2:8–11

Jesus was comparing two ideas in these verses: forgiving sins and healing a paralyzed man. He used the form of a question to make the people think. He was not saying that either one of these things was easy. They are both impossible for a person to do by himself. Only someone with God’s power and authority can do either one of them. In these verses Jesus showed that he had that power and authority.

Many Jews believed that when a person was sick, it was because he or someone in his family had sinned (see John 5:8; 5:14; 9:1–2). They believed that he could not become well until God forgave his sins.

2:8a

At once: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as At once indicates that 2:8a happened as soon as 2:7 had happened. Jesus perceived what the teachers of the law were thinking as soon as they had the thoughts.

Here are some other ways that English versions translate this idea:

Immediately (New International Version)
-or-
Right away (Contemporary English Version)

knew in His spirit: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as knew in His spirit is an idiom. It means that he “perceived” or “realized.” In some languages there may be a different idiom to express this meaning. For example:

knew in his mind/heart

In other languages it may not be natural to specify a location for knowing. In that case, the phrase in His spirit can be left implicit. For example, both the Contemporary English Version and Good News Bible have:

Jesus knew what they were thinking

His spirit: The phrase His spirit refers to Jesus’ own mind, not to the Holy Spirit.

2:8b

they: The pronoun they refers to the teachers of the law.

thinking this way within themselves: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as thinking this way within themselvesis the same idiom as in 2:6b. See the note there.

2:8c

Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?”: This is a rhetorical question. It functions as a rebuke. Jesus was telling the religious leaders that they were wrong to think that he was blaspheming.

There are at least two ways to translate this rebuke:

• As a rhetorical question. For example, the Good News Bible says:

Why do you think such things?

• As a statement or command. For example:

You are mistaken/wrong in what you are thinking.
-or-
Do not think like that!

Use whichever form is most natural to express a rebuke in your language.

these things: The words these things refer to the teachers’ thoughts in 2:7a, 2:7b, and 2:7c.

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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