Who Can Forgive Sins But God Only? - Mark 2:7

Mark wrote how Jesus, “again ... entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, your sins be forgiven you. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts”, and in chapter two and verse seven of his book, Mark shares how the scribes questioned, “who can forgive sins but God only?” where we read:

Why does this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

The verse reads, “Why does this man thus speak blasphemies?” Mark began with the words, “why does this man thus” which means “for what reason and cause does Jesus” “speak blasphemies” or “utter, declare and proclaim slander, detraction and impious and reproachful speech which is injurious to divine majesty”? Mark shared how the “religious leaders” known as “scribes” wondered “why” Jesus was speaking “impiously and reproachfully”.

The verse continues, “who can forgive sins but God only?” Mark added the words, “who can forgive sins” which means “what person is able to bid depart, send away, omit and remit missing of the mark, error, mistakes and wandering from the law of God” “but God only” or “whether and if not less that the Godhead alone and solely”? Mark shared how the “scribes” questioned what person could “remit” sins other than “God” Himself.

When we consider Mark's words in this verse, we see how these religious leaders concluded that Jesus was “speaking blasphemies” because He was declaring the “forgiveness” of “sins” for the paralytic man. God “forgives” the sins of those who trust and believe in His Son Jesus, and Jesus is willing to help all who come to Him. May all who read these questions of the “scribes” understand Jesus spoke the truth to the paralytic man, and He is able to “forgive” every person who will submit their lives and continually abide with Him.

Next time Jesus asks the scribes, “why reason you these things in your hearts?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".