Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 9:35

"And Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of disease and all manner of sickness." — Matthew 9:35 (ASV)

This was His answer to the blasphemous slanders of the Pharisees. A glorious reply it was. Let us answer slander with greater zeal in doing good.

Small places were not despised by our Lord. He went about the villages as well as the cities. Village piety is of the utmost importance and has a close relation to city life. Jesus turned old institutions to good use. The “synagogues” became His Seminaries. His ministry was threefold—expounding the old, proclaiming the new, healing the diseased.

Observe the repetition of the word “every” as showing the breadth of His healing power. All this was connected to His royalty, for it was the gospel of the kingdom that He proclaimed. Our Lord was “the Great Itinerant.” Jesus went about preaching and healing. His was a medical mission as well as an evangelistic tour. Happy are the people who have Jesus among them! Oh, that we might now see more of His working among our own people!

And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

That was the answer to the Pharisees. Christian activity, fervent devotion to the cause of God, is the best answer that can be given to quibblers of any sort or every sort. In your work hold on, my brother, and those who quibble with you now may come to honor you one of these days.

And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

That is the best answer to give to critics: do more good than ever. There is no stopping the barking of dogs; so go on your way, as the moon shines, let the hounds bay as they may. Oh, the glory of the Master! Like a cloud that dispenses showers of blessing wherever it moves, so did He continue to do His life-work.