Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 2:9
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?
9. Whether is it easier ] Observe what is here contrasted, Not, “Which is easier, to forgive sin or to raise a paralytic?” but “Which is easier, to claim this power or claim that; to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee, or to say, Arise and walk”? as He had already said to the impotent man at the pool of Bethesda (Joh 5:8).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
9. Whether is it easier to say tothe sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven theeor “areforgiven thee”;
or to say, Arise, and take upthy bed and walk?“Is it easier to command away diseasethan to bid away sin? If, then, I do the one which you can see, knowthus that I have done the other, which you cannot see.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy,…. This question was put to them by Christ, in order to prove his deity, and clear himself from the charge of blasphemy; for he that could cure the sick of the palsy, by a word speaking, had power to forgive him his sins: and therefore proposes it to them, which was easiest to say,
thy sins be forgiven thee, or to say arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? Both of them were easy to say, but not with power and effect: they were both instances of divine power, and proofs of deity; and only he that could do the one, could do the other, and the one was as easy to be performed, by a divine person, as the other: and though it may be hard to say which is the greatest instance of power, or the strongest proof of deity, to pardon a sinner, or to cure a paralytic by a word speaking; perhaps forgiveness of sin may be the greatest evidence of divine power and goodness; however, it is certain, it is a greater blessing to be pardoned, than to be cured of a palsy; yet curing of a palsy, in the manner in which Christ did it, was a more sensible proof of his deity to the Scribes and Pharisees, than pronouncing a man’s sins forgiven; because this was visible, and could not be denied; whereas the other, though pronounced, they might question whether it had its effect: but by the one, which they would see done before their eyes, there would be left no room for them to doubt of the reality of the other;
[See comments on Mt 9:5].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Walk [] . Lit., walk about.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy,” (ti estin eukopoteron eipein to paralutiko) “Which is easier to say to the paralytic,” or the palsied man; For the Creator, the Maker and Sustainer of all, who can assert what is easy and what is hard for Him? Psa 33:6-9; Joh 1:1-3; Act 17:24; Act 17:28.
2) “Thy sins be forgiven thee or to say,” (aphientai aou hai hamartiai e eipein) “Your sins are forgiven, or to say,” Luk 4:32. He spoke with power or authority because He had it from the Father, Joh 3:35; Joh 5:22; Mat 28:18.
3) “Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?” (egeire kai aron ton krabaton sou kai peripatei) “Rise and take (bear or carry) your portable couch, mattress or soft bed, and walk?” Walk away, walk home.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
Mar 2:9. Whether is it easier to say, &c. To say, and to perform, were the same to Christ. What he here said he did; remitting sin, and curing diseases by his word.
To forgive sins is comparatively a more difficult, though invisible miracle, and therefore he added the outward cure to confirm it. See the Inferences on Matth
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
9 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?
Ver. 9. See Trapp on “ Mat 9:5 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Mar 2:9-10 , vide notes on Mt.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Whether is it . . . ? = Which is . . . ?
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
sins
Sin. (See Scofield “Rom 3:23”)
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
is it: Mat 9:5, Luk 5:22-25
Thy sins: Mar 2:5
Reciprocal: Luk 5:23 – General Joh 5:11 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
9
Whether is easier means to ask them which would be easier for him to do, for if he had authority from God he could do the one as readily as the other.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
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?
[Whether is it easier to say, etc.] he that observes the use of the word it is easy and it is hard; in the Jewish schools (and the schoolmen were now with Christ), cannot think it improper that is it easier should be of the same import with it is easy; which word denotes the thing or the sense plain, smooth, and without scruple; it is hard; denotes the contrary. As if our Saviour had said, “Were not the sense plainer, and more suited to the present business to have said, ‘Arise and take up thy bed,’ than to say, ‘Thy sins are forgiven thee?’ But I say thus, that ye may know that the Son of man hath power,” etc. He does not speak of the easiness of the pronunciation of the words, but of the easiness of the sense. And I should thus render the words, “It is easier to say to the paralytic, Thy sins are forgiven thee, than to say,” etc. ‘Whether to say,’ as it is vulgarly rendered, hath a sense not to be disapproved of; but, ‘than to say,’ hath a sense more emphatical. Is not the sense easier as to the present business to say, ‘Thy sins are forgiven,’ than to say, ‘Rise up and walk?’
Fuente: Lightfoot Commentary Gospels
Mar 2:9-11. See on Mat 9:5; Mat 9:7.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 9
The reasoning of the Savior seems to be this,–that to perform a miraculous cure was as truly an exercise of divine power, as to forgive sins; but as the former act only could be made evident to the senses, they ought to be satisfied, by seeing him exercise the one, that he possessed power to perform the other.