But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...” He said to the paralytic,
Parallel translations
- WEB But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” — he said to the paralytic —
- KJV But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)
- NKJV But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic,
- NASB But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He *said to the paralyzed man,
- NLT So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said,
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus heals to prove that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. The miracle authenticates His divine right to forgive.
Overview
'Son of Man' draws on Daniel 7, a title for the heavenly figure given eternal authority and dominion. Jesus claims this authority is exercised even now 'on earth' to forgive sins. The healing serves as visible proof of His invisible power, central to His saving work at the cross.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Dan 7:13–14In my vision in the night I continued to watch, and I saw One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence.
- Matt 9:6–8But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...” Then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”
- Acts 5:31God exalted Him to His right hand as Prince and Savior, in order to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.
- John 5:20–27The Father loves the Son and shows Him all He does. And to your amazement, He will show Him even greater works than these.
- Matt 16:13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He questioned His disciples: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
- 1 Tim 1:13–16I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 2:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.