1. Matthew 9:35 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Did Jesus heal everyone who was brought to him?

Matthew 9:35 (ESV)

35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.

In short

Jesus indeed healed all who were brought to him, as seen in the answered plea of Jairus (Matthew 9:18–19) and the repeated statement that Jesus healed every disease and every affliction (Matthew 4:23, Matthew 9:35)—showing the close connection between his teaching (Matthew 5:1–7:29) and his healing (Matthew 8:1–9:38), just as his disciples’ ministry included both preaching and healing (Matthew 10:1,Matthew 10:7, Matthew 10:8).

Yes, Jesus never turned down anyone who approached him in their need. Upon hearing this great expression of faith in him on the part of Jairus, for example (Matthew 9:18), Jesus immediately rose and went along with him to his daughter (Matthew 9:19).1 Matthew 9:35, as a repetition of Matthew 4:23, therefore also states that Jesus healed every disease and every affliction, thereby highlighting the twofold nature of his ministry, where 1) teaching and preaching are intrinsically connected to 2) healing. In this way this verse now constitutes a transition from the preceding chapters, Matthew 5:1–7:29 and Matthew 8:1–9:38 to Matthew 10:1–42, where the twofold ministry of the disciples is in turn highlighted as consisting of preaching and healing (see Matthew 10:1,Matthew 10:7, Matthew 10:8).2