Luke 5:21

The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?”

World English Bible

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Other translations

WEBBE

The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?”

BSB

But the scribes and Pharisees began thinking to themselves, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

KJV

And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

ASV

And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this that speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

BBE

And the scribes and Pharisees were having an argument, saying, Who is this, who has no respect for God? who is able to give forgiveness for sins, but God only?

Original Greek

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καὶ kai And G2532 ἤρξαντο ērxanto began G757 διαλογίζεσθαι dialogizesthai to reason G1260 οἱ hoi the G3588 γραμματεῖς grammateis scribes G1122 καὶ kai and G2532 οἱ hoi the G3588 Φαρισαῖοι Pharisaioi Pharisees G5330 λέγοντες legontes saying G3004 τίς tis Who G5101 ἐστιν estin is G1510 οὗτος houtos this G3778 ὃς hos who G3739 λαλεῖ lalei speaks G2980 βλασφημίας; blasphēmias blasphemies G988 τίς tis Who G5101 δύναται dunatai is able G1410 ἁμαρτίας hamartias sins G266 ἀφεῖναι apheinai to forgive G863 εἰ ei only G1487 μὴ mē except G3361 μόνος monos [the] sole G3441 ὁ ho (the) G3588 θεός;¶ theos God G2316

The early church

From the Pharisees themselves therefore the Son of God receives testimony. For it is both more powerful evidence when men confess unwillingly, and a more fatal error when they who deny are left to the consequence of their own assertions. Hence it follows, Who can forgive sins, but God only? Great is the madness of an unbelieving people, who though they have confessed that it is of God alone to forgive sins, believe not God when He forgives sins.

Ambrose of Milan · d. 397Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

But from fear of the multitude, the Pharisees durst not openly expose their designs, but only meditated them in their hearts Hence it follows, And they began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies?

John Chrysostom · d. 407Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

By this they hasten the sentence of death, for it was commanded in the law, that whoever blasphemed God should be punished with death. (Lev. 24:16.)

Cyril of Alexandria · d. 444Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

For they say true, that no one can forgive sins but God, who yet forgives through those to whom He gives the power of forgiving. And therefore Christ is proved to be truly God, for He is able to forgive sins as God.

Bede · d. 735Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 17–26

How many are there in our assemblies, where the gospel is preached, who do not sit under the word, but sit by! It is to them as a tale that is told them, not as a message that is sent to them. Observe the duties taught and recommended to us by the history of the paralytic. In applying to Christ, we must be very pressing and urgent; that is an evidence of faith, and is very pleasing to Christ, and prevailing with him. Give us, Lord, the same kind of faith with respect to thy ability and willingness to heal our souls. Give us to desire the pardon of sin more than any earthly blessing, or life itself. Enable us to believe thy power to forgive sins; then will our souls cheerfully arise and go where thou pleasest.

Read Matthew Henry on Luke 5 →

Parallel passages

The same words or events elsewhere.

Matthew 9:3 Mark 2:6–7

Cross-references

Topics

Sin Falsehood Blasphemy Reasoning

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.