The Meaning of Matthew 9:5 Explained

Matthew 9:5

KJV: For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?

YLT: for which is easier? to say, The sins have been forgiven to thee; or to say, Rise, and walk?

Darby: For which is easier: to say, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Rise up and walk?

ASV: For which is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and walk?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For  whether  is  easier,  to say,  [Thy] sins  be forgiven  thee;  or  to say,  Arise,  and  walk? 

What does Matthew 9:5 Mean?

Study Notes

sins
Sin.
sinned
Sin, Summary: The literal meanings of the Heb. and (Greek - ἀλεκτοροφωνία sin," "sinner," etc)., disclose the true nature of sin in its manifold manifestations. Sin is transgression, an overstepping of the law, the divine boundary between good and evil Psalms 51:1 ; Luke 15:29 , iniquity, an act inherently wrong, whether expressly forbidden or not; error, a departure from right; Psalms 51:9 ; Romans 3:23 , missing the mark, a failure to meet the divine standard; trespass, the intrusion of self-will into the sphere of divine authority Ephesians 2:1 , lawlessness, or spiritual anarchy 1 Timothy 1:9 , unbelief, or an insult to the divine veracity John 16:9 .
Sin originated with Satan Isaiah 14:12-14 , entered the world through Adam Romans 5:12 , was, and is, universal, Christ alone excepted; Romans 3:23 ; 1 Peter 2:22 , incurs the penalties of spiritual and physical death; Genesis 2:17 ; Genesis 3:19 ; Ezekiel 18:4 ; Ezekiel 18:20 ; Romans 6:23 and has no remedy but in the sacrificial death of Christ; Hebrews 9:26 ; Acts 4:12 availed of by faith Acts 13:38 ; Acts 13:39 . Sin may be summarized as threefold: An act, the violation of, or want of obedience to the revealed will of God; a state, absence of righteousness; a nature, enmity toward God.

Context Summary

Matthew 9:1-8 - The Forgiver Of Sins
How inventive and ingenious is human love! Not improbably this was a young man and the others had been his schoolmates and friends for years. They had come to a steadfast faith in Jesus, and it was in response to their faith that the miracle was wrought. If only four earnest Christians would take one unbeliever or sinner in hand, we should see new miracles of grace.
Sin lies at the root of all suffering and disease. God's ideal is a fair and healthy body adapted to all the demands we make on it. In this ease there was evidently a close connection between the man's paralysis and some former act or acts of sin that lay heavily on conscience and heart. It was as easy for our Lord to utter one sentence as another, and the power which accompanied His utterance in the physical sphere proved that He had equal power in the spirit-world.
His critics were perfectly right. Either He blasphemed or He was the Son of God. Note that title, Son of man. Jesus was the last Adam, the second man. See 1 Corinthians 15:45. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 9

1  Jesus heals a paralytic
9  calls Matthew from the receipt of custom;
10  eats with tax collectors and sinners;
14  defends his disciples for not fasting;
20  cures the sick woman;
23  raises Jairus' daughter from death;
27  gives sight to two blind men;
32  heals a mute man possessed of a demon;
36  and has compassion on the multitude

What do the individual words in Matthew 9:5 mean?

Which for is easier to say Are forgiven of you the sins or Arise and walk
τί γάρ ἐστιν εὐκοπώτερον εἰπεῖν Ἀφίενταί σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι Ἔγειρε καὶ περιπάτει

εὐκοπώτερον  easier 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Neuter Singular, Comparative
Root: εὔκοπος  
Sense: with easy labour.
εἰπεῖν  to  say 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
Ἀφίενταί  Are  forgiven 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀφίημι 
Sense: to send away.
σου  of  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
ἁμαρτίαι  sins 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Plural
Root: ἁμαρτία  
Sense: equivalent to 264.
Ἔγειρε  Arise 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ἐγείρω  
Sense: to arouse, cause to rise.
περιπάτει  walk 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: περιπατέω  
Sense: to walk.