Commentaries:
Barnes' Notes
But that ye may know ... - That you may have full proof on that point; that you may see that I have power to forgive sin, I will perform an act which all must perceive and admit to require the power of God.
Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine own house - The fact that the paralytic man could do this would Proverbs that a miracle was performed. He was healed by a word; it was done instantaneously; it was done in the most public manner. The fact that a man, just before perfectly helpless, could now take up and carry his own bed or couch, proved that a divine "power" had been exerted; and that fact proved that he who had performed the miracle must also have the "power" and the "authority" to forgive sin. It is proper to add, in illustrating this, that in the East a "bed" is often nothing more than a bolster and a blanket spread on the floor. "The bed provided for me," says Professor Hackett ("Illustrations of Scripture," p. 112) "consisted merely of a bolster and a blanket spread on the floor. The latter could be drawn partially over the body if any one wished, though the expectation seemed to be that we should sleep in our ordinary dress, without any additional covering. Such a bed is obviously a portable one; it is easy to take it up, fold it together, and carry it from place to place, as convenience may require."
Other Barnes' Notes entries containing Matthew 9:6:
Leviticus 16:33-34
Matthew 9:2
Matthew 9:37
Matthew 10:27
Matthew 14:6-12
Matthew 24:17
Matthew 26:2
Matthew 26:58
Matthew 26:71
Mark 2:3-12
Mark 13:15
Mark 14:12-16
Mark 16:17
Luke 5:17-26
Luke 5:17-26
Acts 3:6
Acts 5:31
Acts 9:34
Colossians 3:13
Revelation 14:14
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