Mark 2:6

Mark 2:6, in plain English

Some religious teachers sitting nearby were thinking to themselves and questioning what Jesus had said.

Why it's here

They didn't say anything out loud, but their minds were racing. What Jesus just said was either the most wonderful truth or the most dangerous lie they'd ever heard.

Who's speaking

Mark reveals the silent objections forming in the minds of the scribes who were present.

Where it sits in the story

The scribes recognized what the crowd may have missed: Jesus wasn't just saying nice words. He was claiming to do something only God could do. And that was either incredibly good or incredibly dangerous.

The scholarly reading

Some scribes (grammateis) present were reasoning (dialogizomenoi) internally, questioning Jesus' pronouncement in their hearts (en tais kardiais autōn).

Language and setting

The scribes were professional interpreters of the Torah, and they correctly understood the theological implications of Jesus' words—if He was wrong, this was blasphemy of the highest order.

Voice

Mark reveals the scribes' silent internal reaction, setting up the theological confrontation.

Significance

The scribes' silent objection was theologically coherent: either Jesus had divine authority to forgive sins, or He was committing the grave sin of blasphemy. There was no middle ground.

4Since they were unable to get to Jesus through the crowd, they uncovered the roof above Him, made an opening, and lowered the paralytic on his mat.

5When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

6But some of the scribes were sitting there and thinking in their hearts,

7“Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

8At once Jesus knew in His spirit that they were thinking this way within themselves. “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?” He asked.

Read all of Mark 2 — Jesus forgives sins, eats with outcasts, and lets his disciples skip fasting. The religious leaders can barely keep up with the offenses.