Matthew 10:8 kjv
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
Matthew 10:8 nkjv
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Matthew 10:8 niv
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
Matthew 10:8 esv
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.
Matthew 10:8 nlt
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!
Matthew 10 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 4:23 | And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. | Jesus' own ministry of healing and teaching, setting the precedent. |
| Matt 9:35 | And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. | Further detail on Jesus' compassionate and authoritative healing ministry. |
| Matt 10:1 | And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. | The initial granting of authority preceding the command in Matt 10:8. |
| Mark 6:7 | And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits; | Parallel account of Jesus sending out the twelve with authority. |
| Luke 9:1 | Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. | Another parallel emphasizing power and authority granted. |
| Acts 3:6 | Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. | Apostolic practice of ministering without financial gain. |
| Acts 5:12 | And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people... | Signs and wonders accompanying the apostles' ministry. |
| Acts 8:6-7 | And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake... For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed... and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. | Philip's ministry demonstrating the continuation of these works. |
| Acts 19:11-12 | And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. | Paul's ministry characterized by miraculous healing and deliverance. |
| 1 Cor 12:4, 9 | Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit... To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit. | Affirmation of various spiritual gifts, including healing, given by the Holy Spirit. |
| Jas 5:14-16 | Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church... and the prayer of faith shall save the sick... Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. | Instruction for prayer for the sick within the Christian community. |
| Isa 35:5-6 | Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out... | Prophecy of Messiah's coming bringing healing and restoration. |
| Deut 15:10 | Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. | Principle of generosity and willing giving from the Old Testament. |
| Luke 10:9 | And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. | Connection between healing and the proclamation of God's Kingdom. |
| John 14:12 | Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. | Promise that believers will continue and expand upon Jesus' works. |
| Matt 8:2-3 | And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him... And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. | Jesus cleansing a leper, setting an example for the disciples. |
| John 11:43-44 | And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes... | Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, demonstrating power over death. |
| Mark 16:17-18 | And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils... they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. | Post-resurrection commission, reaffirming the continuation of these signs. |
| 1 Pet 4:10 | As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. | Call to stewardship of spiritual gifts for the benefit of others. |
| Rom 12:6 | Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; | Gifts of grace given by God, to be used accordingly. |
| Titus 1:7 | For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God... | Emphasizing the integrity required for those handling God's entrusted gifts. |
| Isa 61:1 | The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives... | Prophetic foretelling of Jesus' own anointed ministry of healing and liberation. |
Matthew 10 verses
Matthew 10 8 Meaning
Matthew 10:8 presents a direct command from Jesus to His twelve disciples as He commissions them for ministry. It encompasses four specific acts of power—healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, raising the dead, and casting out demons—which mirror Jesus' own ministry. This comprehensive list demonstrates the divine authority given to them to confront all forms of human suffering and spiritual oppression. The latter part of the verse, "Freely you have received, freely give," establishes a fundamental principle of Christian ministry, emphasizing that the miraculous power and gifts bestowed upon them by grace must be exercised without charge or personal gain, as a free gift in return.
Matthew 10 8 Context
Matt 10:8 is part of Jesus' specific instructions to His twelve disciples before their first significant mission trip (Matt 10:5-15). This "Limited Commission" or "Apostolic Discourse" immediately follows Jesus observing the overwhelming needs of the crowds, seeing them as "sheep without a shepherd" and noting that "the harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few" (Matt 9:36-37). Jesus' response is to empower His closest followers with authority mirroring His own. Their primary audience in this specific mission was the "lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matt 10:6). The miracles they were commanded to perform – healing, cleansing, raising the dead, and casting out demons – served to validate their message that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand (Matt 10:7), demonstrating God's power invading and reversing the effects of sin and Satan's dominion. The injunction to give "freely" counters any worldly expectation of profit from spiritual work, distinguishing Kingdom ministry from pagan magical practices or corrupt religious services that might charge for divine favor.
Matthew 10 8 Word analysis
- Heal (θεραπεύετε - therapeuete): From therapeuō, meaning "to heal, cure, serve, take care of." Implies restoring health, a complete return to soundness, encompassing physical, and by extension, spiritual restoration. This was a core aspect of Jesus' ministry.
- the sick (ἀσθενεῖς - astheneis): From asthenēs, meaning "weak, without strength." Refers to those afflicted with any physical illness or infirmity.
- cleanse (καθαρίζετε - katharizete): From katharizō, meaning "to make clean, purify, remove impurity." While general, in this context, when paired with "lepers," it specifically refers to the ceremonial and physical purification of those with leprosy.
- the lepers (λεπροὺς - leprous): From lepros, referring to individuals suffering from leprosy. In ancient Jewish society, leprosy rendered a person ceremonially unclean and socially outcast, symbolizing the utmost defilement and desperation, requiring divine intervention for restoration to community.
- raise (ἐγείρετε - egeirete): From egeirō, meaning "to rouse from sleep, awaken, raise up, cause to rise." Here, it unequivocally means to bring back from the dead, an ultimate demonstration of divine power over mortality itself.
- the dead (νεκροὺς - nekrous): From nekros, referring to deceased individuals.
- cast out (ἐκβάλλετε - ekballete): From ekballō, meaning "to throw out, expel, drive out, send forth." Conveys a sense of authoritative and forceful expulsion, not persuasion.
- demons (δαιμόνια - daimonia): From daimonion, referring to evil spirits or fallen angels that cause torment, oppression, and physical ailments. The confrontation with these forces underscores the spiritual warfare inherent in the advance of God's Kingdom.
- freely (δωρεὰν - dōrean): From dōrean, an adverb meaning "as a gift, gratis, for nothing, without pay." Emphasizes that the power and authority they received from Jesus were unearned, unmerited grace.
- you have received (ἐλάβετε - elabete): From lambanō, meaning "to take, receive, grasp." In the aorist indicative, it denotes a completed action: the power has already been bestowed upon them by Jesus.
- freely give (δωρεὰν δότε - dōrean dote): A command (imperative) to replicate the manner of their receiving in their giving. The gifts received without charge must be ministered without charge, opposing any commercialization or exploitation of spiritual power. This establishes a core ethical standard for Christian ministry.
Words-group analysis:
- "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons": This sequence describes a comprehensive scope of spiritual authority given to the disciples. It directly mirrors Jesus' own ministry and illustrates the visible and tangible manifestation of the Kingdom of God. This commission extends beyond mere physical ailments to confront the deepest forms of human suffering and spiritual bondage, including ceremonial impurity (leprosy) and the ultimate human limit (death). It powerfully underscores that the Kingdom of Heaven's arrival brings life, purity, and liberation in every dimension.
- "Freely you have received, freely give": This phrase articulates a foundational principle for the exercise of spiritual gifts and power within God's Kingdom. It highlights the divine nature of the authority—it's not earned or purchased but given by grace. Consequently, it must be ministered with the same gracious spirit, precluding any monetary or self-serving motives. This command reinforces integrity in ministry, ensuring that the focus remains on the glorification of God and the blessing of humanity, not personal gain.
Matthew 10 8 Bonus section
The specific commission in Matt 10, including the directive to raise the dead, reflects the total authority Jesus bestowed on His apostles for that particular, limited mission to Israel. While miraculous healings and deliverance from evil spirits continued throughout the early church, explicit mentions of apostles regularly raising the dead after Christ's resurrection are fewer, though Acts records Peter raising Tabitha (Acts 9) and Paul raising Eutychus (Acts 20). This suggests that while the authority exists, its exercise is dependent on the specific leading and timing of the Holy Spirit.
The phrase "freely you have received, freely give" is a radical ethical injunction in a world often driven by reciprocity and gain. It challenges both ancient and modern tendencies to spiritualize profit, emphasizing that the spiritual capital of the Kingdom (divine power, revelation, salvation) operates under a different economy—that of grace. This principle directly confronts the practice of simony (Acts 8:18-24) and all forms of ministry that commodify God's gifts, whether it's charging for prayer, healing, or revelation. The authentic power of the Kingdom is always an outpouring of unmerited favor, and thus its outward expression must reflect that same unconditional generosity. It also underscores that the power and authority are derived from Christ, not inherent in the disciple; therefore, the glory belongs to God alone.
Matthew 10 8 Commentary
Matthew 10:8 encapsulates the essence of the Kingdom mission entrusted to Jesus' disciples: to participate in His restorative and liberating work with divine authority, grounded in grace. The specific miracles commanded—healing the sick, cleansing lepers, raising the dead, and casting out demons—represent a complete invasion into territories held by disease, impurity, death, and spiritual darkness. These are not merely acts of compassion but powerful demonstrations of God's sovereign rule breaking into a broken world. Crucially, this power is entirely an overflow of what they "freely received" from Jesus. Therefore, the accompanying command, "freely give," becomes the ethical compass for their ministry, ensuring that the manifestation of God's power is never commercialized, manipulated, or used for self-enrichment. This establishes a pattern for all who are called to serve Christ: divine enablement is always a gift, and its expression in ministry must likewise be characterized by unconditional generosity, reflecting the very nature of God's boundless grace.
- Example 1: A pastor freely shares the gospel message without expecting financial contributions for salvation or spiritual growth, because salvation itself is a free gift of God.
- Example 2: Believers gifted with hospitality freely open their homes to those in need, without seeking recompense, mirroring the boundless grace they have received.
- Example 3: A Christian counselor provides guidance rooted in biblical wisdom to those struggling, primarily driven by love and service, not profit, understanding their own wisdom comes from God.