Matthew 9:6 kjv

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.

Matthew 9:6 nkjv

But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"?then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."

Matthew 9:6 niv

But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." So he said to the paralyzed man, "Get up, take your mat and go home."

Matthew 9:6 esv

But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" ? he then said to the paralytic ? "Rise, pick up your bed and go home."

Matthew 9:6 nlt

So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins." Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, "Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!"

Matthew 9 verses

Matthew 9 6 Meaning

Matthew 9:6 reveals Jesus Christ's foundational claim of divine authority. He declares that the "Son of Man" possesses the power to forgive sins on earth. This assertion directly challenges the understanding of the Jewish religious leaders that only God Himself could forgive sins. Jesus then substantiates this radical claim by immediately commanding the paralyzed man to rise and walk, thereby providing visible proof of His invisible, spiritual power to remit sins.

Matthew 9 6 Context

Matthew 9 begins with Jesus healing a paralytic man. Upon seeing the man, Jesus first declares his sins forgiven (Mt 9:2). This spiritual pronouncement immediately provokes the scribes present, who inwardly accuse Jesus of blasphemy, reasoning that only God can forgive sins (Mt 9:3). Knowing their thoughts (Mt 9:4), Jesus engages them with a rhetorical question: which is easier, to say "Your sins are forgiven" or "Rise and walk"? (Mt 9:5). Verse 6 then delivers Jesus' direct response and the ultimate justification for His prior declaration. He states the very purpose of the upcoming physical miracle: to demonstrate publicly His authority to forgive sins. The healing that follows (Mt 9:7) serves as undeniable evidence, linking His divine power over the unseen (sin) with His observable power over the physical (paralysis). This event showcases Jesus' authority over sin, sickness, and the spiritual insights of even the religious leaders, positioning Him clearly as more than just a prophet.

Matthew 9 6 Word analysis

• "But" (Δε - De): A conjunction indicating a contrast or a transition, here moving from a question to a direct statement of purpose and justification. It signifies a significant turn in the dialogue, presenting the reason for the upcoming action.
• "that you may know" (ἵνα εἰδῆτε - hina eidēte): A purpose clause using the subjunctive mood, expressing the reason or objective. Eidenai (know) here implies a deep, experiential, and certain knowledge, not mere intellectual awareness. Jesus performs the miracle to publicly validate His divine claim before His critics.
• "the Son of Man" (Ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου - Ho Huios tou Anthropou):
  • This is Jesus' most frequent self-designation in the Gospels.
  • It roots Him deeply in humanity, identifying Him as a true human being (huios anthropou).
  • Crucially, it is also a title with strong messianic and divine connotations, drawn from Daniel 7:13-14, where "one like a son of man" comes with clouds of heaven, is presented before the Ancient of Days, and receives eternal dominion, glory, and a kingdom.
  • By using this title, Jesus subtly claims divine authority without directly using terms like "Messiah" or "God," which could be misconstrued or used to incite political uprising, yet it conveyed ultimate authority to those who understood prophecy.
• "has power" (ἔχει ἐξουσίαν - echei exousian):
  • Echei: "He has," denoting inherent possession, not something temporarily granted or external.
  • Exousian: This Greek term refers to authority, legitimate right, dominion, and prerogative, often divine. It is distinct from dynamis (raw strength or power). Here, it implies not merely ability, but the lawful and inherent right to command and act. The scribes were aware that such authority to forgive sins resided only with God. Jesus claims it for Himself.
• "on earth" (ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς - epi tēs gēs): This phrase is highly significant. Forgiveness of sins was considered a divine act performed in the heavenly realm. By stating "on earth," Jesus claims this ultimate spiritual prerogative can be and is exercised directly by Him in His incarnate state, publicly and immediately. This challenges the established Temple system which required sacrifice mediated by priests to approach God for atonement.
• "to forgive sins" (ἀφιέναι ἁμαρτίας - aphiénai hamartías):
  • Aphiénai: "To send away," "let go," "release," "remit," or "pardon." It signifies the complete removal or dismissal of a transgression, bringing spiritual liberation.
  • Hamartías: "Sins," denoting a "missing of the mark," moral failing, or rebellion against God.
  • This is the core, provocative claim. According to Jewish understanding and Old Testament teaching, only God has the authority and ability to forgive sins (Isa 43:25; Mic 7:18). By stating that the Son of Man has this authority, Jesus unequivocally claims divinity. The ensuing miracle validates this unprecedented claim.

Words-group analysis:

• "the Son of Man has power": This phrase unites Jesus' unique self-identification (Son of Man) with a powerful assertion of inherent authority (exousia). It highlights His identity as the ultimate authority, combining His humanity with divine prerogatives foreshadowed in Daniel's prophecy.
• "power on earth": Locates this ultimate, divine authority directly within Jesus' earthly ministry. It indicates that the heavenly prerogative of forgiveness is active and accessible through Him in the physical, human realm. It directly addresses the scope and immediacy of His mission.
• "to forgive sins": Specifies the most controversial and profoundly divine exercise of His authority. This phrase identifies the specific spiritual action that only God could perform, thereby presenting the ultimate test of Jesus' divine claims. The visible healing confirms the unseen forgiveness.

Matthew 9 6 Bonus section

• The connection between physical healing and spiritual cleansing was deeply rooted in the ancient Jewish mind, often viewing sickness as a consequence of sin (though not always a direct punitive cause, as clarified by Jesus in other contexts, e.g., John 9:3). Jesus leverages this understanding to make a point: His authority extends to both the body and the soul.
• The phrase "Son of Man" often links Jesus' suffering (Mk 10:45) with His ultimate glory and judgment (Mt 25:31), demonstrating the scope of His exousia from incarnation to ultimate sovereignty.
• This act by Jesus represented a direct challenge to the scribes, who functioned as theological arbiters of their time. By claiming the sole prerogative of God, Jesus forced them to confront His identity. They had only two choices: accept Him as divine or condemn Him as a blasphemer. This encounter highlights the clash between established religious tradition and the living manifestation of God's power.

Matthew 9 6 Commentary

Matthew 9:6 is a climactic declaration where Jesus strategically responds to the unspoken accusations of blasphemy from the scribes. He identifies Himself as the "Son of Man," a profound title encapsulating both His genuine humanity and His prophetic, divine authority as foretold in Daniel. The essence of His claim is possessing "power" (authority, exousia) to forgive sins, which in the Jewish theological framework, belonged to God alone. What makes this declaration so astonishing is the phrase "on earth." This means that the celestial power to pardon iniquity, traditionally invoked through specific divine means or Temple rituals, is now personally and directly exercised by Jesus Himself, in real-time, in the midst of humanity. The subsequent healing of the paralytic, who instantly rises and walks, serves as a tangible, public demonstration validating this radical assertion. The physical miracle functions as undeniable proof of an unseen, spiritual reality: Jesus truly is God incarnate, holding and exercising the authority to forgive sins. This verse profoundly asserts Christ's divinity and sovereign power, presenting a foundational truth for understanding His salvific mission.