Monthly Archives: October 2025

The Anointing (sozo)

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Have you considered what salvation and healing are all about? In this series I unpack healing and deliverance but this week focus in on complete healing.

Sozo is the most common healing term and is used 120 times in the Bible. Sozo is most often translated “salvation.” It means to heal through and through, body, soul, and spirit. Sozo seldom specifically speaks of physical healing alone—when you received salvation you also received healing! It is healing of the entire man!

There multiple ways the word sozo is used in the Bible. One has to do with healing from sickness, disease and demonic oppression, one from peril and danger, and a third from eternal torment and anguish. I am focused here on healing from disease, sickness and oppression but there are often relationships between all three types of healing.

4982 sṓzō (from sōs, “safe, rescued”) – properly, deliver out of danger and into safety; used principally of God rescuing believers from the penalty and power of sin – and into His provisions (safety).

[4982 (sṓzō) is the root of: 4990 /sōtḗr (“Savior”), 4991 /sōtēría (“salvation”) and the adjectival form, 4992 /sōtḗrion (what is “saved/rescued from destruction and brought into divine safety”).]

— Woman with the issue of blood 12 years

Matthew 9:22 (Mark 5:34, Luke 8:45):: Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well (sozo).” And the woman was made well (sozo) from that hour.

It is interesting here. A ruler of a synagague named Jairus asked Yeshua to come heal her daughter of a condition that threatened her life. On the way a woman touches the hem of his garment, possibly his tsi-tsi. He apparently does not know who touched him (in faith) but realized power went out from him. The woman was healed of a flow of blood for 12 years. The main point here is that sozo included the healing of her body and the stopping of the flow of blood.

What I find fascinating is that we learn that Jairus’ daughter was also 12 years ago. We are told the father and mother came into the house where the presently dead girl lay. There is no inkling in the text that this was not the biological mother yet 12 seems to be the common age. Twelve symbolizes completeness and also the 12 tribes of Israel. The hidden message here could be that healing is provided for all of Israel and it is a complete healing in Yeshua. Could it also imply the flow of blood sacrifices is also to cease?

— Many touching the hem of his garment get healed

This is a very similar use of the word sozo to that of the woman with the issue of blood 12 years.

Mark 6:56:: Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well (sozo).

Matt. 14:36 uses a different word for being made perfectly well (diasōzō) which normally means to preserve thru danger.

As I said before, the word sozo has at least three uses so I am not surprised Mark comes up with another greek word here.

Sozo includes many types of healing, even the ones covered by therapeou and iomatai, plus physical and spiritual dangers.

— Blind man healed near Jericho

Mark 10:52 (Luke 18:42):: Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.

Here Yeshua adds ‘Go your way; your faith has made you well’. It is a general proclomation that faith alone can heal if accompanied by action. Rememeber, James says faith without works is dead. If we simply pray and do nothing to enforce this maybe that is why some have not experienced healing. I am not Catholic but realize that those who make a pilgrimmage to Nice, France have put action onto their faith. To many, it is like reaching the hem of Yeshua’s garment.

Note: In Matthew 20 the story changes to two blind men. The statement ‘your faith has made you well’ is not given. This may have been another story but is very similar to Mark and Luke’s account.

— Healed of demonic oppression

Luke 8:36::They also who had seen it told them by what means he who had been demon-possessed was healed (sozo).

Parallel passages in Matt. 8:28—9:1 and Mark 5:1–20  do not use the word sozo. I have noted before that Luke seems to use the words therapeou and iomatai almost synonymously so it is not surprising here that sozo gets extened by him to include deliverance. Perhaps deliverance and healing are related. I am thinking sozo includes therepeou and therepou includes iomatai at times.

— To the one leper who returned

Luke 17:19:: He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well (sozo)

This might be another instance of Luke extending words to include words like therapeou and iomatai because Luke 17:15 uses the word iomaai for this healing.

— Men healed crippled from birth

Some forms of sozo including healing of issues present from birth. First let look at Acts, which was written by Brother Luke.

Acts 4:8-9:: Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well (sozo)

Acts 3:2 makes it clear that this man was lame from his mother’s womb.

(Acts 3:11 also uses the word iomatai for this healing)

Bonus Content:
holoklēria (hol-ok-lay-ree’-ah) used in Acts 3:16 meaning perfect wholeness shares the same root word as in hollistic soundness.

Acts 14:8-10:: in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed (sozo), said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked.

There was another man healed in scripture who was presumably lame. It was at the pool called Bethsada. He could not get to the water quick enough and was in that condition for 38 years so we assume he was lame most of his life.

John 5:9-10:: And immediately the man was made well (hygiēs), took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath. The Jews therefore said to him who was cured (therapeuō), “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.

hygiēs (hoog-ee-ace’) can mean sound or whole

I won’t go into etymology of hygiēs here for brevity. My thoughts here are the man at the pool had more than a merely physical deformity that originated from birth. We just don’t know everything about him. Also note, Luke also applies this word hygiēs in Acts 4:10 regarding the man healed at the gate beautiful.

There is another case of a lame man healed in Capernaum:
Luke 5:18 (Matt. 9:2–8; Mark 2:1–12 ):: behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him.

paralytikos (par-al-oo-tee-kos’) means relaxing of the nerves on one side; disabled, weak on one side

In this case Yeshua both healed him and forgave his sins. The scribes at the house considered Yeshua to have blashemed because only God can forgive sins. This testifies that the Son of Man has the power to forgive sins for Yeshua tells the man to rise up and walk which he does. To me this shows a close correlation of healing (sozo) to forgiveness of sins. The question is: are you also repentant and willing to confess and renounce your sins?

— The prayer of faith

This is the prayer formula many time used in churches.

Acts 5:15-16:: Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save (sozo) the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

This is a sacrement of healing in churches known sometimes as an unction of healing. This healing is supposed to heal both body and soul. Notice that sins will also be forgiven in addition to healing.

I think we have to be cautious about healing ministries that work ‘miracles’ without life changing transformation. I have heard of some people not retaining their healing. Sickness, especially that caused by or aggrevated by demonic oppression can get reversed if true repentance does not occur. Remember the parable of the house swept and clean where seven demons worse that the first moved in afterward. I am not saying this happens all of the time but when some ministries value healing counts more than life transformation I think this is a real possibility.

So I think I have covered sozo pretty well here. There are also other uses of the word beyong healing and deliverance for manybe another week. Other words could also be explored but I am feeling a tug of the Holy Spirit to switch study to another topic next week.

Exercise

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What is your favorite form of physical exercise?

Exercise, any type of exercise, is good for the body.  The point of exercise is to get the heart rate up and promote good cardio-vascular health.  The purpose of spiritual exercise it to keep our spiritual hearts healthy.  In Jewish liturgy the heart is related to the mind.  Both have a will and both can be grieved.  Make sure to exercise caution when speaking to others about their hearts and minds.

The Anointing (Iaomai Part 2)

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Last week I covered the greek word for healing iaomai in the gospels which are rather clear. This week I wanted to speak about Luke’s use of the word and how he mixed the word use with therapeeúō and also how it is used in the epistles of Paul.

— Luke mixes the use of both therapeúō and ioamai healing at times

Case 1:
Luke 4:18 says He has sent Me to (heal the brokenhearted)

The NU Text omits the brokenhearted. I already discussed this two weeks ago so keep that in mind that this healing word may not have dealt with broken hearted people and is probably incongruous with other instances of the use of this healing word.

For sure Yeshua can heal the brokenhearted — it is the text translation I am questioning in this quote from Isaiah 61. It actually says in Isaiah (masoretic texts) to tightly bind up the brokenhearted. I don’t think Yeshua instantly heals anyone of a brokenheartedness. Grief is a natural reaction when bad things happen. Yet the binding can be good and mightily speed up the process.

Case 2:
Luke 6:17-19:: And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed (iaomai) of their diseases, as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed (therapeuō). The whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power (dynamis) went out from Him and healed (iaomai) them all.

Case 3:
Luk 9:2:: He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal (ioamai) the sick (astheneō)

It is interesting that in Luke 10:9 Yeshua told the 70 to heal (therapeuō) the sick (asthenēs) which is not the same healing word used in chapter 9.

Case 4:
Act 3:11:: Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed.

This is fascinating to me since in the next chapter the word therepeo is used of the same event:
Acts 4:14;  seeing the man who had been healed (therapeuō) standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

Can this swizzle between two greek words help us understand some of the confusion regarding Luke 4:18?

I said two weeks ago I believe there is a difference between sickness developed because of spiritual oppression and disease which is a merely a physical or heredity condition. The lame man in Acts 3 & 4 was lame from birth so I would say ioamai is a more proper word here.

Peter quoting from Psalm 18 tells the Sanhedrin that there is no salvation in any other (name),

The actual quotes was “This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone (Ps. 118:22).

sōtēria can mean salvation but also deliverance, preservation, or safety

Furthermore, Peter declares this healing in the name of Jesus Christ (vs. 10).

— Signs promised to believers do not explicitly say we are given power to heal people:

Mark 16:17:: these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick (arrōstos), and they will recover.

kalōs (kal-oce’) is the word used in Mark for recover. It does not even really mean to be healed, at least in the normal sense of how iaomai is used. I means beautifully, finely, excellently, well. Removing demons can include therapeúō which we talked about last week.

There is a wealth of information here and elsewhere.

— Healings in Acts: That which testified about Yeshua

In most of the following verses healing seems to have occurred quickly and miraculously

Act 9:34:: Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately.

Again Peter invokes the name of Jesus the Christ to bring healing to the lame.

Act 10:38:: God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

This is a clue, perhaps, that it is Yeshua who heals people (not us). It suggest to me that we do not command this type of healing, only we point people to Yeshua who is the great physician.

Act 28:8:: it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him.

This is one of the few times the word iáomai is used of healing besides that done by Yeshua or in his name. Peter always invoked the name of Yeshua to the Jewish people. It is interesting that Luke says that Paul healed Publius’ father.

— Healing in epistle writings

Here we read just a few verses which speak of healing within churches. We read about healing in Hebrews 12. Verse 12 starts with a therefore but the whole passage has to do with discipline and correction.

Heb 12:12-13:: Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

So one idea here is that the joints of the lame might become dislocated if discipline is not heeded. The writer prefers the lame be healed instead so accept discipline so that healing occurs instead. This idea of confession and repentance is again spoken about in the book of James.

Jas 5:16:: Confess your trespasses[faults, sins] to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Here mutual prayer results in healing but only after confession and by implication forgiveness, especially against one who may have wronged you. Reconciliation is a good word here which promotes healing.

The Anointing (Iaomai Part 1)

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Iaomai is used 32 times. This word is used for instantaneous, miraculous healing. But sometimes it is used in the figurative sense so as to heal someones ability to hear and listen, see or understand. It also means to heal the brokenhearted (maybe).

Strong’s: 2390 iáomai (ee-ah’-om-ahee) (a primitive verb, NAS dictionary) – healing, particularly as supernatural and bringing attention to the Lord Himself as the Great Physician (cf. Is 53:4,5:: by his stripes we are healed (rapa)).

https://biblehub.com/greek/2390.ht

— Yeshua heals (Matthew and Mark)

We first look at an instance where healing occurs without and physical touch.

Mat 8:8:: The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.

Because of the centurion’s great faith…

Mat 8:13:: Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.

There are three places in the new testament Isaiah 6 is used to speak of miraculous healing.

Mat 13:15 (also see John 12:40)
For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.’[Is. 6:9-10]

In Acts 28:27 Apostle Paul again quoted from Isaiah 6 to the Jews in Rome. This time there was no mention of any healing (ioamai) amongst
the Jews in Rome. More to say about Paul’s methods next week.

Next is one instance brought about by a womon’s great feath and Yeshua affirming her faith.

Mat 15:28:: Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Then there is physical touch, activated by a woman’s faith.

Mark 5:29:: Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.

— Yeshua heals (Luke)

Luke seems to use the words therapeou and iomatai almost synonymously. We will look at those verses next week.

That day a paralytic was healed:
Luk 5:17:: Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. (Matt. 9:2–8; Mark 2:1–12 )

Centurion’s servant again;
Luk 7:7:: “Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.

The woman with the issue of blood again:
Luk 8:47:: Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.

Bethsaida countryside where 5000 fed:
Luk 9:11:: But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing.

Man’s son with epilepsy:
Luk 9:42:: as he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father.

Man healed of dropsy:
Luk 14:3-4:: Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” they kept silent. And He took him and healed him, and let him go.

Luk 17:15:: one of them (a leper), when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God,

While being kissed by Judas and arrested:
Luk 22:51:: Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him.
(Matt. 26:47–56; Mark 14:43–52; John 18:1–11 )

There are cases where Luke mentions healing and mixes the use of ioamata and therepeuo we will look at next week.

— Yeshua heals (John)

There is an instance where Yeshua heals by just says the word ‘your son lives’.

John 4:47:: When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.

At that very hour we read the fever left the son. Then there is the healing of the man at the pool of Bethsada. This also happened on the sabbath for the Jews, seeing him carry his mat stopped him and asked who told him to carry his mat that day.

John 5:13:: the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place.

So instead of praising God for his healing after 38 years, they picked on the day it happened.

What is interesting is John 9 which speaks about the healing of a man born blind. The story takes place on the sabbath. Yeshua is accused of not keeping the sabbath because he spat on the ground and made spittle and put it on the eyes of the one blind. I think the overall message here is spiritual blindness which is what the Pharasees had, including the one called Saul.

False Peace

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We are moving into a period I call false peace. The Trump 20 point peace plan for the middle east looks like a peace treaty on the surface but is it? When people say peace and safety BEWARE! Lets look at exactly what the bible says about this:

1 Th. 5:3-7:: For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.

I believe Israel is fully aware of the fact that Hamas will again attack. Walls will not come down. A highway may or may not be built bridging Egypt and Syria. Based upon what has happened since Israel pulled out of Gaza in 2005, that even looks unlikely.

The pregnant women of 1 Thessalonians reminds me of Revelation 12 where a pregnant woman cried out in labor and pain, about to give birth. You might be of the persuasion the woman is symbolically Israel 2000 years ago and the child birthed is Christ. That is good but consider this: The woman is Israel today. The birthing is Christ today is him being birthed in Israel. Evangelism! She is in pain and in labor. The sun, moon, and stars historically represent the dream Joseph had in Genesis 37:9-11. A key difference is that there is a garland of 12 stars, not just 11. Joseph is included today with Israel (Manasseh and Ephraim). Many say the sons of Joseph represent the west, even the United States.

So who is the a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns? I have said before that China is the great red dragon. It could also be a coalition headed by China or some other state who attacks Israel. I don’t want to speculate too much here since this is an interpretation. A third of the stars could represent four children of the woman or angels aligned with the Dragon.

So let us be children of the light. Let us be sober and realize, fully awake, what is going on today in the geo-political realm. Trump is not God, he might not even by a Cyrus.

I would say, based upon my understanding, this is not the covenant spoken about in Daniel 9:27. But it could turn into that as the Abraham accords progress. When you see the temple actually being built then it would be that treaty (sacrifice and offering must begin anew).

The Anointing 2 (therapeúō)

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There is a Greek word that covers much of this.
2323 therapeúō – properly, heal, reversing a physical condition to restore a person having an illness (disease, infirmity).

[2323 (therapeúō), the root of “therapy” and “therapeutic,” which usually involves natural elements in the process of healing but the use of the greek word therapeúō in the gospels and acts have little to do with natural remedies or cures

https://biblehub.com/greek/2323.htm

— Healing on the Sabbath: A big deal to the Pharisees

The word here is again therapeúō. It is not iáomai which we shall cover next week. We see in Matthew 12 Yeshua asking the question about a sheep falling into a pit on the Sabbath and whether or not any of them would pull out the poor animal that day. This is part of his teaching about what is permitted to do on Sabbath. In no way was Yeshua promoting the idea of working on the sabbath but rather promoting the idea of mercy and doing what is necessary on the sabbath.

Matthew 12:10; behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him.

This got recorded again in Mark 3:1 and Luke 6:7 where it was the scribes and Pharisees watching. Another sabbath event happened in…

Luke 13:14;  the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed (a woman who could not straighten up) on the Sabbath – he called it an infirmity (astheneia) which I will dive into deeper in a few minutes.

In this case the lawyers teamed up with the Pharisees to call it work. Yeshua again retorts with the idea of giving on ox or a donkey something to drink on the sabbath, calling them hypocrites, for they found convenient yet necessary exceptions to the work rule.

Luke 14:3; Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”

Here he healed a man of dropsy which is swelling in the body or skin. Then there is the criticism called against a man healed of paralysis.

John 5:10; he Jews therefore said to him who was cured (paralyzed 38 years), “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”

For near to the pool of Bathesda lay a great multitude of sick people (astheneō), blind (typhlos), lame (chōlos), paralyzed (xēros) waiting for the moving of the water (John 5:3)

So if healing one with a withered hand, dropsy, a back issue, or paralysis was not ok on the sabbath we have to better understand the idea of working on the sabbath. The Pharisees had a very strict interpretation of the law, maybe somewhat like the Ultra Orthodox today. The Pharisees seemed to have the scribes, lawyers, and synagogue rules on their side. Yet Yeshua prioritized mercy over law.

Today pikuach nefesh (saving of a life) rules varies between jewish groups. Most would agree that something critical like a doctor saving a life, a fireman rescuing someone from a buring building, or policeman working to save lives are acceptable work on Shabbat. Other things are less clear and some even interpret driving a car as work, especially when it is unnecessary.

Yeshua also said to the Pharisees ‘you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness’. Healing is another instance (in this case mercy) where there are priorities in the law. Yeshua then had a rather liberal interpretation of sabbath (halakha) laws, but that does not mean he intentionally ignored the law to rest on Shabbat. It seems to me that all can pray on shabbat. The real issue is if something like laying on of hands is considered work. This is where the Pharisees started making up legalistic rules for do’s and don’ts.

We need to ensure our actions please God. In Mark 2:27 we hear that Yeshua said ‘the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath’. Yet a day of rest is a gift from God which we should not ignore.

Let’s go a bit deeper into what Yeshua and his disciples did that seemed so wrong on the sabbath.

— The Sick and Miserably Ill (asthenēs and astheneia)

Remember the sabbath healing of a woman who could not straighten up due to back issues. It was when the 70 were appointed to go heal the since Yeshua told them to heal (therapeuō) the sick (asthenēs). Luke 10:9

Here we have the words therapeuō and asthenēs. The first word is the action and the second the state of the person.

asthenēs (as-then-ace’) = weak, infirm, feeble (ajective)
astheneia (as-then’-i-ah) = without strength, weak, sick (noun)

Not being able to stand up straight could have been a spinal injury or degeneration.

Luke 5:15; great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities (astheneia)

Luke 8:2; certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities (astheneia)—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons

I just want to point out that at least three prominent women mentioned here who were healed provided funds for Yeshua’s ministry. Just pointing out some things are more valuable than gold or silver.

Acts 5:16, etc.;  a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick (asthenēs) people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed

Technically we cast out unclean demons and heal the sick but here the two concepts are linked together. This is possible. Sometimes we need to cast out before healing. Fear, doubt, and insecurity often block a miracle.

— Infirmities and Afflictions (arrōstos and mastix)

In Nazareth we read that Yeshua did very little miracle work:
Mark 6:5; He could do no mighty work (dynamis) there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick (arrōstos) people and healed them.

In this case, as often, familiarity breeds contempt. They had little faith in him around his home town.

Mark 3:10; He healed many (of ??), so that as many as had afflictions (mastix) pressed about Him to touch Him

mastix = plague, whip, or scourge

Luke 7:21; that very hour He cured (therepeo) many of infirmities (nosos), afflictions (mastix), and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight. Yeshua answered the disciples of John say ‘Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them’.

I don’t have a specific section for the lame and blind nor even those suffering from leprosy.

Acts 4:14;  seeing the man who had been healed (lame from birth) standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

So I would think those things are also infirmities however the leapers are always cleansed.

— Sickness and Disease (nosos and malakia)

Matthew 4:23 (and Matthew 9:35); Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness (nosos) and all kinds of disease (malakia) among the people.

Matthew 10:1; when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness (nosos) and all kinds of disease (malakia).

Mark 3:15; He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses (nosos) and to cast out demons — note that only a few versions like KJV speak of healing sickness (nosos) here

Luke 9:1; He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases (nosos).

The last two verses speak only of healing sickness, not disease. Perphaps that is because demons tend to mask or prevent curing of sickness, not necessarily disease. I would need much more study and insight to say that defintively. Yet I do believe there is a difference between sickness developed because of spiritual oppression and disease which is a merely a physical or heredity condition. I also say this because therapeúō is related to therapies which heal of mental conditions not just physical. The devil mainly impacts us in our minds.

Ex. 15:26 speaks of the diseases (plagues) put upon the Egyptians and corresponds to ‘nosos’ so maybe this word has to do with external things that affect us including demonic activity. In the end the death angel brought death of the firstborn so affects of sickness can be extreme.

— Miserable Ill People (kakōs) and the Tormented (basanizō)

Matthew 4:24; His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick (kakos) people who were afflicted with various diseases (nosos) and torments (basanos), and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.

Notice here to that disease (nosos) is related to torments, demon-possession, and mental/motor control.

kakōs = miserable, ill which like asthenēs is descriptive.

Mark 1:34; He healed (therapeuō) many who were sick (kakōs) with various diseases (nosos), and cast out many demons;

Then we read about Yeshua merely speaking the word about a centurions servant who was at a gentile home:
Luke 7:2, a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick (kakōs) and ready to die.

In Matthew 8:5-7 when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed (paralytikos), dreadfully tormented (basanizō).” Yeshua said to the centurion “I will come and heal him.” (a paralyzed man in his house).

This could have been the same servant of the centurion. But the main point here is that going into a gentile’s home was as bad or worse as healing on the sabbath. Yet the man was greatly tormented (mentally and physically). Compassion overrulled here not entering a gentile’s home but I think Yeshua did not need to go in because he merely spoke the word. Still, it was very ackward for Yeshua to go into the gentile home, even though he would have. Again, compassion overrules legalism…

I hope this gives you a new or unique perspective of therapeúō. Next week we shall speak of another healing concept called iaomai in greek. Let me say my going in assumption now is that iaomi is the deals more with miracles and that of a higher degree.

References:
https://fopchurch.net/blog/2020/09/28/greek-week-healing
https://mcmworshipcenter.online/sermons/the-three-types-of-healing-mentioned-in-the-bible/

The Anointing (A Practical Approach)

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— Review of anointing
The anointing means different things to different people.

chriō (khree’-o) means to consecrate for service. It also means to assign a person to a special task, implying the giving of power or gifts of God to accomplish this task.

It is equivalent to māšaḥ (maw-shakh’) in the old testament which means to smear, or anoint, or consecrate with a liquid.

I did a message on anointing back in April 2024. So I will record that for YouTube retention. In that I focused on old testament anointings, that of Christ, and some on our anointings. Besides anointing animal sacrifices people got anointed: priests, kings, and prophets. Here I want to focus on our anointings from a different perspective.

Heb. 1:9 says ‘You loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions’.

This is from Ps. 45:6-7. In Heb. 1:8 it speaks of God’s throne and his sceptor of righteousness as his kingdom. A sceptor is from the root word (shebet) meaning to branch off, even a righteous branch and that of one of the throne of King David. The Christ of scriputes is not a king in the new testament but yet was born to rein so his true nature remains hidden. It is somewhat of a mystery. Kings got anointed. King David got anointed by Samuel yet we see no such anointing for King Yeshua.

The idea of hating lawlessness (anomia) is the idea of detesting it also. King David hid his word in his heart (Ps. 119:11) so that he would not sin against God.

Here is an idea. The anointing is what fuels our ministries. In engineering terms it is actually a catalyst. Fuel is actually what God has gifted inso each one of us- our hopes, our goodly desires, our natural talents and abilities.

Paul reminds Timothy ‘to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands’. (2 Tim. 1:6)

anazōpyreō (an-ad-zo-poor-eh’-o) is to kindle or reflame as through a bellow or blowing upon.

Our ministries can be ‘great’ or ‘small’. It can include quite ‘ordinary’ things we do each day, even when we are in training.

Nehemiah reminded the people after reading from the book of the Law that the joy of the LORD is our strength (Neh. 8:10). People rejoiced exceedingly after hearing the words of the Lord. For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome (1 John 5:3).

We are overcomes, those that overcome the world! Do you have the oil of bliss today?

Do not be a Sampson who followed the flesh and so the spirit lifted from him. Do not even be a David who pleaded for the LORD to not take away his spirit (after the Bathsheba incident) – Ps. 51:10-12

— Anointing and the four characteristics of Christ’s mission

Let me try to cover some verses related to anointing which shows a bit of inconsistency in scripture.

Paul said ‘it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us (2 Cor. 1:21). Christ himself quoted from Is. 61:1-2 in Luke 4:18-19. Isaiah 61 goes on to speak of ‘the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;that they may be called oaks of righteousness…’. We also need to the anointing of Christ was ‘to bring good news to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, open the prison to those who are bound’. This is the anointing of Isaiah and Luke.

Isaiah in the Masoretic texts and Tanakh says 1) he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, 2) to proclaim liberty to the captives, and 3) to open up the prison to them that are bound’

Isaiah in the Septuigint says ‘he has sent me 1) to heal (bind up) the brokenhearted, 2) to proclaim liberty to the captives, and 3) recovery of sight for the blind’. Actually the Jews just ignore these verses in their weekly recitation which is not uncommon for messianic related verses.

Notice that the Masoretic texts (and the Tanakh) include ‘open the prison to those who are bound’ for the third item. The Septuigint includes the first two items but then ‘recovery of sight for the blind’.

Note also that Luke includes all four things in traditional texts (KJV, e.g.). I saw a note that the NU-Text omits ‘to heal the brokenhearted’ so many new testament translations exclude that phrase. I think it obvious that a broken heart does not refer to a physical heart condition but rather those feeling sickly because of grief or strife or turmoil. The word for healing here is ‘iaomi’ which is to cure, heal, or make whole. Many say this is just to bring instant miraculous healing to one sickly. In this verse it is more used like to bring comfort and peace to those mouring.

My question is what text was Yeshua actually reading from? Or did Yeshua and Dr. Luke just add them all together because it was implied by different resources? Or did the text of Luke get added to by well meaning new testament scribes? I don’t want to belabor this point but it is interesting.

It is also interesting to note that some can be physically blind but others just spiritually blind. The pharisees and Sadducees were spiritually blind. There was a blind-from-birth man healed in John 9, one near Jericho (Bartimaeus), and one in Bethsaida. Apostle Paul was also physically blind for 3 days. But he was also a spiritually blind pharisee until after the Damascus Road experience. Yeshua even called the religious leaders blind guides. Just saying, it is possible that the anointing was not primarily sent to heal the physically blind, but mainly the spiritually blind.

Then we have to ask what is the difference between proclaiming liberty to the captives vs. opening the prison to them bound. In Luke it does not even mention prison or prisoners. It speaks of setting free those oppressed which means downtrodden, bruised, or crushed by tragedy according to the AMP version. Captives can be those put into prison as prisoners. It can also be those captive in their minds to sin, strife, fear, or anything else which enslaves us. So the two concepts can be nearly synonyms.

In Acts 16:25-34 we see prison doors physically opening while Paul and Silas were imprisoned in Philippi. There it was the keeper of the prison and his family who were set free by accepting Christ in their hearts. He was probably a Roman official but many in Israel in those days were bound by religious restrictions. Yeshua spoke this way of the scribes and Pharisees ‘they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers’ (Matt. 23:4). Religion can make one captive in our minds justs as oppression can do likewise.

So we have those of broken hearts and those captive in their minds and those a prisoner of their own thoughts and beliefs. Do you not see where I am going with this? The anointing breaks yolks, some physical, some soulish (emotional), and some spiritual (demons).

We need to go over various words describing healing and deliverance to get a much wider scope of kingdom attributes (therepeuo, iaomai, and sozo).

There are those that teach healing in terms of our physical bodies, our emotions, and our spirits. I cannot say for sure if these types of healing are directly related to the three greek words because words in greek and hebrew can have different meanings and then there are different layers of meaning and nuance. If you are now thinking this is really complicated, it probably is. God is much higher than our thoughts and his ways so much higher than our ways (Is. 55:8-9). When we think we have figured out everything there is to know about God then we are deceiving ourselves.

We also know that healing is related to deliverance but not much of the time synonymous.

So let us all walk in the anointing God wants to give each and every one of us today. For you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation (1 Pet. 2:9).

Remember 1 John 2:27:: the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

It is my belief that I have been anointed to teach. Some might disagree. Learning is a life-long process. When we think we have arrived we become stagnant. Our understanding and beliefs have to become fluid and can easily change over time and in different circumstances. Situational awareness is important.

The Anointing (Introduction)

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— Old testament anointings

There is actually a recipe for holy anointing oil to be used for the utensils in the tabernacle, the ark of the covenant and the priests
Ex. 30:23-25::
five hundred shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much sweet-smelling cinnamon (250 shekels), two hundred and fifty shekels of sweet-smelling cane, five hundred shekels of cassia, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and a hin of olive oil. And you shall make from these a holy anointing oil, an ointment compounded according to the art of the perfumer. It shall be a holy anointing oil.

Ex. 40:10::
You shall anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and consecrate the altar, and the altar shall be most holy.

Lev. 8:10-11:: Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them. He sprinkled some of it on the altar seven times, anointed the altar and all its utensils, and the laver and its base, to consecrate them.

In the old testament we see kings, priests, and prophets get anointed with holy anointing oil. The altar and some of the utensils used in the tabernacle also got anointed. Additionally, sometimes honored dinner guests got anointed by their hosts. Even Lucifer was originally anointed.

Kings also got anointed:
dedication of kings
1 Samuel 9:16 – Saul
1 Samuel 16:12-13 – David
1 Kings 1:38–40 – Solomon

2 Sam. 19:10:: but Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle.

Anointing was so important that King David dare not hurt King Saul even though Saul wanted him dead.
1 Sa. 26:19:: David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the LORD’s anointed, and be guiltless?”

The bible warns to avoid hurting anointed ones which were both kings and prophets.
1 Chronicles 16:22; Psalm 105:15:: touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm

Prophets even got anointed:
1 Ki. 19:16:: you (Elijah) shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.

Lucifer was known also as the anointed cherub before his fall from grace.
Ez. 28:14::
You were the anointed cherub who covers;I established you;
You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones.

mimšaḥ (mim-shakh’) means anointed or expansion

The reference to expansion is probably an allusiong to the wings of the cheribium that overshadows the ark of the covenant.

We could talk more about old testament anointings but I want to get to new testament implications…

— The anointing of Yeshua

In the gospels Yeshua tells stories of a woman anointing his head or feet right before the passover of his crucifixion (Matt. 26:12, Mark 14:8, John 12:7).

Earlier in the gospel of Luke a dinner host did not see fit to honor Yeshua through anointing. A ‘sinful’ woman anointed his feet with expensive perfume and wiped it with her hair. He taught there on forgiveness.

We see in the book of Acts it is Yeshua who is called the anointed one

Acts 10:38:: God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

Messiah literally means “anointed one,” is derived from the Hebrew word for “anointed.” Christ (Gr. Christos) means “the anointed one.”

Yeshua as both prophet, priest, and king was anointed by God for works of good service and to heal those oppressed by the devil. This might be one reason why some healings are harder than others, since all sickness and disease is not spiritual oppression.

Luke 4:18 (Is. 61:1):: The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor…

Yeshua was also anointed to preach the gospel to the poor.

The rest of the verse quoted says..
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

iaomai (ee-ah’-om-ahee) is to cure, heal, or make whole those with broken hearts. Therapy is a good modern word to use here and can also be taken as one who works to provide good mental health.
aphesis (af’-es-is) is deliverance which provides freedom from those depressed or oppressed.

There is probably much more that could be taught on those subjects by those more expert in these matters.

— Anointed ones and our anointing

1 John 2:20:: you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.

1 John 2:27:: the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

chrisma (khris’-mah) is the greek word for anointing which is this idea of smearing on something like oil for consecration and service. The idea expressed in 1 John is that the anointing teaches us. What things can he teach us? I have had many great teachers in my life. Some teach math and science, others teach the bible and bilical concepts. I consider myself a teacher. Yeshua was a very fine teacher. He taught accurately about how to interpret the law. When others were concerned about tithing mint and rue from their gardens, he used that as an opportunity to teach about the weightier things of the law: justice and mercy and faith. He summarized the greatest of the law: love of God and love of fellow man. Apostle Paul was also a great teacher, he taught on love above spiritual gifts.

The last name of Yeshua is not Christ or even Messiah. That is a title and it means the anointed one. It is derived from the greek word chriō (khree’-o) which is the verb meaning to anoint.

2 Cor. 1:21-22:: Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God,
who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

Technically, the title Christians means ones who are anointed as the Passion Translation calls those who were first called Christian at Antioch.

Anointing is somewhat trite without revelation and both are dangerous without purpose. If there is nothing revealed to us other than what many call the anointing we don’t learn anything to pass on to others. And if we have no purposed in aither anointing or revelation we don’t help anyone other than ourselves. We should be about our Father’s business. Teaching is great but developing fruit in ourselves and others is what we need to be about. Even healing and casting out of demons is beneficial to the recipient.

Sources:
https://www.gotquestions.org/anointed.html
https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-anointed.html
https://youtu.be/nmIczsFFwQ4