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,)
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 —
- BSB But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...” He said to the paralytic,
- 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 7:13–14I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
- Matt 9:6–8But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
- Acts 5:31Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
- John 5:20–27For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
- Matt 16:13When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
- 1 Tim 1:13–16Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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.