And the scribes and Pharisees began to think, saying: Who is this who speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
και ηρξαντο διαλογιζεσθαι οι γραμματεις και οι φαρισαιοι λεγοντες τις εστιν ουτος ος λαλει βλασφημιας τις δυναται αφιεναι αμαρτιας ει μη μονος ο θεος
8 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 10 commentaries
The Pharisees question, What blasphemies is He speaking? Who has the authority to forgive sins except for God? Their statement serves to accuse Him of deserving death. The Law decrees that any individual who speaks against God shall face the penalty of death (Leviticus 24:16).
As previously mentioned, He, possessing divine authority, proclaimed the forgiveness of sins. This proclamation, however, incited fury among the ignorant and envious Pharisees, who questioned amongst themselves, ‘Who is this that utters blasphemies?’ Yet, had you comprehended the Holy Scriptures, remembered the prophetic messages, and grasped the magnificent and mighty mystery of the Incarnation, you would not have made such a statement against Him, Pharisee. Nevertheless, they have accused Him of blasphemy, subjecting Him to the death penalty and condemning Him to die, for the law of Moses states that anyone who engages in blasphemy against God shall face death.
Concealed Therefore, Jesus, as it is noted, possessed divine authority and declared the forgiveness of sins, a proclamation that confounds the misconceptions and jealousy of the Pharisees. They questioned among themselves, Who is this that utters blasphemy? (Luke 5:21). Yet, Pharisee, you would not utter such words if you truly understood the Scriptures, recalled the prophetic declarations, or grasped the profound and sacred mystery of the Incarnation. They accused Him of blasphemy, subjecting Him to the gravest penalty and condemning Him to death. The Law of Moses stipulated that anyone who blasphemes against God should face capital punishment. After having taken this bold step, Jesus promptly reveals His divinity to rebuke their egregious wrongdoing.
What, He inquires, are you pondering in your hearts? (Lk 5:22). When you ask, Pharisee, Who can forgive sins but God alone? (Luke 5:21), I respond, Who can perceive the hearts and discern the deepest thoughts but God alone? For in another instance, the Almighty declares through the prophets, I am the Lord, who searches the heart and examines the mind (Jer 17:10). David has also said, He hath fashioned their hearts individually (Ps 33:15, LXX). Thus, Jesus, knowing the hearts and inner beings as God, equally grants forgiveness of sins as God.
Yearning to restore sinners, He revealed His divinity, demonstrating it through His intimate knowledge of the hidden and the wonder of His deeds: Which is easier to say, Your sins are forgiven you, or to say, Rise and walk? (Lk 5:23). This signifies the complete healing of an individual. It is indeed a remarkable act to forgive sins, a power that only God possesses, who delegates the authority to forgive to those He chooses. However, to grant resurrection to the body is an even more profound divine act, for the Lord Himself embodies the Resurrection.
It is essential to maintain an awareness of the historical accuracy of the account, acknowledging that the paralytic's body was genuinely restored. Additionally, we must see this as a reflection of the healing of the inner spirit, for whom sins are absolved. The Jewish leaders asserted that only the Lord has the authority to forgive sins (see Luke 5:21), thus recognizing His divinity while simultaneously revealing their lack of faith: they affirm the miracle but reject the miracle worker. The Son of God received acknowledgment from the Jews for His miraculous acts without needing their endorsement; the faithless may recognize His deeds but cannot truly believe. They bear witness to God yet lack the necessary faith for redemption.
Their testimony is significant because it is uttered against their will, and their denials are all the more detrimental as their own statements condemn them. The folly of an unbelieving people is profound: they recognize that only God can forgive sins yet refuse to accept that He, in fact, forgives. Nevertheless, the Lord, wishing for the salvation of sinners (see 1 Tim. 1:15), demonstrates His divine nature through His knowledge of hidden truths and His capacity for miraculous acts, posing the question, “Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?” (Luke 5:23). In the absence of love, the Jews began to speak ill of Him. He addressed those who spoke maliciously, asking, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?” (Lk. 5:22). Who makes this assertion? The High Priest (cf. Heb. 10:21). He perceived the spiritual leprosy within the hearts of the Jews, demonstrating that their condition was worse than physical leprosy: He instructed the leprous man to present himself to the priest, yet their religious leaders turn away from the unclean, preventing them from infecting others with their spiritual disease.
Certainly! Here’s the paraphrased version of the text:
In addition on this matter
*Refer to Matthew 9:3.
The structures of Jewish homes were typically arranged with a central courtyard, surrounded by living quarters. This courtyard was generally open, but could be covered with boards, leather, or fabric in case of bad weather. The roofs were flat, with access provided by stairs from either the courtyard or the street; often, the roofs of adjacent houses were connected, separated only by a permitted railing (Deuteronomy 22:8). In terms of roofing construction, a substantial layer of reeds would cover the ceiling beams, followed by brushwood and a thick layer of earth, sometimes topped with tiles. Given this layout of eastern dwellings, the accounts provided by the Evangelists regarding Christ’s activities could easily have occurred either in the courtyard or within a house.
According to Mark's narrative (v. 4), those who brought the sick man took significant effort to remove the roof (εξορυξαντες). Thus, it can be assumed they dismantled the roof of the house, removing the mortar that held the tiles in place, excavating the earth, and finally, taking apart the ceiling. The sick man's bed was likely a light mat, which he could carry himself, reminiscent of a felt covering suitable for rest during their journey. Observing the faith of those who brought the afflicted man, Jesus addressed the paralytic with the words, "Child, your sins are forgiven you." The Pharisees present interpreted this as blasphemy, asserting that only God has the authority to forgive sins. In response, Christ conveyed that forgiving sins is as much within His power as healing the sick. If they acknowledged His ability to heal, which they could not dispute, they should also recognize His divine authority to forgive sins. To dispel any doubts the Pharisees might hold regarding the truth of His proclamation, Christ instructed the healed man, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." The immediate fulfillment of Christ’s command would lead the Pharisees to conclude that His earlier words, "your sins are forgiven," carried their own weight. The phrase "Son of man on earth" serves as a contrast to the notion of God in heaven, a concept noted in the words of the Pharisees.
The scribes and Pharisees, gathered together and separate from the crowds they looked down upon, began to murmur quietly, criticizing Jesus for assuming God’s authority. Their whispers were so soft that nobody else could discern their words, as Jesus did not rebuke them for what they said but rather for what they were thinking. By uncovering their thoughts, Jesus revealed to them that if he possessed the all-knowing nature of God, he undoubtedly held the power to grant forgiveness for sins.
To clarify further, he posed the question: ‘Which is easier to declare, ‘Your sins are forgiven, and as a result, you will be healed,’ or to command, ‘Get up and walk?’’ If the divine authority is required for sin to be absolved, it is equally necessary for healing to occur, as the affliction can be lifted once the underlying cause, which is forgiveness of sins, has been addressed.
His heartfelt cry for healing, visibly represented by the afflicted man, was graciously answered by Christ, who spoke to him, “Be of good cheer, child; your sins are forgiven.” Through his courageous faith, he received not only physical restoration but also the remission of sins (Matt. 9:2-8, Mk. 2:2-12, Lk. 5:18-26). The scribes present held a different perspective. Upon hearing this declaration, they whispered among themselves, “This man blasphemes.” Their thoughts did not go unnoticed by the Lord, who, perceiving their reasoning, questioned, “Why do you harbor evil thoughts in your hearts? For which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?
But so you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” He then addressed the paralytic, “Get up, take your mat, and go home.” The man rose, took his mat, and returned home completely healed. The crowd, witnessing this miracle, was filled with awe and praised God, who granted such authority to mankind. This extraordinary occurrence quickly spread across Galilee and Perea and even reached the farthest regions of Syria (Matthew 4:24). It can be imagined how much the weary Redeemer longed for a period of rest after such events. Yet, His most restorative refuge was found in solitude and stillness, where He could commune quietly with His heavenly Father, undisturbed. Before dawn, when the plain of Genesaret remained enveloped in darkness, Christ arose silently and went to a solitary place, where He fortified His spirit through tranquil prayer.
The Pharisees and scribes, who closely scrutinized the words and actions of Christ, silently questioned within themselves, ‘Why does this man utter such blasphemies? Only God can absolve sins.’ However, the One who understands hearts perceived their thoughts and asked, ‘Why do you harbor these thoughts within you? Which is easier - to say to a paralyzed man, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up, take your mat, and walk”? The forgiveness of sins, the healing of the spirit, is the unseen working of God's grace, while the healing of the body is a visible demonstration of the Creator's mighty power.
Thus, let it be known that the Son of Man possesses the authority on earth to forgive sins.’ He then addressed the paralytic directly: ‘I tell you, get up, take your mat, and return to your home.’ He instructed him to carry his mat so that onlookers would not doubt the reality of what had taken place, and so those who perceived Christ merely as an ordinary man might witness the miracle for themselves. The paralyzed man instantly rose before them, took his mat, and glorified God as he made his way home. This event left a profound impact on the witnesses; even though they did not fully grasp the divinity of Christ, as noted by St. John Chrysostom, they were filled with awe and exclaimed to one another, ‘We have seen wonderful things today; we have never witnessed anything like this!’ The scribes and Pharisees too could glean from this occurrence the true significance of the nature of Jesus Christ.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 24 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS