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Matthew 9:2

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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.

And {G2532}, behold {G2400}, they brought {G4374} to him {G846} a man sick of the palsy {G3885}, lying {G906} on {G1909} a bed {G2825}: and {G2532} Jesus {G2424} seeing {G1492} their {G846} faith {G4102} said {G2036} unto the sick of the palsy {G3885}; Son {G5043}, be of good cheer {G2293}; thy {G4675} sins {G266} be forgiven {G863} thee {G4671}.

Some people brought him a paralyzed man lying on a mattress. When Yeshua saw their trust, he said to the paralyzed man, "Courage, son! Your sins are forgiven."

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.”

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 are forgiven.

Commentary

Matthew 9:2 presents a pivotal moment in Jesus's ministry, highlighting His divine authority over both physical ailments and spiritual sin. This verse sets the stage for a profound demonstration of His power and compassion.

Context of Matthew 9:2

This event takes place in Capernaum, Jesus's adopted home base (Matthew 9:1). A large crowd had gathered, eager to hear and see Jesus. The man "sick of the palsy" (paralyzed) was brought by devoted friends, who, according to parallel accounts in Mark 2:4 and Luke 5:19, went to extraordinary lengths, even lowering him through the roof, to bring him before Jesus. This act of perseverance speaks volumes about "their faith"—the collective belief and determination of the man and his friends.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Power of Faith: Jesus "seeing their faith" is crucial. It wasn't just the paralytic's faith, but the active, demonstrable faith of those who brought him, which moved Jesus to act. This highlights the importance of intercessory prayer and supportive community.
  • Jesus's Authority to Forgive Sins: Before addressing the physical ailment, Jesus declares, "Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee." This statement is radical because, in Jewish thought, only God could forgive sins. By making this declaration, Jesus implicitly claims divine authority, which immediately sparks controversy among the scribes present (Matthew 9:3). This establishes His power over the spiritual realm as foundational.
  • Compassion and Encouragement: The tender address, "Son, be of good cheer," (`tharsei` in Greek, meaning "take courage" or "be confident"), shows Jesus's deep compassion and personal concern for the man's spiritual and emotional state, even before his physical healing.

Linguistic Insights

The term "palsy" comes from the Greek paralytikos (παραλυτικός), referring to a condition of paralysis. Jesus's command, "be of good cheer," is from the Greek verb tharseō (θαρσέω), meaning to be bold, confident, or courageous. This was a common greeting of encouragement, yet here it carries profound spiritual weight. The phrase "thy sins be forgiven thee" uses a perfect passive indicative verb, aphientai (ἀφίενται), which implies that the forgiveness is a completed action with ongoing results, an immediate divine declaration of absolution.

Practical Application

This verse reminds us that Jesus's primary concern is often our spiritual well-being. While physical healing is a wonderful blessing, the forgiveness of sins offers eternal hope and peace, addressing the deepest human need (Romans 6:23). It encourages us to bring our spiritual burdens to Jesus with confidence, knowing He has the ultimate authority to forgive. Furthermore, it highlights the powerful impact of a community of faith that actively brings others to Christ, demonstrating selfless love and unwavering belief.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Mark 2:1 (16 votes)

    ¶ And again he entered into Capernaum after [some] days; and it was noised that he was in the house.

  • Mark 2:12 (16 votes)

    And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

  • Luke 5:18 (14 votes)

    And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought [means] to bring him in, and to lay [him] before him.

  • Luke 5:26 (14 votes)

    And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

  • Jeremiah 31:33 (11 votes)

    But this [shall be] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

  • Jeremiah 31:34 (11 votes)

    And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

  • Matthew 9:22 (9 votes)

    But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.