Divine Healing: A Biblical Overview

Originally published on James and Dave’s Bible Page

Genesis 1: 28 God creates man, His highest creation, and tells him to take rule over the earth. For a home, God gives man an idyllic garden called Eden (Genesis 2:10). The name “Eden” means “delight, pleasure, a place where all five senses are satisfied”. In the original state which God intended for man, there is no poverty, sickness, death, or defeat of any kind. Of course, sin did enter the world, along with the curses that accompanied it (see Romans 5:17). In spite of this, however, God has always had a plan to bring blessing, healing and prosperity to His people.
Genesis 6:14- God calls Noah to build the Ark from gopher wood. Interestingly, the sap of the gopher tree was used as a medicine, giving us some beautiful typology of God’s healing power.

Genesis 18:10; 21:1-8-Although Sarah is well past child bearing age, God still miraculously gives her a son.

Exodus 12:1-51- God institutes the Jewish Passover to preserve the lives of His people, even as He judges the pagan society around them.

Exodus 15:26-God is the Lord Who heals us.

Exodus 20:12- One of the Ten Commandments is that we honor our father and mother, “that our days may be long upon the earth.”

Exodus 23:25-God’s promise that if we will worship Him, He will bless our food and water, and take sickness from our midst.

Numbers 22:4-9- The Israelites are healed from poisonous snakebites as they look on a bronze snake, which we later find out was a type of Jesus’ death on the cross (John 3:14).

Deuteronomy 5:33. “Ye shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.”

Deuteronomy 7:15-God’s promise to keep His people free from disease.

Deuteronomy 30: 19, 20: The choice of life or death, blessing or cursing is ours.

2 Kings 5:1-14- Naman healed of leprosy.

2 Kings 20:1-11-After being told he is about to die, King Hezekiah turns his back to the wall” and seeks God for his healing. As a result, God adds 15 years to his life.

2 Chronicles 16:9- God’s eyes constantly look for opportunities to show Himself mighty on behalf of His people.

2 Chronicles 30:20-God heals the people in response to Hezekiah’s prayer.

Psalm 30:2 The Psalmist cries out to God and is healed.

Psalm 34:19 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.”

Psalm 42:11 The Psalmisty puts his hope in God, because He is “the health of my countenance, and my God.”

Psalms 67: 1- A prayer for God’s saving health to be known among all nations.

Psalm 91:16-God promises to satisfy with long life those who will dwell in His “secret place.”

Psalm 103:3-He forgives all of our sins and heals all of our diseases.

Psalms 105:37 God brings the Israelites forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among them.

Psalm 107:19-20 God sends His word, and heals us, and delivers us from our destructions.

Psalm 118:17-The psalmist proclaims that he will not die but live, and will proclaim the works of the Lord.

Psalms 147: 3-God heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.

Proverbs 3:1-2-Following God’s Law gives us long life and peace.

Proverbs 3:7-8 “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.”

Proverbs 4:20-23-God’s Word is health (medicine) to a man’s whole body.

Proverbs 9:11- By God’s wisdom the days of our lives are lengthened and multiplied.

Proverbs 17:22-A merry heart doeth good like a medicine. It is a proven medical fact that laughter releases healing enzymes in the human body.

Proverbs 18:9, Amplified Bible-“…he who does not use his endeavors to heal himself is brother to him who commits suicide.” As important as divine healing is, God still expects us to take common sense care of ourselves.

Isaiah 9:6- One of Jesus’ titles is the Prince of Peace. The Hebrew word for peace is “Shalom.” This word does mean peace, but in addition, it also means favor, health, wholeness, and yes, prosperity (Strong’s #7965). Jesus is the Prince of Peace, health, prosperity and wholeness. Isn’t that wonderful?

Isaiah 53:4-5- A key verse in the doctrine of devine healing: “Surely He hath borne our griefs (Lit. sicknesses) and carried our sorrows (Lit. pains) yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and by His stripes we are healed.” NOTE – The last part of this verse,”by His stripes we are healed,” is not talking about spiritual healing, as some have taught, but definite physical healing. God does not “heal” a human spirit, he recreates it. He does however, heal our bodies and minds. This clearly shows that your healing was paid for at the cross! For a detailed study of this topic, see the book “Bodily Healing and the Atonement” by Dr. T.J. McCrossan, re edited by Roy H. Hicks, D.D. and Kenneth E. Hagin, D.D.

Isaiah 58:8 “Thy light shall break forth as the morning, and thy health shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee: the glory of the Lord shall be thy rear guard.”

Jeremiah 17:14 “Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.”

Jeremiah 30:17 But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the LORD, `because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.’

Jeremiah 33:6 “Behold, I will bring you health and cure, and I will cure you, and will reveal unto you the abundance of peace and truth.”

Joel 3:10- Let the weak say, `I am strong!`

Malachi 3:6- “For I am the Lord, I change not…” If God ever did heal, He still does!

Malachi 4:2-The Sun of Righteousness (Jesus) will rise with healing in His wings.

Matthew 4:23-24-Jesus travels about healing “all manner of sickness and disease.”

Matthew 6:9-10-Jesus teaches us to pray for God’s will to be done “on earth, as it is in heaven.” How much sickness and poverty is there in Heaven? None! So it is not God’s will for it to afflict His people on earth, either.

Matthew 8:2-3 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.

Matthew 8:5-10-Jesus heals the servant of a prominent Roman military officer.

Matthew 8:16-17-Jesus heals and delivers a large crowd of people, further illustrating that He is the fulfillment of Isaiah 53:5: “He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.”

Matthew 9:20-22- A woman is healed of an otherwise incurable blood disease after touching Jesus’ robe. This event is significant as we see how her faith was exercised: She said that if she could touch the hem of His garment, she would be made whole (note the role of the spoken word). Also note that Jesus asked who had touched Him, indicating that the healing took place without Jesus even actively dispensing it! His power was there, and it was simply a matter of “tapping into it.”

Matthew 9:27-36- Jesus heals two blind men.

Matthew 10:1- Jesus gives His disciples power to cast out demons and heal disease. Does He give His modern followers any less power and responsibility?

Mark 11:24 “Therefore I say to you whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Surely this includes healing!

Matthew 12:15- Great multitudes come to Jesus, and He heals them all!

Matthew 14:13-14-Jesus is moved with compassion toward the multitude, and heals their sick as a result.

Matthew 14:34-36-Men travel throughout the region to bring the sick to Jesus, and as many as touch Him are made completely whole.

Matthew 15:29-31-Jesus heals a large crowd of people who are mute, blind and crippled.

Mark 1:40-42- A leper kneels down before Jesus (note the act of humility) and Jesus heals him.

Mark 2:1-12-A crippled man is brought to Jesus. Because of the huge crowd, the man has to be lowered down through the roof. Jesus is deeply moved by the man’s faith and heals him on the spot. Faith that is willing to do whatever it takes to get in Jesus’ presence is the faith that gets results!

Mark 5:1-43-Jesus brings freedom to a demon possessed madman.

Mark 6:4-6- Jesus is rejected in His home town, and is unable to do mighty works due to their unbelief. Note that it doesn’t say He would not, but that He could not. God is limited by our unbelief (see Psalm 78:41).

Mark 6:53-56-Wherever Jesus goes, people bring the sick to Jesus, who heals every one of them. Note that they bring the sick to Jesus. He doesn’t simply come uninvited, even to do miracles.

Mark 7:24-30- Jesus delivers a Syrophoenician woman’s daughter from a demon. In this encounter, Jesus refers to healing as “the children’s bread.”

Mark 9:17-29-Jesus delivers a demon possessed boy.

Mark 16:17-18- As part of the Great Commission, Jesus says that among the signs to follow believers is that we will lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Luke 4:16-21-Jesus announces His mission of healing the brokenhearted, delivering the captives and restoring sight to the blind.

Luke 4:33-36, 40, 41-Jesus heals and delivers many who are sick and oppressed. As the demons leave, even they must acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God.

Luke 4:38-39- Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law of a fever. Note that he “rebuked” the fever, commanding it to leave. Also note that her response to “minister” to Jesus and His disciples. Our response to Jesus work in our lives should be this sort of grateful service.

Luke 6:6-10-Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, which sets up a dramatic confrontation with the religious leadership.

Luke 6:17-19- Multitudes of sick and oppressed people come to Jesus, and He heals every one of them.

Luke 13:11-17-Jesus heals a woman with a “spirit of infirmity” which had caused her to walk crookedly. Jesus goes on to describe her as the woman whom “satan had bound.” This clearly shows that sickness is the work of the devil, not God.

Luke 10:19-Jesus promises us power (authority) to “tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

John 4:46-54-A nobleman comes to Jesus on behalf of his gravely ill son. Jesus speaks the word, and the son “begins to amend.” In the case the healing was gradual, not instantaneous. Nonetheless, it was just as real. Keep this in mind when you don’t see instant results. God is at work even when we don’t see it. That’s where faith comes in (see Hebrews 11).

John 5:2-14-Jesus encounters a crippled man at the Pool of Bethesda. Although Jesus does heal him, first He asks if the man is willing to be made whole. This is important: We can become lazy or complacent in our weakness and subconsciously not want God’s help. When we are willing, so is He!

John 9:1-7-Jesus and the disciples encounter a blind man, and the disciples mistakenly assume that his blindness was due to sin, either by him or by his parents. After correcting this notion, Jesus heals the man, “that the works of God might be made manifest in him.”

John 10:10-The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; Jesus has come that we may have life, and have it to the full!

John 14:12-15-Jesus makes the astounding promise that those who believe on Him will do the same works He does, and even greater ones!

John 15:7 Jesus promises that if we abide in Him, and He abides in us, we can ask “what we will” and it shall be done for us.”

John 16:23-24-If we ask anything in Jesus’ name, (including healing) it will be given to us. (For an excellent study of this, see the book “The Wonderful Name of Jesus” by E.W. Kenyon).

Acts 2:22-Jesus’ ministry confirmed by miraculous signs and wonders. Compare this with John 14:12-15, in which He promises the same power to those who believe in Him.

Acts 3:1-4:22-Peter and John minister healing to a crippled beggar.

Acts 4:23-31-The early church prays that signs and wonder accompany the preaching of the Word.

Acts 5: 12-16-Signs and wonders done at the hands of the apostles.

Acts 6:8-15: Wonders and miracles done by a deacon named Stephen. This disproves the common argument that miracles and healings were only done by the apostles.

Acts 8:4-13-Miracles in the ministry of Phillip.

Acts 9:33, 34-Peter ministers healing to a man with palsy.

Acts 10:38-A powerful summary of Jesus’ ministry: “How He went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed of the devil (note: they were not oppressed of God).

Acts 14:8-10-As Paul is preaching, he perceives that a crippled man in the audience has faith to be healed. He tells the man to stand to his feet, and the man leaps and walks for the first time in his life!

Acts 19:11, 12-Handkerchiefs and aprons from Paul’s body are brought to the sick, and they are healed. This is the Scriptural basis for “prayer cloths.”

Acts 28:1-10- Paul miraculously healed from a poisonous snakebite

Romans 4:17, 19-20-Because Abraham did not stagger in his faith, he received what God had promised him.

Romans 8:32- If God didn’t spare His own son to redeem us, will He not also give us everything else we need in life?

2 Corinthians 1:20-God’s promises are “Yes, and Amen”

Ephesians 6:1-3-A restatement of the commandment to “Honor our father and mother” that our day’s may be long upon the earth.

Colossians 4:14-Paul refers to “Luke, the beloved physician.” The fact that God used a doctor to write two books of the New Testament (The Gospel of Luke, Acts) shows us that He approves of those who practice medical science.

Hebrews 2:4-God bears witness through signs, wonders and miracles.

Hebrews 13:8- Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. If He ever healed, He still does!

1 Peter 2:24- A New Testament restatement of Isaiah 53:5: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”

James 1:17-Every good and every perfect gift, including healing, is from God.

James 4:7-We are to submit ourselves to God, resist the devil and he will flee (lit. “Run in terror”) from us.

James 5:14-15-The sick of the church are instructed to call for the elders of the church to anoint and pray over them, with the promise that they will be healed.

1 John 3:8- Jesus was made manifest that He might destroy the works of the devil (including sickness).

1 John 5:14-15 God promises that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us, and if He hears us, we will receive what we are asking Him for. As this study abundantly proves, healing is certainly His will.

Revelation 21:1-22:5- God’s redeemed people enjoy His blessings for all eternity, never to be sick or afflicted again.

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