“And heal the sick that are therein , and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.”
My Notes
What Does Luke 10:9 Mean?
"And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you." Jesus sends out seventy disciples with a dual commission: heal and proclaim. The healing isn't separate from the message — it IS the message made visible. When the sick are healed, the kingdom of God has come near. The kingdom isn't just an announcement; it's a demonstration.
The phrase "come nigh unto you" (ēngiken) means has drawn near, is at hand, is in your immediate proximity. The kingdom of God isn't a distant future event in Jesus' teaching — it's a present reality breaking into the current moment through acts of compassion, liberation, and restoration. The seventy are not just carrying information. They're carrying the kingdom itself into every town they enter.
Reflection Questions
- 1.In your daily life, do you tend to explain the gospel more than you demonstrate it — or vice versa?
- 2.What broken thing in front of you right now could be an opportunity to show the kingdom of God coming near?
- 3.Why do you think Jesus ordered the healing before the proclamation?
- 4.How would your relationships change if people experienced the kingdom through your actions before hearing about it in your words?
Devotional
Heal the sick. Then tell them why. That's the order. Not: preach a sermon and hope they listen. First: meet the need that's right in front of you. Then: explain the reality behind the relief.
Jesus sends his disciples into towns with a message that has legs. The kingdom of God isn't a concept they're supposed to explain from a distance. It's a reality they demonstrate through their hands and then interpret through their words. Healing comes first. Proclamation comes second. The gospel is shown before it's spoken.
This has radical implications for how you live your faith. If you want the people around you to understand that the kingdom of God has come near, start with what's broken in front of you. The friend who's sick — actually care for her. The neighbor who's struggling — actually show up. The co-worker who's falling apart — actually listen. And then, when they ask why you're different, you have something to say: the kingdom of God has come near to you.
The seventy weren't pastors or theologians. They were ordinary people sent into ordinary towns with an extraordinary message backed by extraordinary power. You carry the same kingdom. The question is whether you're demonstrating it before you try to explain it.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And heal the sick that are therein,.... Of all their bodily diseases, which would not only show their power and warrant,…
The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you - Εφ ὑμας, is just upon you. This was the general text on which they were to…
We have here the sending forth of seventy disciples, two and two, into divers parts of the country, to preach the…
The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you So that our Lord's last messages resembled His first preaching, Mat 4:17.
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture