New Testament Healings Were Not Performed for Money or Fame

There was never a time when the Lord Jesus healed anyone for material gain. In the same way, neither did the apostles.

In fact, the one time Peter was offered money in exchange for healing power, he rebuked Simon Magus with a severe denunciation: “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!” (Acts 8:20).

Jesus Christ and the apostles focused their healing ministry on the poorest and most destitute in society those with no means of compensation. The blind beggars (Matt. 9:27–31, 20:29–34, 21:14; Mark 8:22–26), leprous outcasts (17:11–21), and the cripples (Matt. 9:1–8; 21:14; John 5:1–9; Acts 3:1–10; 14:8–18) were the lowest members of a society that associated sickness with sin (John 9:2–3).

Yet they were the ones whom Jesus and His disciples showed compassion towards, never asking for money in return. Miracles of healing in the New Testament were clearly not motivated by money. It was the exact opposite. In fact, those who were motivated by the love of money are described as false teachers (1 Timothy 6:5, 9-10). Jesus  even said, “You cannot serve God and money” (Matt. 6:24).

Additionally, Jesus avoided the superficial publicity and curiosity-seeking that resulted from His miracle-working, and He often commanded those whom He healed to tell no one what had happened (cf. Matt. 8:4; 9:30; Mark 5:43).