Medicine can help us heal, but does the Bible say anything about it? Today, we’ll look at what scripture says about using medicine and caring for our bodies. God values our health and offers wisdom for making choices about it.
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What Does The Bible Say About Taking Medicine
Proverbs 17:22
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of having a positive and joyful attitude, as it contributes to overall well-being. A cheerful heart is likened to good medicine that brings healing and vitality. Conversely, a crushed spirit can have detrimental effects on both physical and emotional health.
While this verse doesn’t specifically address the use of conventional medicine, it highlights the significance of maintaining a positive mindset and cultivating an atmosphere of joy for our overall well-being.
Exodus 15:26
“He said, ‘If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord who heals you.'”
God’s promise of healing is evident in this verse. By following His guidance, listening to His commands, and living according to His principles, the Israelites were assured protection from diseases. God identifies Himself as the ultimate healer, promising to bring healing to His people.
Though this verse doesn’t address specific medical practices, it underscores the importance of trusting in God’s healing power and following His instructions as a means of ensuring physical well-being.
Matthew 9:12
“On hearing this, Jesus said, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.'”
Jesus acknowledges the need for medical intervention in this verse. He emphasizes that those who are sick are the ones who require a doctor’s assistance. This highlights the understanding that medical treatment is a means of addressing physical ailments.
While this verse doesn’t directly address the use of medicine, it recognizes the necessity of seeking proper healthcare when faced with illness or disease.
1 Timothy 5:23
“Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.”
In this verse, the Apostle Paul advises Timothy to use wine for medicinal purposes. He recognizes its potential benefits in addressing specific health issues, such as stomach ailments and frequent illnesses.
This verse acknowledges the practical use of substances, such as wine, for their potential medicinal properties in treating certain ailments. It highlights the importance of considering remedies that can alleviate physical discomfort or promote healing.
James 5:14
“Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.”
James encourages the sick to seek the spiritual ministry of the church. Calling upon the elders to pray for healing and anointing the sick with oil serves as a physical manifestation of spiritual support and intercession.
While this verse emphasizes the power of prayer and the role of faith in healing, it also acknowledges the use of oil as a symbolic act of seeking divine intervention for physical well-being. It demonstrates the unity of spiritual and physical aspects in the process of healing.
Proverbs 3:7-8
“Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of humility and obedience to God as a pathway to good health. By acknowledging our need for God’s wisdom and guidance, and by avoiding evil, we secure physical well-being and strength.
While this verse primarily focuses on the spiritual and moral aspects of life, it recognizes the connection between a righteous lifestyle and physical health.
Isaiah 38:21
“Isaiah had said, “Prepare a poultice of figs and put it on the boil, and he will recover.”
In this verse, Isaiah advises the application of a fig poultice for healing. This home remedy demonstrates an acknowledgment of natural remedies and their potential effectiveness in treating physical ailments.
While this verse highlights a specific natural remedy, it reveals the understanding that certain plants and substances have healing properties that can be utilized for medicinal purposes.
Luke 10:34
“He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.”
In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, the Samaritan tends to the wounded traveler’s injuries. He applies oil and wine to the man’s wounds as a means of providing immediate care and support for his healing.
Although this verse doesn’t directly address the subject of medicine, it demonstrates the practicality and compassion involved in administering care to those who are injured or in need of physical assistance.
2 Kings 20:7
“This is what the Lord says: ‘I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the Lord.'”
God promises King Hezekiah healing from his illness as a sign of divine intervention. This verse showcases God’s ability to heal and restore physical health.
While this verse doesn’t explicitly mention medical methods, it highlights the belief in God’s supernatural healing power as an alternative or complementary approach to seeking physical well-being.
Genesis 1:29
“Then God said, ‘I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.'”
In this verse, God grants humanity the plants and fruits of the earth for nourishment and sustenance. It signifies the provision of natural resources for our physical well-being and highlights the importance of a balanced and healthy diet.
While this verse primarily focuses on the sustenance of food, it indirectly emphasizes the significance of utilizing the natural resources of the earth for their potential medicinal benefits.
Mark 5:26
“She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.”
In this passage, a woman with a chronic health condition had sought treatment from various physicians without experiencing any improvement in her condition. This verse acknowledges the limitations of human medical intervention and highlights the need for divine intervention.
While this verse doesn’t diminish the role of conventional medicine, it raises awareness of the significance of relying on God’s healing power when faced with medical challenges.
Genesis 9:3
“Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.”
God grants permission for consuming animals as food in this verse. This indicates that animal-derived products, such as meat, can be part of a balanced diet and a source of sustenance for physical well-being.
While this verse primarily addresses dietary guidelines, it indirectly recognizes the nutritional benefits that certain animal products can have on physical health.
Jeremiah 30:13
“There is no one to plead your cause, no remedy for your sore, no healing for you.”
This verse describes a situation where there is no remedy or healing available for a sore. It conveys a sense of helplessness and underscores the need for viable solutions and interventions for physical afflictions.
While this verse highlights the absence of a specific remedy, it emphasizes the importance of seeking appropriate medical care and interventions to address physical ailments.
Luke 8:43-44
“And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.”
This passage demonstrates the power of touch in the healing process. When the woman with a chronic condition touched Jesus’ cloak, she experienced immediate healing, illustrating the potential effectiveness of physical contact as a means of relief from physical afflictions.
While this verse showcases a particular instance of miraculous healing, it highlights the belief in physical interaction and its potential impact on physical well-being.
Psalm 34:19
“The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.”
This verse acknowledges that even the righteous will face challenges and afflictions. However, it assures that the Lord will deliver them from all their troubles, suggesting the notion of divine intervention in times of distress.
While this verse primarily focuses on the assurance of spiritual deliverance, it indirectly underscores the belief in God’s ability to bring relief and healing to physical afflictions.
Colossians 4:14
“Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings.”
In this verse, Luke, referred to as a dear friend, is explicitly mentioned as a doctor. This recognition of a medical professional within the context of biblical narrative emphasizes the significance of medical expertise and its role in society.
While this verse doesn’t provide specific medical advice or instructions, it highlights the acknowledgment of medical professionals and their contributions to the well-being of individuals.
Proverbs 25:20
“Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on a wound, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.”
This verse compares singing songs to a heavy heart to actions that can cause discomfort or exacerbate a wound. It emphasizes the need for sensitivity and appropriate responses to emotional and psychological struggles.
While this verse doesn’t directly address physical ailments, it underscores the importance of considering holistic well-being, including emotional, mental, and spiritual dimensions, in the healing process.
Matthew 9:35
“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.”
This verse highlights Jesus’ ministry of healing as an integral part of His mission. It demonstrates His compassion and ability to provide physical restoration and relief from various diseases and illnesses.
While this verse showcases Jesus’ miraculous healing, it also points to the idea that physical healing can be an important aspect of one’s spiritual journey.
Acts 3:6
“Then Peter said, ‘Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.'”
In this verse, Peter heals a man who was unable to walk, demonstrating the power of faith and divine intervention in physical healing. Peter attributes the healing to Jesus Christ and acts as a channel of this healing.
While this verse centers on the instantaneous healing performed by Peter, it highlights the belief in the authority of the name of Jesus as a catalyst for physical healing.
Exodus 23:25
“Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you.”
This verse underscores the connection between worshiping God and the promise of His blessings, including protection from sickness and diseases. It highlights the significance of honoring God through worship and experiencing His divine provision.
While this verse primarily focuses on the spiritual aspect, it also suggests a correlation between a person’s relationship with God and physical well-being.
Acts 19:12
“So that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.”
In this passage, items that have come into contact with the Apostle Paul were believed to carry healing power. The sick would use these objects to seek physical restoration and deliverance from evil spirits.
While this verse showcases the belief in the transference of healing power through objects, it highlights the potential for physical healing beyond conventional means.
Ephesians 6:14-17
“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
In this verse, the Apostle Paul uses armor as a metaphor to describe the spiritual weaponry believers should employ. The armor includes the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, footwear of readiness, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit.
While this verse primarily focuses on spiritual warfare, it indirectly emphasizes the necessity of spiritual strength and resilience, which can positively impact physical health and well-being.