Luke 5:23

Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you;’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk?’

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk?’

BSB

Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?

KJV

Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?

ASV

Which is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee; or to say, Arise and walk?

BBE

Which is the simpler: to say, You have forgiveness for your sins; or to say, Get up and go?

Original Greek

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τί ti Which G5101 ἐστιν estin is G1510 εὐκοπώτερον eukopōteron easier G2123 εἰπεῖν eipein to say G2036 ἀφέωνταί apheōntai Have been forgiven G863 σοι soi you G4771 αἱ hai the G3588 ἁμαρτίαι hamartiai sins G266 σου sou of you G4771 ἢ ē or G2228 εἰπεῖν eipein to say G2036 ἔγειρε egeire do arise G1453 καὶ kai and G2532 περιπάτει; peripatei do walk G4043

The early church

(ubi sup.) If then you disbelieve the first, (i. e. the forgiveness of sins,) behold, I add another, seeing that I lay open your inmost thoughts. Again, another that I make whole the body of the palsied man. Hence He adds, Whether is it easier? It is very plain that it is easier to restore the body to health. For as the soul is far nobler than the body, so is the forgiveness of sins more excellent than the healing of the body. But since you believe not the former, because it is hid; I will add that which is inferior, yet more open, in order that thereby that which is secret may be made manifest. And indeed in addressing the sick man, He said not, I forgive thee thy sins, expressing His own power, but, Thy sins are forgiven thee. But they compelled Him to declare more plainly His own power to them, when He said, But that you may know.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 17–26

How many are there in our assemblies, where the gospel is preached, who do not sit under the word, but sit by! It is to them as a tale that is told them, not as a message that is sent to them. Observe the duties taught and recommended to us by the history of the paralytic. In applying to Christ, we must be very pressing and urgent; that is an evidence of faith, and is very pleasing to Christ, and prevailing with him. Give us, Lord, the same kind of faith with respect to thy ability and willingness to heal our souls. Give us to desire the pardon of sin more than any earthly blessing, or life itself. Enable us to believe thy power to forgive sins; then will our souls cheerfully arise and go where thou pleasest.

Read Matthew Henry on Luke 5 →

Parallel passages

2

The same words or events elsewhere.

Matthew 9:5Mark 2:9

Cross-references

2

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.