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!”
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.
- BSB 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.”
- 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.”
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, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake; and I will not remember your sins.
- Matt 9:5For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk?’
- John 20:21–23Jesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.”
- 2 Cor 2:10Now I also forgive whomever you forgive anything. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ,
- John 5:21–23For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he desires.
- Luke 13:11–13Behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and she was bent over, and could in no way straighten herself up.
- Matt 8:20Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
- Acts 7:59–60They stoned Stephen as he called out, saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”
- Acts 5:31God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.
- Mark 2:10But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” — he said to the paralytic —
- John 17:2even as you gave him authority over all flesh, he will give eternal life to all whom you have given him.
- Mark 2:7“Why does this man speak blasphemies like that? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
- 2 Cor 5:20We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
- Luke 5:21The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?”
- Mic 7:18Who is a God like you, who pardons iniquity, and passes over the disobedience of the remnant of his heritage? He doesn’t retain his anger forever, because he delights in loving kindness.
- Acts 9:34Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed!” Immediately he arose.
- John 10:28I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
- Eph 4:32And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.
- Col 3:13bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.
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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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