English Standard Version
Matthew 9:4
4But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?
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?
- New King James Version (NKJV)But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?
- New Living Translation (NLT)Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts?
Context of Matthew 9:4
2And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven." 3And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming." But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? 6But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"—he then said to the paralytic—"Rise, pick up your bed and go home."
Read all of Matthew 9Matthew 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, he said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.
- Matthew 16:7And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, "We brought no 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; you discern my thoughts from afar.
- Mark 2:8And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question these things in your hearts?
- Mark 8:16And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread.
- Mark 12:15But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, "Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it."
- Luke 5:22When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, "Why do you question in your hearts?
- Luke 6:8But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, "Come and stand here." And he rose and stood there.
- Luke 7:40And Jesus answering said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he answered, "Say it, Teacher."
- Luke 9:46An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest.
- Luke 11:17But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls.
- John 2:24But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people
- John 6:61But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, "Do you take offense at this?
- John 16:19Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, "Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, '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?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." 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
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries