The Doctor for the Sick
On seeing this, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming!” Matthew 9:3 · Berean Standard Bible
Some religious teachers heard this and thought, 'This man is blaspheming! Only God can forgive sins!'
They were right that only God can forgive sins. They just didn't realize who they were looking at.
The scribes, silently accusing Jesus.
Their accusation accidentally points to the truth: Jesus is doing what only God can do.
Some scribes internally accuse Jesus of blasphemeo (blasphemy), correctly recognizing that forgiving sins is a divine prerogative (cf. Isa 43:25) while incorrectly denying Jesus possesses it.
The scribes' theological reasoning was sound: only God can forgive sins. Their error was failing to recognize that Jesus acts with divine authority.
The scribes, accusing Jesus in their hearts.
This internal accusation sets up a pivotal Christological demonstration: Jesus will prove His authority to forgive by healing.
1Jesus got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own town.
2Just then some men brought to Him a paralytic lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.”
3On seeing this, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming!”
4But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Why do you harbor evil in your hearts?
5Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?
Read all of Matthew 9 — Jesus eats with sinners, forgives the paralyzed, and raises the dead. The religious leaders are horrified; the broken are set free.
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