The Doctor for the Sick
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.” Matthew 9:2 · Berean Standard Bible
Some men brought their paralyzed friend to Jesus on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus told the man, 'Take courage! Your sins are forgiven.'
These friends literally carried their friend to Jesus. And Jesus surprised everyone by addressing his soul before his body.
Jesus, speaking to the paralyzed man.
This moment reveals that Jesus sees deeper than the obvious need; He goes straight to the heart.
A paralytic is brought on a kline (mat/bed) by friends; Jesus, seeing their (plural) faith, first forgives the man's sins rather than healing his body.
The plural 'their faith' indicates collective faith; Jesus' unexpected response of forgiveness rather than healing provokes the theological confrontation that follows.
Jesus, addressing the paralytic with forgiveness.
By forgiving sins first, Jesus reveals that His deepest mission is spiritual restoration, with physical healing serving as its visible sign.
1Jesus got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own town.
2Just 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.”
3On seeing this, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming!”
4But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Why do you harbor evil in your hearts?
Read all of Matthew 9 — Jesus eats with sinners, forgives the paralyzed, and raises the dead. The religious leaders are horrified; the broken are set free.
This page covers one. BibleKey does all 31,102 — tap any verse for its meaning, any word for its Hebrew or Greek root, and keep reading without leaving the chapter.
NIV, NLT, NKJV, KJV and the Berean — plus the Catholic NLT-CE and Douay-Rheims, with the full deuterocanon in the reading order.
Tap any of the 31,102 for what it means, and any word for its Hebrew or Greek root, without leaving the chapter.
Start recording at church and put your phone away. You get the transcript, the key moments, and every verse referenced.
Say what's sitting on your heart and hear it back as a real prayer, in a warm voice. Keep the ones that land.
The whole Bible in a year — five chapters a day, five days a week, weekends off. Built to be finished.
A verse each morning with its meaning, how it lands today, something to sit with, and a prayer to close it.
Not just the famous ones. BibleKey is free on iPhone and iPad.
Download on the App StoreFree on iPhone & iPad