Matthew 9:4

Matthew 9:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
• New International Version (NIV)Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?
• English Standard Version (ESV)But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?
• New King James Version (NKJV)But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?

Context of Matthew 9:4

2They brought to Him a man who was paralyzed, lying on a stretcher. Seeing their [active] faith [springing from confidence in Him], Jesus said to the paralytic, “Do not be afraid, son; your sins are forgiven [the penalty is paid, the guilt removed, and you are declared to be in right standing with God].” 3And some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man blasphemes [by claiming the rights and prerogatives of God]!” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven and the penalty paid,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? [Both are possible for God; both are impossible for man.] 6But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority and the power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your stretcher and go home.”

Matthew 9:4 word by word

καὶ ἰδὼν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τὰς ἐνθυμήσεις αὐτῶν εἶπεν· ἱνατί ἐνθυμεῖσθε πονηρὰ ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• Jesusὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• knowingὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
• theirαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• thoughtsἐνθύμησιςenthumēsis · reflectionG1761
• saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• ·ἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• Whereforeτίςtis · which?G5101
• thinkἐνθυμέομαιenthumeomai · to reflect onG1760
• yeσύsu · youG4771
• evilπονηρόςponēros · evil/badG4190
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• heartsκαρδίαkardia · heartG2588

Cross-references for Matthew 9:4

• Matthew 12:25Knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, “Any kingdom that is divided against itself is being laid waste; and no city or house divided against itself will [continue to] stand.
• Matthew 16:7They began to discuss this among themselves, saying, “He said that because we did not bring bread.”
• Psalms 44:21Would not God discover this? For He knows the secrets of the heart.
• Psalms 139:2You know when I sit down and when I rise up [my entire life, everything I do]; You understand my thought from afar.
• Mark 2:8Immediately Jesus, being fully aware [of their hostility] and knowing in His spirit that they were thinking this, said to them, “Why are you debating and arguing about these things in your hearts?
• Mark 8:16They began discussing this with one another, saying, “It is because we have no bread [that He said this].”
• Mark 12:15Should we pay [the tax] or should we not pay?” But knowing their hypocrisy, He asked them, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a coin (denarius) to look at.”
• Luke 5:22But Jesus, knowing their [hostile] thoughts, answered them, “Why are you questioning [these things] in your hearts?
• Luke 6:8But He was aware of their thoughts, and He said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and come forward.” So he got up and stood there.
• Luke 7:40Jesus, answering, said to the Pharisee, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Teacher, say it.”
• Luke 9:46An argument started among them as to which of them might be the greatest [surpassing the others in esteem and authority].
• Luke 11:17But He, well aware of their thoughts and purpose, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is doomed to destruction; and a house divided against itself falls.
• John 2:24But Jesus, for His part, did not entrust Himself to them, because He knew all people [and understood the superficiality and fickleness of human nature],
• John 6:61But Jesus, aware that His disciples were complaining about it, asked them, “Does this cause you to stumble and take offense?
• John 16:19Jesus knew that they wanted to ask Him, so He said to them, “Are you wondering among yourselves about what I meant when I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me’?
• John 21:17He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with a deep, personal affection for Me, as for a close friend]?” Peter was grieved that He asked him the third time, “Do you [really] love Me [with a deep, personal affection, as for a close friend]?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You [with a deep, personal affection, as for a close friend].” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

Commentaries on Matthew 9:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Jesus knowing ( seeing) their thoughts - In telling them what the thoughts of their hearts were, (for they had expressed nothing publicly), he gave them the fullest proof of his power to forgive sins; because God only can forgive sins, and God only can search and know the heart. Jesus pronounced the man's sins forgiven; and gave the scribes the fullest proof of his power to do so, by telling them what, in the secret of their souls, they thought on the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Jesus, knowing their thoughts - Mark says, “Jesus perceived “in his spirit” that they so reasoned.” The power of searching the heart, and of knowing the thoughts of people, belongs only to God, 1 Chronicles 28:9; Romans 8:27; Revelation 2:23; Jeremiah 17:10. In claiming this, as Jesus did here, and often elsewhere, he gave clear proofs of his omniscience, John 2:24-25.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-17There was debate and conflict among Jesus opponents. This included the teachers of the law and the Pharisees (Matthew 9:1–13), and also the disciples of John the Baptist (9:14–17).Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 9:4

• Capernaum
• Falsehood
• Heart
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Miracles

In the dictionaries

• Jesus
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Bridechamber
• Capernaum
• Cheer
• Comfort
• Daughter
• Eat
• Garment
• Harvest

Commentaries on Matthew 9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings