Matthew 9:6 Meaning and Explanation
“But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →To prove his authority to forgive, Jesus commands the paralyzed man to rise, take up his bed, and go home.
What Does Matthew 9:6 Mean?
Jesus states his purpose plainly: the healing is given "that ye may know" he has power on earth to forgive sins. He calls himself the Son of man, the title drawn from Daniel's vision of one given everlasting dominion and a kingdom that shall not pass away. Then he turns to the man and commands him to rise and carry the very bed that had carried him in.
Here the authority to forgive and the authority to heal are revealed as one and the same power. The Son of man exercises on earth what belongs to heaven, joining the unseen and the seen in a single word. The bed once needed for a helpless body becomes a burden light enough to shoulder, a quiet emblem of a whole life lifted and set free.
Matthew 9:6 in the Original Language
exousia (ἐξουσία), 'power' -- rightful authority, the freedom to act that belongs to one who truly holds it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 9:6
What does Matthew 9:6 mean?
To prove his authority to forgive, Jesus commands the paralyzed man to rise, take up his bed, and go home.