“Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Parallel translations
- WEB “Why does this man speak blasphemies like that? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
- KJV Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
- NKJV “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
- NASB “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins except God alone?”
- NLT “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”
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
The scribes consider Jesus' words blasphemy, since only God can forgive sins. Unwittingly, they identify the very claim Jesus is making.
Overview
Their theology is correct: forgiving sins is God's prerogative. The irony is that they reject the conclusion that Jesus is therefore divine. Their charge frames the central question of Mark's Gospel, who is this man who forgives sins as only God can?
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Isa 43:25I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.
- Luke 5:21But the scribes and Pharisees began thinking to themselves, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
- Mic 7:18Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?
- Dan 9:9To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, even though we have rebelled against Him
- Luke 7:49But those at the table began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
- John 20:20–23After He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
- John 10:33“We are not stoning You for any good work,” said the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because You, who are a man, declare Yourself to be God.”
- Job 14:4Who can bring out clean from unclean? No one!
- Ps 130:4But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be feared.
- Mark 14:64You have heard the blasphemy. What is your verdict?” And they all condemned Him as deserving of death.
- Matt 26:65At this, the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “He has blasphemed! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.
- Matt 9:3On seeing this, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming!”
- John 10:36then what about the One whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world? How then can you accuse Me of blasphemy for stating that I am the Son of God?
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 2:7 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.