Matthew 9:1-8 - A Paralytic Healed

¹ Accordingly He went on board, and crossing over came to His own town. ² Here they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith Jesus said to the paralytic, "Take courage, my child; your sins are pardoned."

³ "Such language is impious," said some of the Scribes among themselves.

⁴ Knowing their thoughts Jesus said, "Why are you cherishing evil thoughts in your hearts? ⁵ Why, which is easier? --to say, 'Your sins are pardoned,' or to say 'Rise up and walk'? ⁶ But, to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to pardon sins" --He then says to the paralytic, "Rise, and take up your bed and go home." ⁷ And he got up, and went off home. ⁸ And the crowds were awe-struck when they saw it, and ascribed the glory to God who had entrusted such power to a man.

¹ After some days He entered Capernaum again, and it soon became known that He was at home; ² and such numbers of people came together that there was no longer room for them even round the door. He was speaking His Message to them, ³ when there came a party of people bringing a paralytic--four men carrying him. ⁴ Finding themselves unable, however, to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they untiled the roof just over His head, and after clearing an opening they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying.

⁵ Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are pardoned."

⁶ Now there were some of the Scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts. ⁷ "Why does this man use such words?" they said; "he is blaspheming. Who can pardon sins but One--that is, God?"

⁸ At once perceiving by His spirit that they were reasoning within themselves, Jesus asked them, "Why do you thus argue in your minds? ⁹ Which is easier?--to say to this paralytic, 'Your sins are pardoned,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your mat, and walk?' ¹⁰ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to pardon sins" --He turned to the paralytic, and said, ¹¹ "To you I say, 'Rise, take up your mat and go home.'"

¹² The man rose, and immediately under the eyes of all took up his mat and went out, so that they were all filled with astonishment, gave the glory to God, and said, "We never saw anything like this."

¹⁷ One day He was teaching, and there were Pharisees and teachers of the Law sitting there who had come from every village in Galilee and Judaea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present for Him to cure people. ¹⁸ And a party of men came carrying a palsied man on a bed, and they endeavoured to bring him in and lay him before Jesus. ¹⁹ But when they could find no way of doing so because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiling--bed and all--into the midst, in front of Jesus.

²⁰ He saw their faith and said to him, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."

²¹ Then the Scribes and Pharisees began to cavil, asking, "Who is this, uttering blasphemies? Who but God alone can forgive sins?"

²² Well aware of their reasonings, Jesus answered their questions by asking in turn, "What is this that you are debating in your hearts? ²³ Which is easier? --to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? ²⁴ But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" --Turning to the paralytic He said, "I bid you, Rise, take up your bed, and go home."

²⁵ Instantly he stood up in their presence, took up the mattress on which he had been lying, and went away to his home, giving glory to God. ²⁶ Amazement seized them all. "Glory to God!" was the abiding feeling. Yet fear flashed through their minds and they said, "We have seen strange things to-day."