Mark 2:5-12 (NKJV) When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
8 But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, 11 “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 12 Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
V5 “When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” The word “their” refers to the paralytic plus his friends. What forgave sins? Faith. Who forgave sins? Jesus. God alone can forgive sins (Luke 5:21, Psalm 51:4, and Romans 8:33). Jesus did not give faith; the paralytic believed. Faith in Jesus is superior to any other faith in something.
Constable notes: “Examples of minor characters who model great faith in Jesus are the leper who requested cleansing (Mark 1:40-45), the friends of the paralytic (Mark 2:3-5), Jairus (Mark 5:21-24; Mark 5:35-43), the woman with the hemorrhage (Mark 5:25-34), the Syrophoenician woman (Mark 7:25-30), the father of the demon-possessed boy (Mark 9:14-29), and blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52). Those who model service are the woman who anointed Jesus for burial (i.e., Mary; Mark 14:3-9), Simon of Cyrene (Mark 15:21), Joseph of Arimathea (Mark 15:42-46), and the women who visited Jesus’ tomb to anoint His body (Mark 16:1).”
V6 “And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts…” The Scribes are the custodians of the Mosaic law. These learned men in doctrine but not in the plain, normal sense of the Scriptures. They know, but apparently, elevate doctrine and the laws of man above the Mosaic Law. They are reasoning from their minds instead of knowing the Scriptures and true knowledge. Their faith was based on their standards and beliefs.
V7 “…Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Truly it is blasphemy to presume to forgive sin. After hearing Jesus’s statement of forgiveness of sins followed by complete healing, this should have driven these Scribes to the Scriptures. There they would have understood that this man, Jesus, is the promised Messiah. This is a good question. They are not questioning to learn but to criticize based on their standards and beliefs.
V8 “But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?” Jesus knows all thoughts of the heart.
Some things about Jesus’s knowledge:
• He knows the Father, while no one else does—Matthew 11:27.
• He knows everything—Proverbs 24:12 and John 2:25.
• He has foreknowledge (knowledge of something before the time or situation happens). This is not theistic determinism)—John 6:64.
Jesus often asks a question even though he knows the answer. His purpose is for them to acknowledge Jesus’s complete knowledge of them.
V9 “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’?” Which is easier? Neither. Both need authority and ability. The Lord Jesus has both. Faith in God can bring forgiveness as well as healing.
V10 “But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic…” Jesus’s statement that He has authority and ability. If Jesus has this authority, every person should turn to Him instead of works, obedience to Mosaic law (which no one can obey), ritual, etc.
V11 “…I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Jesus gives a command. Will the man show/reveal his faith by his actions? Yes, he does. He gets up and starts walking back home. Real faith shows itself in our response and attitude. Rahab (Joshua 2:3-15, Hebrews 11:31, and James 2:25) showed her faith by hiding the Israeli spies.
Bible Knowledge commentary adds: “Jesus commanded the paralytic to get up (a test of his faith), take his mat, and go home (demand of obedience). The man was enabled to do this immediately (euthys; cf. Mark 1:10) in full view of them all, including Jesus’ critics. They were forced to recognize that the man had received God’s forgiveness. This showed the character of salvation Jesus brought, namely, healing whole persons.”
V12 “Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” The paralytic shows his faith, gets up, and starts walking home. Everyone was in shock, and they did glorify God. Even with all these miracles, most still would not believe in Jesus. We show our faith by living the principles of the Bible.
We learn:
• About Jesus’s power, ability, knowledge, and compassion.
• About the man’s faith.
• About his friends’ faith.
Questions:
• Do we have faith to obey Jesus (the Scriptures)?
• Would we have shown compassion as the paralytic’s friends?