came to take away sin, and so to heal the soul __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ περιηγεν 4013 5707 V-IAI-3S ολην 3650 A-ASF την 3588 T-ASF γαλιλαιαν 1056 N-ASF ο 3588 T-NSM ιησους 2424 N-NSM διδασκων 1321 5723 V-PAP-NSM εν 1722 PREP ταις 3588 T-DPF συναγωγαις 4864 N-DPF αυτων 846 P-GPM και 2532 CONJ κηρυσσων 2784 5723 V-PAP-NSM το 3588 T-ASN ευαγγελιον 2098 N-ASN της 3588 T-GSF βασιλειας 932 N-GSF και 2532 CONJ θεραπευων 2323 5723 V-PAP-NSM πασαν 3956 A-ASF νοσον 3554 N-ASF και 2532 CONJ πασαν 3956 A-ASF μαλακιαν 3119 N-ASF εν 1722 PREP τω 3588 T-DSM λαω 2992 N-DSM
Robertson's NT Word Studies
4:23 {Went about in all Galilee} (periegen en holei tei galilaiai). Literally Jesus "was going around (imperfect) in all Galilee." this is the first of the three tours of Galilee made by Jesus. this time he took the four fishermen whom he had just called to personal service. The second time he took the twelve. On the third he sent the twelve on ahead by twos and followed after them. He was teaching and preaching the gospel of the kingdom in the synagogues chiefly and on the roads and in the streets where Gentiles could hear. {Healing all manner of diseases and all manner of sickness} (therapeu"n pasan noson kai pasan malakian). The occasional sickness is called malakian, the chronic or serious disease noson.
