Jeremiah 39:11 - Meaning and Application

This chapter gives several striking examples of the Lord Jesus’ power and compassion. They show clearly that he is able to save completely all who come to God through him, and that his willingness matches his power. He helps people in two ways here, with their bodies and with their souls.

He helps people’s bodies by healing the paralytic, raising the ruler’s daughter, and healing the woman with the flow of blood (Matthew 9:2-8; Matthew 9:18-26). He gives sight to two blind men (Matthew 9:27-31), casts a demon out of a man who was possessed (Matthew 9:32-34), and heals every kind of sickness (Matthew 9:35). In all this, he shows himself ready to meet every human weakness and need.

He also helps people’s souls by forgiving sins (Matthew 9:2). He calls Matthew, the tax collector, and freely eats and talks with tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 9:9-13). He also considers his disciples’ condition in teaching about fasting (Matthew 9:14-17). Then he preaches the gospel, and in pity for the crowds, he provides more workers for them (Matthew 9:35-38).

So he proves himself to be the wise and faithful Physician of both soul and body. He has enough help for every sickness of both. Therefore we should come to him for all our needs, and glorify him with both body and spirit, since both belong to him, in grateful return for his kindness to both.