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What does the Bible say about caring for the sick?

Bible Topic · WEB

The Bible calls God’s people to compassionate, practical care for the sick, trusting the Lord as the true healer and shepherd of body and soul. James 5:13-15 directs the afflicted to prayer and the elders’ ministry, joining faith, repentance, and dependence on God’s mercy. Ezekiel 34:3-4, 16 condemns leaders who neglect the weak and pictures the Lord seeking, binding up, and strengthening His sheep. Jesus identifies Himself with those in need in Matthew 25:31-46, so mercy toward the suffering is a fruit of genuine faith, not a means of earning salvation. Christians should therefore pray, provide help, visit, comfort, and treat others as they would wish to be treated, while resting in Christ’s promise of ultimate restoration.

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • James 5:13-15

    [13] Is any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praises. [14] Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the assembly, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, [15] and the prayer of faith will heal him who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

  • Ezekiel 34:3-4

    [3] You eat the fat, and you clothe you with the wool, you kill the fatlings; but you don't feed the sheep. [4] You haven't strengthened the diseased, neither have you healed that which was sick, neither have you bound up that which was broken, neither have you brought back that which was driven away, neither have you sought that which was lost; but with force and with rigor have you ruled over them.

  • Matthew 25:31-46

    [31] "But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. [32] Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. [33] He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. [34] Then the King will tell those on his right hand, 'Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; [35] for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in; [36] naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me.' [37] "Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink? [38] When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you? [39] When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?' [40] "The King will answer them, 'Most assuredly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' [41] Then he will say also to those on the left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels; [42] for I was hungry, and you didn't give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; [43] I was a stranger, and you didn't take me in; naked, and you didn't clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn't visit me.' [44] "Then they will also answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn't help you?' [45] "Then he will answer them, saying, 'Most assuredly I tell you, inasmuch as you didn't do it to one of the least of these, you didn't do it to me.' [46] These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

  • Matthew 25:44

    "Then they will also answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn't help you?'

  • 3 John 1:2

    Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be healthy, even as your soul prospers.

  • Jeremiah 30:17

    For I will restore health to you, and I will heal you of your wounds, says Yahweh; because they have called you an outcast, [saying], It is Zion, whom no man seeks after.

  • Ezekiel 34:16

    I will seek that which was lost, and will bring back that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but the fat and the strong I will destroy; I will feed them in justice.

  • Isaiah 61:1-2

    [1] The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is on me; because Yahweh has anointed me to preach good news to the humble; he has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening [of the prison] to those who are bound; [2] to proclaim the year of Yahweh's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;

  • 1 John 3:17

    But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart of compassion against him, how does the love of God remain in him?

  • Luke 6:31

    "As you would like people to do to you, do exactly so to them.

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