But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, �What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!�
Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, �Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man �Your sins are forgiven,� or �Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk�? 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, �Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!�
And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, �We�ve never seen anything like this before!�