Matthew 9:4

4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?

Matthew 9:4 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said,Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
English Standard Version (ESV)
4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?
New Living Translation (NLT)
4 Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts?
The Message Bible (MSG)
4 Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, "Why this gossipy whispering?
American Standard Version (ASV)
4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
4 Jesus knew what they were thinking. He asked them, "Why are you thinking evil things?
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
4 But perceiving their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why are you thinking evil things in your hearts?
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
4 Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he said, "Why do you have evil thoughts in your hearts?

Matthew 9:4 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 9:4

And Jesus knowing their thoughts
Which was a clear evidence, and full demonstration of his deity; for none knows the thoughts of the heart but God; and since he knew the thoughts of men's hearts, it could be no blasphemy in him to take that to himself which belonged to God, even to forgive sins. And this, one would think, would have been sufficient to have approved himself to them as the true Messiah; since this is one of the ways of knowing the Messiah, according to the Jews, and which they made use of to discover a false one.

``Bar Coziba, (they say F7,) reigned two years and a half: he said to the Rabbins, I am the Messiah; they replied to him, it is written of the Messiah, that he is "of quick understanding, and judges", (referring to ( Isaiah 11:3 ) ) let us see whether this man is of quick understanding, and can make judgment, i.e. whether a man is wicked, or not, without any external proof; and when they saw he was not of quick understanding, and could not judge in this manner, they slew him.''

But now Christ needed not any testimony of men; he knew what was in the hearts of men, of which this instance is a glaring proof: hence he said,

wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
it was no evil in them to think that God only could forgive sin; but the evil was, that they thought Christ was a mere man, and ought not to have took so much upon him; and that, for so doing, he was a wicked man, and a blasphemer.


FOOTNOTES:

F7 T. Bab. Sanhedrim, fol. 93. 2.

Matthew 9:4 In-Context

2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”
3 At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”
4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?
5 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?
6 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.”

Cross References 1

  • 1. Psalms 94:11; Matthew 12:25; Luke 6:8; Luke 9:47; Luke 11:17; John 2:25
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