But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...” Then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”
Parallel translations
- WEB But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...” (then he said to the paralytic), “Get up, and take up your mat, and go to your house.”
- KJV But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
- ESV But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.”
- NKJV But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
- NASB But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—then He *said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, pick up your stretcher and go home.”
- NLT So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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
To prove the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins, Jesus commands the paralytic to get up and go home. The healing confirms his divine authority.
Overview
Jesus performs the visible healing as evidence of his invisible power to forgive, openly claiming as the Son of Man the authority that belongs to God. The miracle is a sign pointing beyond itself to his saving mission. It assures us that the One who heals bodies has the right and power to forgive sins, the very heart of the gospel.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 19
- Isa 43:25I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.
- Matt 9:5Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk?’
- John 20:21–23Again Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so also I am sending you.”
- 2 Cor 2:10If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And if I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven it in the presence of Christ for your sake,
- John 5:21–23For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He wishes.
- Luke 13:11–13and a woman there had been disabled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was hunched over and could not stand up straight.
- Matt 8:20Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”
- Acts 7:59–60While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
- Acts 5:31God exalted Him to His right hand as Prince and Savior, in order to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.
- Mark 2:10But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...” He said to the paralytic,
- John 17:2For You granted Him authority over all people, so that He may give eternal life to all those You have given Him.
- Mark 2:7“Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
- 2 Cor 5:20Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.
- Luke 5:21But the scribes and Pharisees began thinking to themselves, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
- Mic 7:18Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?
- Acts 9:34“Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and put away your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up,
- John 10:28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand.
- Eph 4:32Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.
- Col 3:13Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
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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 9:6 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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