Mar 2:5-7 | RWP | e4.org | Their faith ( την πιστιν αυτων ). The faith of the four men and of the man himself. There is no reason for excluding his faith. They all had confidence in the power and willingness of Jesus to heal this desperate case. Are forgiven ( αφιεντα , aoristic present passive, cf. punctiliar action, Robertson's Grammar , pp. 864ff.). So , but has the Doric perfect passive αφεωντα . The astonishing thing both to the paralytic and to the four friends is that Jesus forgave his sins instead of healing him. The sins had probably caused the paralysis.

‏ Mark 2:5-7

Their faith ( την πιστιν αυτων ). The faith of the four men and of the man himself. There is no reason for excluding his faith. They all had confidence in the power and willingness of Jesus to heal this desperate case.

Are forgiven ( αφιεντα, aoristic present passive, cf. punctiliar action, Robertson's Grammar, pp. 864ff.). So Mt 9:3, but Lu 5:20 has the Doric perfect passive αφεωντα. The astonishing thing both to the paralytic and to the four friends is that Jesus forgave his sins instead of healing him. The sins had probably caused the paralysis.

Sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts ( εκε καθημενο κα διαλογιζομενο εν ταις καρδιαις αυτων ). Another of Mark's pictures through Peter's eyes. These scribes (and Pharisees, Lu 5:21) were there to cause trouble, to pick flaws in the teaching and conduct of Jesus. His popularity and power had aroused their jealousy. There is no evidence that they spoke aloud the murmur in their hearts, "within themselves" (Mt 9:3). It was not necessary, for their looks gave them away and Jesus knew their thoughts (Mt 9:4) and perceived their reasoning (Lu 5:22).

Instantly Jesus recognized it in his own spirit ( ευθυς επιγνους ο Ιησους τω πνευματ αυτου, Mr 2:8). The Master at once recognizes the hostile atmosphere in the house. The debate ( διαλογιζομενο ) in their hearts was written on their faces. No sound had come, but feeling did.

He blasphemeth ( βλασφημε ). This is the unspoken charge in their hearts which Jesus read like an open book. The correct text here has this verb. They justify the charge with the conviction that God alone has the power ( δυνατα ) to forgive sins. The word βλασφημεω means injurious speech or slander. It was, they held, blasphemy for Jesus to assume this divine prerogative. Their logic was correct. The only flaw in it was the possibility that Jesus held a peculiar relation to God which justified his claim. So the two forces clash here as now on the deity of Christ Jesus. Knowing full well that he had exercised the prerogative of God in forgiving the man's sins he proceeds to justify his claim by healing the man.