Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk?’
Parallel translations
- WEB For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk?’
- KJV For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, 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 5:8–14Then Jesus told him, “Get up, pick up your mat, and walk.”
- Mark 2:9–12“Which is easier: to say to a paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk’?
- Acts 3:16By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know has been made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that has given him this complete healing in your presence.
- Luke 5:23–25Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk?’
- Acts 14:8–11In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked.
- Acts 3:6–11But Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have 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 unstopped.
- Acts 9:34“Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and put away your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up,
- John 5:17–18But Jesus answered them, “To this very day My Father is at His work, and I too am working.”
- Acts 4:9–10If we are being examined today about a kind service to a man who was lame, to determine how he was healed,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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
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