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For which is easier, to say, `Your sins are forgiven;` or to say, `Get up, and walk?`
Verse Takeaways
1
The Visible Proves the Invisible
Commentators explain that Jesus's question is a challenge to the scribes. While both forgiving sins and healing a paralytic are impossible for humans, the healing is a visible, verifiable miracle. Jesus performs this outward, physical sign to prove He has the divine authority to perform the invisible, spiritual act of forgiving sins, which the scribes had just accused Him of blasphemy for claiming.
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Book Overview
Matthew
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10
19th Century
Anglican
Which is easier...? — The form of the question implies what we call an argument à fortiori. It was easier to say, Thy…
Baptist
And Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins be forgiven you'; or to…
Jesus responded to this situation according to the perspective of the teachers of the law—namely, that to say “Get up and walk” is easier since onl…
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16th Century
Protestant
Whether is it easier to say? The meaning is this: since it is no easier to give life by a word to a nearly dead body than it is to forgive…
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
For whether is easier to say . Christ proceeds to clear himself of the charge of blasphemy, and to prove his power t…
Presbyterian
The faith of the paralytic's friends in bringing him to Christ was a strong faith; they firmly believed that Jesus Christ both could and would heal…
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13th Century
Catholic
Above, the Evangelist set forth miracles opposed to bodily dangers; here, he sets forth miracles opposed to spiritual dangers. According to this, h…
