Luke 5:24 Meaning and Explanation
“But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →To show that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins, Jesus commands the man to rise, take up his couch, and go home.
What Does Luke 5:24 Mean?
Here Jesus first uses this Gospel's most frequent title for him: 'the Son of man,' the figure of Daniel's vision who receives everlasting dominion (Daniel 7:13-14). Mid-sentence, he turns from the critics to the man on the couch: 'Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.'
The healing is offered as evidence — 'that ye may know.' Every eye can now test the claim no eye could check. And the claim itself is wonderfully practical: the Son of man has power to forgive sins 'upon earth' — not only at the last judgment, not only in heaven's records, but here, now, in the middle of a crowded house. Forgiveness can be had today.
Luke 5:24 in the Original Language
exousia (ἐξουσία), 'power' -- rightful authority; the right and freedom to act.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 5:24
What does Luke 5:24 mean?
To show that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins, Jesus commands the man to rise, take up his couch, and go home.