Who did Jesus preach the gospel of the kingdom to in Matthew 4:23?
In Matthew 4:23, Jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom to Jews in the synagogues of Galilee. The context explains that synagogues were attended by Jews, not Gentiles, though an occasional proselyte Gentile might have been present. Matthew 9:35 similarly says He preached in the cities and villages of Israel.
Les explains that Matthew 4:23 shows Jesus going about all Galilee, teaching and preaching in the synagogues. He asks who went to synagogues—Jews or Gentiles—and answers that it was Jews, though there might have been an occasional proselyte Gentile. He then cross-references Matthew 9:35, where Jesus went about all the cities and villages of Israel, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom. In association with that kingdom gospel, Jesus was healing every sickness and every disease—not just some, but all; another place says He healed them all.
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.