Matthew 9:1-8

Expanded Bible

Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man^(A)

9 Jesus got into a boat and went back across the ·lake [sea] to his own town. ² [^LAnd look/^Tbehold] Some people brought to Jesus a man who was paralyzed and lying on a ·mat [cot; bed]. When Jesus saw ·the faith of these people [^Ltheir faith], he said to the paralyzed man, “·Be encouraged [Have courage; Take heart], ·young man [son; child]. Your sins are forgiven.”

³ Some of the ·teachers of the law [scribes] said to themselves, “·This man speaks as if he were God. That is blasphemy [^LThis man blasphemes]!”

⁴ ·Knowing [Perceiving] their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why are you thinking evil ·thoughts [^Lin your hearts]? ⁵ [^LFor] Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to tell him, ‘Stand up and walk’? ⁶ But ·I will prove to you [^Lso that you may know] that the Son of Man [^Ca title for the Messiah; Dan. 7:13–14] has authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Stand up, ·take [pick up] your ·mat [cot; bed], and go home.” ⁷ And the man stood up and went home. ⁸ When the ·people [crowds] saw this, they were ·amazed [filled with awe; afraid] and ·praised [glorified] God for giving ·power like this [such authority] to ·human beings [mankind; ^Cthe language echoes the Son of Man title just used by Jesus (v. 6), which the crowds misunderstand to mean simply “a human being”].