Bible Strands
Matthew 9:2
Just then some men brought to Him a paralytic lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus, in His own town (Capernaum), speaks directly to a paralytic being brought to Him on a mat. The men carrying the man display a faith Jesus perceives before He addresses the paralytic himself.
The words — βεβλημὲνον (beblēmenon), "lain down," is a perfect passive participle of βάλλω, "to throw"; the paralytic has been thrown onto the mat, a violent verb applied to a helpless body.
The thread — The same scene appears in Mark 2:1–12 and Luke 5:18–26; the act of forgiving sins echoes the covenant promise in Jeremiah 31:33, where God commits to put His law within His people.
Why it lands — Jesus names the paralytic's sin before his paralysis, forcing the reader to ask which of the two he actually needs addressed first.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
Cross-references
- Mark 2:1 A few days later Jesus went back to Capernaum. And when the people heard that He was home,
- Luke 5:18 Just then some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They tried to bring him inside to set him before Jesus,
- Jeremiah 31:33 “But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people.
- Matthew 9:22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take courage, daughter,” He said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that very hour.
- Psalms 32:1 Of David. A Maskil. Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
- Luke 7:47 Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven, for she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
- Colossians 1:12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.
- James 2:18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
- Matthew 4:24 News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and He healed them.
- Matthew 8:10 When Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those following Him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.