Matthew 9:4

Matthew 9:4

And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts.

a. ASV: And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

  

b. YLT: And Jesus, having known their thoughts, said, 'Why think ye evil in your hearts?

d. Amplified Bible Classic: But Jesus, knowing (seeing) their thoughts, said, Why do you think evil and harbor malice in your hearts?

1. “And Jesus knowing their thoughts said…”

a. And [Strong: 2532 kaí, kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:—and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. Jesus [Strong: 2424 Iēsoûs, ee-ay-sooce'; of Hebrew origin (H3091); Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites:—Jesus.]

c. knowing [Strong: 1492 eídō, i'-do; a primary verb; used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent G3700 and G3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by implication, (in the perfect tense only) to know:—be aware, behold, × can (+ not tell), consider, (have) know(-ledge), look (on), perceive, see, be sure, tell, understand, wish, wot.]

d. their [Strong: 846 autós, ow-tos'; from the particle αὖ aû (perhaps akin to the base of G109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:—her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

e. thoughts [Strong: 1761 enthýmēsis, en-thoo'-may-sis; from G1760; deliberation:—device, thought.]

  

f. said [Strong: 2036 épō, ep'-o; a primary verb (used only in the definite past tense, the others being borrowed from G2046, G4483, and G5346); to speak or say (by word or writing):—answer, bid, bring word, call, command, grant, say (on), speak, tell.]

1). When I first got saved I would read accounts such as this one and think, “Well, Jesus could read their thoughts because He was God.” But that is not the reason he could read their thoughts. When the Second Person of the Godhead (the pre-incarnate Christ), became a man He laid aside all his God like abilities. In Philippians 2:7 it says he emptied himself. This is referring to his God-like abilities, His Omnipotence, Omniscience, Omnipresence and so on. When Jesus worked miracles He did so because he was filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:38; Luke 3:21, 22; Luke 4:14-21; Matthew 12:28). Every miracle that Jesus worked while in his earthly ministry can be explained by him being filled with the Holy Ghost and operating in the gifts of the Spirit of 1 Corinthians 12:7-11.

2). The same Greek word used in this verse for Jesus “knowing” their thoughts is the same Greek word translated “perceiving” used in Acts 14:8-10 when Paul by the Spirit discerned that man had faith to be healed.

a). Acts 14:8-10  And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:

14:9  The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,

14:10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

2. “...Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?”

a. Wherfore [Strong: 2444 hinatí, hin-at-ee'; from G2443 and G5101; for what reason ?, i.e. why?:—wherefore, why.]

b. think [Strong: 1760 enthyméomai, en-thoo-meh'-om-ahee; from a compound of G1722and G2372; to be inspirited, i.e. ponder:—think.]

c. ye [Strong: 5210 hymeîs, hoo-mice'; irregular plural of G4771; you (as subjective of verb):—ye (yourselves), you.]

d. evil [Strong: 4190 ponērós, pon-ay-ros'; from a derivative of G4192; hurtful, i.e. evil (properly, in effect or influence, and thus differing from G2556, which refers rather to essential character, as well as from G4550, which indicates degeneracy from original virtue); figuratively, calamitous; also (passively) ill, i.e. diseased; but especially (morally) culpable, i.e. derelict, vicious, facinorous; neuter (singular) mischief, malice, or (plural) guilt; masculine (singular) the devil, or (plural) sinners:—bad, evil, grievous, harm, lewd, malicious, wicked(-ness).]

e. in [Strong: 1722 en, en; a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between G1519 and G1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:—about, after, against, + almost, × altogether, among, × as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (… sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), × mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, × outwardly, one, × quickly, × shortly, (speedi-)ly, × that, × there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]

  

f. your [Strong: 5216 hymōn, hoo-mone'; genitive case of G5210; of (from or concerning) you:—ye, you, your (own, -selves).]

g. hearts [Strong: 2588 kardía, kar-dee'-ah; prolonged from a primary κάρ kár (Latin cor, "heart"); the heart, i.e. (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle:—(+ broken-)heart(-ed).]