3 minutes
What is the Biblical Promise of Being Healed by His Stripes?
The Kings James Version tells us, “with His stripes we are healed.” Most modern versions replace the word “stripes” with “wounds” so that, “with His wounds we are healed.” In either case, the point is that the wounds, or stripes, suffered by Jesus were sufficient to bring healing.
However, to understand what this phrase means, we need to read it in context. To take verses out of context is dangerous and will usually lead to an incorrect understanding of what God is actually trying to say to us. We find Satan (Genesis 3:1, Matthew 4:5-6) doing this in the Bible and throughout History. False teachers often follow his lead (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).
The Context
In an effort to find Truth, let’s look at the two places we find this phrase:
But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed. – Isaiah 53:5and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. – 1 Peter 2:24
The first time we come across this phrase is in Isaiah’s prophecy of the coming Suffering Servant. As Isaiah describes the suffering of the Messiah, he writes about the reasons for His suffering: he was pierced for our transgressions (sins) and crushed for our iniquities (sins). Isaiah was pointing out that our sins required something more than the blood of the animal sacrifices being performed constantly at the Temple. Our sins needed the blood of the Messiah.
Isaiah writes in the typical Hebrew poetic form called Parallelism. While English poetry looks to rhyme the final words of each line, Hebrew poetry looks to repeat lines. Throughout the book of Psalms you will find examples of Parallelism.
Here, we see Isaiah using Parallelism. The first two lines of the verse repeat the idea that Messiah would bleed for our sins. The second two lines of the verse repeat the concept that these punishments against Messiah would bring the cure, restoration, alleviation. The question that needs to be asked here is: cure for what? Obviously, for our sin problem.
Our Sin Problem or Our Physical Problems?
What is noteworthy here is that nowhere does Isaiah speak of any physical problems that would be cured by Messiah. It is clearly for our transgressions and our iniquities that He is bringing healing.
One of the greatest false teachings of today’s Evangelical Church is that we are healed physically by His stripes, i.e.: His work on the cross. Look through Isaiah 53:5 and you will not see one mention of any physical problem. Look at Isaiah 53:4. Review Isaiah 53:6. You will find no mention of being physically healed by the work of Messiah.
Our second verse in 1 Peter 2:24 is no different. Peter writes about the work of Jesus on the cross. He explains that Jesus bore our sins on the cross. He teaches that this was done so that we could live righteously. Again, there is no mention of being physically healed by his work on the cross.
I have heard so many people take this phrase out of context and use it either in prayer or as an explanation for why sick or injured people should be confident of healing. Heather’s in the hospital? “Lord, by your stripes she is healed.” Bob’s back went out? “Don’t worry Bob, by His stripes you are healed.” This is not only unbiblical but also foolish. No one is healed physically by the work of Jesus on the cross.
All are healed spiritually by His crucifixion.
The work of Jesus on the cross heals every single person of their sin problem.
(BTW – that’s an example of parallelism)
Incorrectly Dividing the Word of God
Just this week, I heard someone change the entire verse. In their new translation, they quoted, “by His stripes we are healed physically, spiritually and emotionally.” That is nowhere in scripture. Twisting scripture like this is exactly how cults begin. It is what false teachers do. It is what Satan does.
I pray that those of you who have used this phrase to mean we are healed physically will recognize the harm you are doing to the word of God. Can God bring physical healing? Of course! Does He always? Absolutely not. Not even the Apostle Paul and his friends experienced or expected this (1 Timothy 5:23, Philippians 2:25-27, 2 Corinthians 12:7-9).
Pray for God’s healing. Encourage those in pain with the Gospel. Comfort them with reminders of what God has done in the past (i.e.: the healing miracles performed by Jesus). But do not give false hope, for this only destroys the faith of the weak and is a poor witness to the unbeliever when God decides that His Grace is sufficient and physical healing is not going to happen.
Instead, rejoice that spiritual healing is available and it is given to all who receive Christ’s work on the cross. Because of this work, we have eternal life (John 3:16). Because of this work, our suffering now is but for a moment (John 16:33, Romans 8:18, 2 Corinthians 4:17, 1 Peter 4:12). By His stripes we are healed!
So good to see this fallacy addressed with Truth. I agree that God does still heal physically, but Isaiah 53:5 has been misunderstood by many, myself included, for a long time as the enemy would have it to keep those that seek healing from receiving it. It is also important to keep our priorities when we go to God in prayer, i.e. Is it more important to be physically healed which will only last while we are on the earth or for our sins to be healed which grants us eternal Life? At times Jesus healed physical infirmities to prove who He was to those that lacked faith and especially to the religious leaders of the time as found in Matthew 9:1-7
So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. 2 Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”
3 And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!”
4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 7 And he arose and departed to his house.
Thanks for this. Our current Church culture of looking to the present rather than the future has resulted in many people looking for immediate results rather than God’s eternal plan. God is more concerned with our eternal situation than our present one. Thank God He has given us Jesus to take care of eternal things and not as much the current one. Spot-on example with the paralytic. God bless!
You people misunderstood this scripture. The scripture Isaiah 53vs5 talks about physical healing! The word “AND” separate the suffering and the healing it brought to those who believe the gospel. That is why it said after explaining the suffering it said “AND” you are healed.
All the rest of the verse speaks about forgiveness from sin, so by his stripes we are healed physically? He was crushed for our iniquities, pierced for our transgressions…it doesn’t follow to be healed physically when it may have nothing to do with our sin. A baby born with downs syndrome hasn’t sinned and may never be healed but that person can be forgiven. Physical healing is not a guarantee from Jesus work on the cross in this life…. but forgiveness is.
Also, forgiveness of sins has eternal consequences, physical healing does not. Although suffering is terrible and Jesus may heal, He is only obligated to forgive sins through the cross and it causes humility in us…when it’s taught that physical healing comes from the cross people come to the conclusion that this is a benefit from God that Jesus paid for and it isn’t from humility that they ask any more but it quickly becomes a demand…..I’ve seen it
I agree with you 100%
But Matthew 8:17 links healing with these verses.
That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”
Matthew 8:16-17 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.8.16-17.ESV
Hi Jeremiah. I love that you have brought up the Matthew passage. It shows you are a Berean who studies the scripture to know what is true and what is not. Great job!
Matthew is quoting Isaiah 53:4. There, it says that “he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.” Note that Jesus is healing these people before the crucifixion. It is not by his stripes they were healed. It cannot be! Matthew is saying that it is by Jesus’ compassion they are healed. He has not simply healed them but has taken their grieves and sorrows upon himself. No wonder Isaiah also called him a man of sorrows (Isaiah 53:3)! Thanks for the comment…God bless!
The word of God Says Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. If he healed physically before, He heals physically today. He took it all to the cross. He left nothing out. Our sins keep us sick.
Hi Glenda. Thanks for your comment. You’ve written 5 sentences and all of them are correct – 100%. But here is my point: I can take any of them out of context. For instance, you point out that “he healed physically before, he heals physically today.” But if my loved one just died of cancer and you said that to me, I would tell you that you don’t know what you are talking about. It wouldn’t be because you are wrong, but because your context is wrong. Another example: Jesus says “whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.” (Matt 5:22). It’s true, but I can take that out of context. When we say we are physically healed by his stripes, we are taking the scripture out of context. It doesn’t mean Jesus doesn’t heal. It means we cannot use this scripture to prove that. God bless.
David,
I appreciate your clarity on this. We have many in our church and most notably of prayer ministry who use these scriptures, particularly 1 Peter 2:24, out of context as an absolute on physical healing. I love that Jesus still heals today and I believe that faith and trust in Jesus is important but the scriptures do not tie the work on the cross to physical healing. I have brought this to our leadership but I do not believe anyone quite agrees. Nevertheless, we are called to discern. Thank you for your insight. It matters!
Thanks for your comments, Don…I really appreciate them! I pray that you stand firm in your discernment and wisdom. While most around us will continue to take scriptures out of context, I pray that Christians such as yourself continue to read the word in context and remind those around us, in humility and grace, the truth of what God’s word is saying. God bless! David.
I have continued to think about this idea. One of the things that is mentioned is that it is past tense healed. Or that this is what Jesus did and does.
But if we apply that idea to setting the captives free… We run into a problem when John the Baptist sends his disciples to Jesus asking if he is the Messiah.
Jesus responds… Tell him what you see. The lame walk the poor have the Gospel preached to them… The blind see, the deff hear …. And where he should say the captives are set free he instead says, blessed are those who do not stumble on account of me.
Jesus is concerned first with the healing of our soul. He may effect our circumstances, but the Gospel is that we have the blessed life despite our circumstances because he has given us himself and does not count our sin against us. As stated in Psalm 32.
I have heard many accounts of believers quoting healing scriptures daily with eventual result of being healed. Would that be positive thinking or strength, power of the Word of God – Jesus?
The Word is Health to our flesh (Proverbs 3:8, Proverbs 4:23).
Jesus is the Word (John 1:1). The Word is Life (John 1:4).
Therefore if you have Jesus, you have Life.
Sickness and Disease ultimately lead to death.
Dear Sue G,
Positive thinking won’t get it done.
Strength won’t get it done.
Only God.
Hebrews 9:27 reminds us that we are all appointed once to die, so even if we receive physical healing, it does not guarantee Eternal Life. We must realize that we are each on a definitive path in this Life that will eventually come to an end whether by death or the rapture.
God does grant physical healing according to His will and for His glory, not as the result of our pleading with Him because we do not want to be separated from a loved one. Jesus allowed Lazarus to die purposely so that He could bring him back to Life for the Father’s glory.
Also, remember our brother Paul remained afflicted with a thorn in the flesh even though he asked God to remove it. Sometimes our affliction helps to keep us humble.
When Jesus walked the earth, in most accounts, He offered forgiveness of sins before He offered physical healing because healing of the soul offers us eternal Life.
The most important thing to remember is that Jesus took the sting out of death. In John 14:18 He personally promises to come to us. I believe He is there with us to offer the strength we need to cross over to Eternity. Our recognition of Who He is and our acceptance of His sacrifice on the cross for our sins is the key to the Kingdom. Rejoice in the fact that once we allow His Holy Spirit to dwell within us, we are assured of Eternal Life!
May the peace of Christ be with you.
This article was published since 2016 Aug 3. But, what is the point of debating biblical context till today 2019, rather than going out to save souls. Beloved, final reward in Heaven doesn’t include who win the debate.
Hi James. I love your heart to win people for the kingdom! Keep up the good work. I will respectfully disagree with you, however, that biblical concepts and the teaching of these to others is nothing more than an unimportant debate. Jesus’ Great Commission is not simply to save souls. He is not looking for converts – for instance in Matt 8:18-22, Jesus turns away those who would follow him (converts) if they are not willing to be disciples. Jesus calls us to make disciples, not converts. “Making disciples” is the only command in the Great Commission. He says that making disciples consists of baptizing them (evangelism) and teaching them. One without the other is not a disciple and Jesus is clear that he is looking for disciples. In Matt 23:15, Jesus scolds the Pharisees for making converts who will then become children of hell. His point was that the Pharisees were teaching their religious beliefs but not the scriptures. The purpose of this post is not to create debate – no scholar will disagree with the basis of this post. The purpose is to teach others the meaning of these scriptures and the proper way to approach scripture. If anyone prefers to twist scripture to mean something it does not say, they become a false teacher and the Bible is clear that we are to fight against these. I pray that you will continue to build the kingdom by bringing the gospel to those who are perishing. I praise God for that. But I also pray that you will never underestimate the importance of properly understanding the inspired word of God. Thanks for the comment. God bless!
Are you a Mormon or Jehovah Witnesses
No, not even close…
Neuroscientists like Dr Caroline Leaf state that 87% to 95% of diseases known to mankind are caused by what goes on in our thought lives ie. sin in our lives. Dr MK Strydom of Eagles Wings is able to show what each thought pattern that does not conform with the Word of God causes specific diseases in our lives.If we accept that scientifically there’s a link between sin and disease; we should accept that by healing our sins; the Lord’s suffering automatically heals our diseases as well!
Rom 12:2 – And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Phil 4:8 – Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
Sounds like there is some biblical backing to your point as well…
Thanks for the information – God bless!
Well, but this is not 100% right because the bible says “if you have faith like this mustard seed you can command this mulberry tree to be uprooted from the ground in order to be planted in the sea; it will happen”.#Luke 17v6
As you can see, this is one of the craziest statements, Jesus ever made in his days. And one of the meaning of this scripture is that: by faith anything is possible there is no limitation to what Faith in God can do for us in is and with us.#Luke 1v37
Secondly, I strongly believe that the cross obviously provides all types of healings: because after He rose from the dead, Jesus commanded the Apostles to go into the whole world and pursue his ministry by making new disciples, healing the sick and casting out devils. #Mark 16v17-18
Conclusion
The main reason why even physical healing is part of the package of salvation that the death, the burial and the resurection of Christ, provided to humanity is because:
God is not tempted by evil; He can’t fellowship with evil or think evil because in him there is no variation of shadows our God is full of light and extremely pure (James 1v13;17).
As a matter of fact not even a single peace of evil was part of God’s original plan for Man.
How do you explain the fact that even after Adam sinned against God; Natural Death still waited so long (over 900years) to take his life away? “The man Adam was so powerful to the extend which he never knew how to physically die… ” Therefore if Adam who wasn’t in christ could resist a given number of physical attacks how much more the new creation?
Lastly if victory over sickness which I consider as one the stings of death (#1cor 15v56) is not part of what Jesus did for us at cross; Jesus wouldn’t have healed the sick people in the days of his flesh and he wouldn’t have told his disciples to do so. #Mat 10v8 luke 10v9 #Mark 6v11-13 Mark 16v17-20
Thanks for the comments. I appreciate your thoughts on this. I do believe that God does heal – even miraculously. However, that is not what is meant by the verse, “by his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah and Peter have no thought of physical healing in the passages where they write this. Context is everything when trying to understand biblical passages. The context in both these passages speak of something other than physical healing. Therefore, we cannot use these passages to say that we will be healed physically because of the work of Christ on the cross. This is why many Christians suffer physical ailments and every one of us die. His stripes do not bring healing to those believers. Yet, every single person who trusts in the work of Christ on the cross, the stripes of Christ, are spiritually healed and have eternal life. Every single one. This is the healing believers have by his stripes. If we want to speak of God’s physical healing biblically, we need to find a different verse. Hope that helps! God bless!
Dear Dhauly,
One additional comment to David’s reply:
There is no limitation to what we can do through faith in God when we are found in the Will of God. He works miracles and imparts His power to us to bring Him glory and to draw others to Himself. Romans 8:28 and 2 Timothy 1:9 point to our capabilities to accomplish “God’s purpose”.
May the peace of Christ be with you.
It is God’s will for us to be physically well, that I know, my spirit was restless about this verse ‘by His wounds we were healed’, one says it is for physical healing the next says it’s for our sins alone. I don’t know, I’m praying God gives me revelation knowledge about this, but for now after reading all these comments, I conclude… Let God be true and every man a liar.
1 peter is a call about exiles to live in light of their salvation even in the midst of all kind of trials and sufferings.
18+ times suffering is mentioned in 1 peter.
The concept primary dealt with in peter is external suffering, but some of them have to be with suffering in the body.
If physical suffering is promised away because of the verse “by his stripes” then peter should have made that so much clearer… he should have said, you will have various types of suffering… of all kinds… except for physical sickness because that is promised away on the cross. But instead we get.
1 peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials
1 peter 1:11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.
1 peter 2:19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.
1 peter 2:20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
1 peter 2:21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
1 peter 2:23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
1 peter 3:14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,
1 peter 3:17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
1 peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,
1 peter 4:1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
1 peter 4:12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
1 peter 4:13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
1 peter 4:16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
1 peter 4:19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
1 peter 5:1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:
1 peter 5:9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
1 peter 5:10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
There are a couple verses of note
1 peter 4:1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
Notice how it talks about flesh… that could exclude sickness, but it seems easier on the text to let it included sickness.
also how the verse below is intended to be an encouragement to the exiles in Asia minor… but if sickness is excluded then where is the comfort for the person suffering from cancer in their body? Sure you can say by his stripes we are healed… but they are not experiencing said healing… how do you help them when they are not experiencing it when you clearly say they should.
1 peter 5:9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
1 Peter 2:24 is a call to endure suffering, not a call to walk in your physical healing.
notice 1 peter 2:19 is a call to endure suffering
1 peter 2:20 is a call to endure suffering
1 peter 2:21 is a call to endure suffering because Christ suffered
1 peter 2:22 is setting up Christs suffering even though he was righteous
1 peter 2:23 is about Christ enduring suffering
1 peter 2:24 says we can endure suffering because Christ healed our Spirit and gave a new heart, we can now live to righteousness (a call to endure suffering)
Proverbs 18:14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
So if we read proverbs 18 to tell us that a strong spirit can sustain a broken body, we can then read 1 peter 2:24 as a claim that God healed our soul by his stripes, therefore our spirit helped by his Holy Spirit will give us the ability to endure suffering…
If this is true with unjust suffering, how much more so with all other suffering including sickness?
There is no way that I can read 1 Peter 2:24 a promise of physical healing when 1 peter is all about enduring suffering as a christian exile.