Mark 2:10
in Mark 2But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...” He said to the paralytic,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority on earth to forgive sins (he saith to the sick of the palsy),
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,)
⋯
This verse in Mark 2
Commentary
6 notes on this verseBut by means of that light, which is of one substance with Thee, Thou hast given light to those that sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, in order that in Thy light they might see the light of knowledge; and it has seemed good to Thee, by means of our Lord and Creator, to fashion us again unto immortality; and Thou hast graciously given unto us a return to Paradise by means of Him who separated us from the joys of Paradise; and by means of Him who hath power to forgive sins Thou hast blotted out the handwriting which was against us.
This site's exposition
immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit
on Mark 2:8-10
Jesus reads unspoken thought, itself a claim only God can rightly make, and then poses the harder question back to the scribes, which is easier to say, forgiven or arise and walk, since the first cannot be checked and the second can be disproven in front of everyone at once. The healing is offered as visible proof of the invisible claim, that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, the title Son of man used here for the first time in the book and carrying full authority rather than mere humility. The bench reads the logic as airtight, a miracle performed to authenticate a claim no one could otherwise verify.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
But that ye may know that the son of man,.... Meaning himself, who was really man, and the true Messiah, in which sense this phrase had been used in the writings of the Old Testament; see Psa 80:17, and though by reason of his outward form; and mean appearance, he might be thought by them to be but a mere man, and had no right, nor authority, to say what he had; in order to convince them; he affirms, that he hath power on earth to forgive sins.
on Mark 2:9-11
This was a suitable argument in itself. He could not have cured the disease, which was the effect, if he could not have taken away the sin, which was the cause. And besides, his curing diseases was a figure of his pardoning sin, for sin is the disease of the soul; when it is pardoned, it is healed.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1857)
on Mark 2:1-12
This passage shows our Lord once more at Capernaum. Once more we find Him doing His accustomed work, preaching the word, and healing those that were sick. We see, in these verses, what great spiritual privileges some people enjoy, and yet make no use of them . This is a truth which is strikingly illustrated by the history of Capernaum. No city in Palestine appears to have enjoyed so much of our Lord's presence, during His earthly ministry, as did this city. It was the place where He dwelt, after He left Nazareth. (Matt. 4:13.)
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins--that forgiving power dwells in the Person of this Man, and is exercised by Him while on this earth and going out and in with you. (he saith to the sick of the palsy),
The words behind it
18 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ἵνα | hina | That | G2443 → | 668 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| εἰδῆτε | eidete | you may know | ||
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| ἐξουσίαν | exousian | authority | G1849 → | 102 times |
| ἔχει | echei | has | G2192 → | 707 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| υἱὸς | huios | Son | G5207 → | 377 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀνθρώπου | anthropou | of Man | G444 → | 549 times |
| ἀφιέναι | aphienai | to forgive | G863 → | 143 times |
| ἁμαρτίας | hamartias | sins | G266 → | 173 times |
| ἐπὶ | epi | on | G1909 → | 883 times |
| τῆς | tes | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| γῆς, | ges | earth | G1093 → | 248 times |
| λέγει | legei | He says | G3004 → | 1325 times |
| τῷ | to | to the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| παραλυτικῷ· | paralutiko | paralytic; | G3885 → | 10 times |
ἽναThat
hinaG2443 →668 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
εἰδῆτεyou may know
eidete
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
ἐξουσίανauthority
exousianG1849 →102 times
ἔχειhas
echeiG2192 →707 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
υἱὸςSon
huiosG5207 →377 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
ἀνθρώπουof Man
anthropouG444 →549 times
ἀφιέναιto forgive
aphienaiG863 →143 times
ἁμαρτίαςsins
hamartiasG266 →173 times
ἐπὶon
epiG1909 →883 times
τῆςthe
tesG3588 →19766 times
γῆς,earth
gesG1093 →248 times
λέγειHe says
legeiG3004 →1325 times
τῷto the
toG3588 →19766 times
παραλυτικῷ·paralytic;
paralutikoG3885 →10 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 16:13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He questioned His disciples: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
it leads to
- Luke 9:18–20
One day as Jesus was praying in private and the disciples were with Him, He questioned them: “Who do the crowds say I am?”
- Mark 8:27–29
Then Jesus and His disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way, He questioned His disciples: “Who do people say I am?”
- Daniel 7:13
In 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…
- Matthew 9:6
But 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.”
- John 5:27
And He has given Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.
- Luke 9:18–20
Through
Acts 5:31God exalted Him to His right hand as Prince and Savior, in order to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.
it leads to
- Luke 24:47
and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.
- Acts 2:33
Exalted, then, to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.
- Hebrews 2:10
In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting for God, for whom and through whom all things exist, to make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.
- Luke 24:47
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies4
On this verse
On this chapter
About Mark
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Gospels; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Methodius of Olympus, Methodius Oration Concerning Simeon and Anna.