Read Mark 2,

Verses 5 – 12

In verse 5 Jesus tells the paralytic his sins are forgiven him. In response to Jesus’ proclamation the scribes which were present said within each of them, ““Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Keep in mind the scribes were those who wrote the law. They were either a scribe of the Pharisees or of the Sadducees. Their main task was to hand copy with a writing instrument and ink the Old Testament scriptures letter by letter. This would mean they would know the scriptures. As we will see the knew the words but did not know what the meant. They lacked the wisdom to understand the words. The wisdom that is supplied only by God.

They heard Jesus preach and were about to become a witness to God’s confirming actions as to His Son’s ability. They were however skeptical of Him based upon His statement. They were right to question if Jesus was speaking truth and not just a man trying to impress people.

Jesus knows their thoughts and this should have made them less smug. Jesus confronts their doubts with a simple set of questions. “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? “But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” In response the paralytic was not a paralytic anymore and took up his bed and walked out.

Notice Jesus did not yell or call the scribes names. Instead Jesus gave them pause to think. Is it easier to tell the paralytic his sins are forgiven or to say arise take up your bed and walk. The scribes could do neither. This would mean Jesus was God’s Son because He could do both.