FAITH HEALING IN THE BIBLE

We often hear the term “faith healing,” but what does it mean in biblical terms?  The first thing to notice is that there is no cut-and-dried relationship between faith to healing in the NT.

Those Having Faith                                                          References

friends and neighbors                                                      Matthew 8:10,9:2; Mark 7:32,8:22

(The reverse is shown by the lack of faith found in Jesus' hometown – Mark 6:5-6)

parent                                                                              Matthew 5:28; Mark 5:24,9:24; John 4:49

person afflicted                                                               Matthew 9:22,29; Mark 10:52

one performing the miracle                                            Acts 3:6-16

(The reverse is shown in Matthew 14:28-31 in the comment“Ye of little faith” made to Peter when he tried to walk on the water)

faith only after the fact                                                  Luke 17:19; John 9

No reference to faith                                                     Matthew 17:24; Luke 5:1-11,7:11,13:11,                                                                                                      4:1-6,22:50; John 5:1-9,11:4

It is obvious that the role of faith in healing miracles can't be reduced to a simple formula. Take the example of modern faith-healers. Even if they do seem to bring about a healing, that is no guarantee that they themselves have saving faith. As Jesus said in Matthew 7:22-23, “On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?' Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.'”

Another message is that a failure to heal should not be automatically blamed on the lack of faith of the one suffering. Keep in mind the story of Job's sufferings or the example of Paul's thorn in the flesh.

Another demonstration that Jesus' healing miracles can't be reduced to a simple formula is seen in the times when he miraculously restored sight to the blind

Lack of Formulas (Recovery of Sight)

Matthew 9:27-31         He questioned them, touched their eyes, 

                                   “According to your faith, let it be done to you.”

Matthew 20:30-34      He questioned them and touched their eyes

Matthew 12:22           He cured him

Mark 8:22-26             He put saliva on his eyes, laid hands on him, questioned him, laid hands on him                                       again, looked at him intently

Mark 10:46                He questioned him, “Go, your faith has made you well.”

John 9:1-7                 He made mud with saliva and spread it on his eyes, and told him to wash

Acts 9:17-18             He laid hands on him and said, “regain your sight.”

Note how each person is treated individually because Jesus (or Ananias in the last example) knew exactly what was needed in each case. There is no reliance on one magic formula such as the seven Jewish exorcists in Acts tried to employ. Another example can be seen in the failure of the apostles to cast out a demon in Mark 9:28-29. Jesus said, “This one can only be driven out by prayer.” Jesus had the supernatural knowledge that the others didn't possess.