The Verse in Focus (Matthew 4:23)
Καὶ περιῆγεν ὅλην τὴν Γαλιλαίαν ὁ Ἰησοῦς, διδάσκων ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς αὐτῶν καὶ κηρύσσων τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τῆς βασιλείας καὶ θεραπεύων πᾶσαν νόσον καὶ πᾶσαν μαλακίαν ἐν τῷ λαῷ
Καὶ περιῆγεν… ὁ Ἰησοῦς: The Traveling Messiah
- περιῆγεν is the imperfect active indicative of περιάγω, meaning “he went about” or “he traveled around.”
- The imperfect tense signifies continuous or repeated action in the past — Jesus habitually traveled.
- ὅλην τὴν Γαλιλαίαν — “all Galilee,” accusative of extent of space.
The verb-subject order is emphatic: the action leads, and the subject ὁ Ἰησοῦς comes last, highlighting what he was doing more than who he was.
διδάσκων ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς αὐτῶν: Teaching in Their Synagogues
- διδάσκων is a present active participle from διδάσκω — “teaching.”
- ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς αὐτῶν — “in their synagogues,” where αὐτῶν refers to the Jewish communities of Galilee.
This participial phrase describes how Jesus carried out his ministry. Teaching is emphasized as a central aspect of his mission, rooted in Jewish communal spaces.
κηρύσσων τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τῆς βασιλείας: Proclaiming the Kingdom
- κηρύσσων — another present active participle, from κηρύσσω, “to proclaim” or “to herald.”
- τὸ εὐαγγέλιον — “the good news.”
- τῆς βασιλείας — genitive of content: “of the kingdom.”
The grammar connects the content of the preaching directly to God’s rule. This is not generic good news — it is the announcement of divine reign breaking into the world.
θεραπεύων πᾶσαν νόσον καὶ πᾶσαν μαλακίαν: Healing Every Disease and Affliction
- θεραπεύων — third participle, from θεραπεύω, “to heal” or “to restore.”
- πᾶσαν νόσον — “every disease,” focusing on internal or chronic illness.
- πᾶσαν μαλακίαν — “every affliction,” likely referring to weakness, suffering, or general disability.
The repetition of πᾶσαν (“every”) creates a universal emphasis — no condition is excluded. Jesus’ healing ministry reflects total compassion and complete authority.
ἐν τῷ λαῷ: Among the People
This prepositional phrase roots the entire action in communal presence:
- ἐν — “in” or “among.”
- τῷ λαῷ — “the people,” referring to the Jewish populace.
Jesus’ ministry was deeply incarnational — not aloof, but among the people, addressing both their spiritual and physical needs.
The Grammar of Wholeness
Matthew 4:23 is a syntactic portrait of Christ’s mission in action. The main verb περιῆγεν is supported by three present participles: διδάσκων, κηρύσσων, and θεραπεύων. Together, they reveal a ministry of education, proclamation, and restoration. Greek grammar unfolds the picture of a Messiah who engages minds, declares truth, and heals brokenness — all while walking among his people.
