Matthew 9:2 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Friends carry a paralyzed man to Jesus, and seeing their faith, he speaks first not to the body but to the soul, declaring the man's sins forgiven.
What Does Matthew 9:2 Mean?
A paralyzed man is carried to Jesus on his bed by others whose determined effort Jesus reads as faith. Unable to come on his own, the man depends wholly on the trust of those who bring him. Before any word about the body, Jesus addresses the deeper need: "thy sins be forgiven thee." The tender address "Son" and the call to "be of good cheer" frame this forgiveness as comfort rather than condemnation.
Jesus sees past the visible affliction to the burden underneath it. He treats the forgiveness of sins as the first and greatest healing, the thing the man most needs even when everyone around sees only his useless legs. To every heart weighed down by guilt, the Lord still speaks this word of release before anything else, lifting first the burden that no human hand could ever carry away.
Matthew 9:2 in the Original Language
aphientai (ἀφίενται), 'are forgiven' -- to send away or release, as a debt is cancelled.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 9:2
What does Matthew 9:2 mean?
Friends carry a paralyzed man to Jesus, and seeing their faith, he speaks first not to the body but to the soul, declaring the man's sins forgiven.