Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, [raise the dead,] cast out devils. [The bracketed clause - "raise the dead" - is wanting in so many MSS. and ancient versions that Tischendorf and others omit it altogether, as having found ire way into this verse from Matthew 11:5. Griesbach, Lachmann, and Tregelles insert it, putting it before the words "cleanse the lepers," which, if it be genuine, is its right place. But it seems very improbable that our Lord imparted at so early a period this highest of all forms of supernatural power.] Here we have the first communication of supernatural power by Christ Himself to his followers-thus anticipating the gifts of Pentecost. And royally does he dispense it.
Freely ye have received, freely give. Divine saying, divinely said! (cf. Deuteronomy 15:10-11; Acts 3:6) - an apple of gold in a setting of silver (Proverbs 25:11). It reminds us of that other golden saying of our Lord, rescued from oblivion by Paul, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). Who can estimate what the world owes to such sayings, and with what beautiful foliage and rich fruit such seeds have covered, and will yet cover, this earth!