“Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?”
The full verse · Luke 5:23 · KJV
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Asked by
Jesus: teaching in a house when a paralyzed man was let down through the tiling, to whom He said, "Man, thy sins are forgiven thee" (Luke 5:19-20)
The Scene
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionJesus wanted His critics to see that forgiving sins and healing a paralyzed man both require the power of God. Barnes says, "The one involves divine 'power,' the other divine 'authority,' and neither can be done but by God. One is as easy as the other." Gill agrees that neither could be said "by a mere man, with effect." But one of the two can be checked on the spot. The question sets up the proof Jesus is about to give, as Barnes says on the next verse in Matthew: "That you may have full proof on that point."
The Response
What Scripture recordsJesus answered His own question with action: "But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house" (Luke 5:24). "Immediately he rose up before them," took his bed, and went home "glorifying God" (Luke 5:25). All were amazed, "glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day" (Luke 5:26). The critics' reply is not recorded.
Historical Context
The world behind the words"Easier" translates eukopoteron, which Thayer defines as "that can be done with easy labor." Luke uses the same word in Luke 16:17 and Luke 18:25.
"Thy sins be forgiven thee" uses the perfect tense in Greek (apheontai), which the interlinear glosses "have been forgiven." Jesus' command "Rise up and walk" uses two present imperatives, egeire and peripatei, "arise" and "walk."
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyAnyone can say, "Thy sins be forgiven thee," and no one can see whether it happened. Saying "Rise up and walk" to a paralyzed man is different: everyone will know at once whether the word has power. Jesus did the visible thing to prove the invisible one. The healing was a sign "that ye may know" (Luke 5:24).
The story ends in worship. The man went home "glorifying God," and the crowd "glorified God" too (Luke 5:25-26). Matthew Henry turns the scene into a prayer: "Enable us to believe thy power to forgive sins; then will our souls cheerfully arise and go where thou pleasest."
Look Closer
Why did Jesus heal the man after asking this question?
Carry the question into prayer and conversation.
Lord Jesus, You showed Your power to forgive by making a paralyzed man walk; how do You want me to rest in the forgiveness I cannot see?
A prayer to carry into the day.
- No one could check the words "Thy sins be forgiven thee," but everyone could check "Rise up and walk." How does what Jesus did in plain sight help you trust what He does that cannot be seen?
- Tell about a time when seeing God at work in someone's life made His forgiveness more real to you.
For you, a small group, a friend, or the dinner table.
Forgiveness is real even when you cannot see it. Jesus backed His word to this man with power everyone could see. The same Jesus who made him walk is the One who said, "Thy sins be forgiven thee." You can trust His word of forgiveness.
Let that forgiveness move you, as it moved this man. He rose, took up his bed, and went home "glorifying God" (Luke 5:25).
This does not mean every forgiven person will be healed in body. Here Jesus healed as a sign "that ye may know" His authority (Luke 5:24). His power to forgive does not depend on what happens to your body.
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Keep questioning
“For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?”
“Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?”
“Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?”
“What reason ye in your hearts?”