(1) Jesus got into the boat and went back across the lake to his own town, (2) where some people brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a bed. When Jesus saw how much faith they had, he said to the paralyzed man, "Courage, my son! Your sins are forgiven." (3) Then some teachers of the Law said to themselves, "This man is speaking blasphemy!" (4) Jesus perceived what they were thinking, and so he said, "Why are you thinking such evil things? (5) Is it easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? (6) I will prove to you, then, that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." So he said to the paralyzed man, "Get up, pick up your bed, and go home!" (7) The man got up and went home. (8) When the people saw it, they were afraid, and praised God for giving such authority to people.

(1) A few days later Jesus went back to Capernaum, and the news spread that he was at home. (2) So many people came together that there was no room left, not even out in front of the door. Jesus was preaching the message to them (3) when four men arrived, carrying a paralyzed man to Jesus. (4) Because of the crowd, however, they could not get the man to him. So they made a hole in the roof right above the place where Jesus was. When they had made an opening, they let the man down, lying on his mat. (5) Seeing how much faith they had, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "My son, your sins are forgiven." (6) Some teachers of the Law who were sitting there thought to themselves, (7) "How does he dare talk like this? This is blasphemy! God is the only one who can forgive sins!" (8) At once Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he said to them, "Why do you think such things? (9) Is it easier to say to this paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, pick up your mat, and walk'? (10) I will prove to you, then, that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." So he said to the paralyzed man, (11) "I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home!" (12) While they all watched, the man got up, picked up his mat, and hurried away. They were all completely amazed and praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"

(17) One day when Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of the Law were sitting there who had come from every town in Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. The power of the Lord was present for Jesus to heal the sick. (18) Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a bed, and they tried to carry him into the house and put him in front of Jesus. (19) Because of the crowd, however, they could find no way to take him in. So they carried him up on the roof, made an opening in the tiles, and let him down on his bed into the middle of the group in front of Jesus. (20) When Jesus saw how much faith they had, he said to the man, "Your sins are forgiven, my friend." (21) The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees began to say to themselves, "Who is this man who speaks such blasphemy! God is the only one who can forgive sins!" (22) Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Why do you think such things? (23) Is it easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? (24) I will prove to you, then, that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." So he said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you, get up, pick up your bed, and go home!" (25) At once the man got up in front of them all, took the bed he had been lying on, and went home, praising God. (26) They were all completely amazed! Full of fear, they praised God, saying, "What marvelous things we have seen today!"