Luke 6:19

Luke 6:19, in plain English

Everyone was trying to touch Jesus because healing power was flowing from Him, and it healed everyone it reached.

Why it's here

There was something about Jesus' very presence that brought wholeness. People didn't need elaborate prayers or rituals — just contact with Him.

Who's speaking

Luke paints a vivid picture of the crowd pressing toward Jesus for healing.

Where it sits in the story

Power flowed from Jesus to everyone who reached for Him. That same power is available to you today. You don't need to push through a crowd — just reach out in faith.

The scholarly reading

The entire crowd sought to touch (haptō) Jesus because dynamis ("power") was proceeding (exerchomai) from Him and healing (iaomai) all. This depicts power as an almost tangible force emanating from Jesus' person.

Language and setting

The concept of healing power flowing from physical contact echoes the later story of the hemorrhaging woman (Luke 8:43-48) and represents a common ancient understanding of divine power transmission.

Voice

Luke describes the crowd's desperate attempt to make physical contact with Jesus.

Significance

The image of power flowing from Jesus portrays Him as an inexhaustible source of healing energy. Unlike human healers who deplete, Jesus' divine power continually heals all who reach Him.

17Then Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of His disciples was there, along with a great number of people from all over Judea, Jerusalem, and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon.

18They had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases, and those troubled by unclean spirits were healed.

19The entire crowd was trying to touch Him, because power was coming from Him and healing them all.

20Looking up at His disciples, Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

21Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.

Read all of Luke 6 — Blessed are the poor; woe to the rich. Jesus delivers his version of the great sermon and demands a love so radical it includes your enemies.