For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk?’
Parallel translations
- KJV For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
- BSB Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk?’
- NKJV For which is easier, to say, ‘ Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’?
- NASB For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?
- NLT Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’?
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus poses which is easier, to declare sins forgiven or to command a paralytic to walk. The question sets up a visible proof of an invisible authority.
Overview
Pronouncing forgiveness is 'easier' to say because it cannot be tested, while commanding healing can be immediately verified. Jesus is about to perform the visible miracle to authenticate his claim to do the greater, invisible work. The argument shows that his power to heal validates his authority to forgive.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- John 5:8–14Jesus said to him, “Arise, take up your mat, and walk.”
- Mark 2:9–12Which is easier, to tell the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Arise, and take up your bed, and walk?’
- Acts 3:16By faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which is through him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
- Luke 5:23–25Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you;’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk?’
- Acts 14:8–11At Lystra a certain man sat, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked.
- Acts 3:6–11But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!”
- Isa 35:5–6Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.
- Acts 9:34Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed!” Immediately he arose.
- John 5:17–18But Jesus answered them, “My Father is still working, so I am working, too.”
- Acts 4:9–10if we are examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 9:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.