22 · Words and actions of Jesus

The Paralyzed Man Through the Roof

Mark 2:1–12

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A paralyzed adult man is lowered on a mat through an opened roof before Jesus while friends and a crowded gathering watch inside a biblical-era house.

Four men open the roof and lower a paralyzed man before Jesus.

Why does Jesus forgive the man's sins?

Choose a perspective

There is no score – choose the perspective you find closest and discuss why.

Discuss: What does Jesus see as important beyond what people seek help for?

After your discussion: compare with our assessment

Our assessment

A captures the surprise of the story: Jesus begins with forgiveness, showing that his mission is not limited to physical healing. C closely follows Jesus' own explanation in verse 10. He heals the man “so that you may know” that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins.

22 · Mark 2:1–12

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Text & context

Full translation

1 When he entered Capernaum again after some days, it became known that he was at home. 2 So many gathered that there was no longer room, not even near the door, and he was speaking the word to them. 3 Then some came to him bringing a paralyzed man, carried by four. 4 Since they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they opened the roof above him. After breaking through it, they lowered the mat on which the paralyzed man was lying. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts: 7 “Why does this man speak this way? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins except God alone?” 8 Immediately Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were reasoning this way within themselves and said to them, “Why are you reasoning these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier: to say to the paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat, and walk’? 10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” – he said to the paralyzed man: 11 “I tell you: Get up, take your mat, and go home.” 12 Then he got up, immediately took his mat, and went out in front of everyone, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

Translated from the Greek text – SBLGNT

What is happening here?
Jesus is in a house in Capernaum, and so many people gather that there is no way to reach him through the door. Four people bring a paralyzed man. When they cannot get through, they open the roof and lower the man before Jesus. Mark tells us that Jesus “saw their faith.” Jesus' first words are, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” The scribes react because they understand Jesus to be making a claim that belongs to God. Jesus then heals the man “so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” The visible healing thus functions as confirmation of Jesus' claim concerning forgiveness.
Notice this

Mark says “When Jesus saw their faith...”, not “his faith.” Faith is also visible through action: they carry the man, encounter an obstacle, open the roof, and lower him before Jesus. The words “your sins are forgiven” cannot be directly observed or measured. Jesus therefore does something everyone can see and says it happens “so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”

Language & translation

From the Greek

ἰδὼν ... τὴν πίστιν αὐτῶν – idōn ... tēn pistin autōn

when he saw their faith The pronoun is plural: “their.” The wording connects faith with the group whose actions have just been described.

τέκνον – teknon

child Jesus' first address to the man is warm and personal.

ἀφίενταί σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι – aphientai sou hai hamartiai

your sins are forgiven The verb comes from aphiēmi, to release, remit, or forgive.

βλασφημεῖ – blasphēmei

he is blaspheming The scribes interpret Jesus' statement as blasphemy because they ask who can forgive sins except God alone.

ἐξουσίαν – exousian

authority / power The term can express authority, right, or legitimate power. Jesus says the Son of Man has this authority on earth to forgive sins.

ἔγειρε – egeire

get up The invisible claim of forgiveness is followed by a command whose result can be publicly observed.

Translation note

Independent English translation from the Greek text, using SBLGNT as the primary Greek edition.

Compare for yourself

Read Mark 2:1–12 together with Matthew 9:1–8 and Luke 5:17–26. Pay particular attention to:

  • pistis autōn – “their faith”
  • teknon
  • aphiēmi
  • blasphēmeō
  • exousia
  • the Son of Man
  • the relationship between forgiveness and healing

Also consider what the passage does – and does not – say about a relationship between sin and the man's paralysis.

Continue the conversation

Discuss further
  1. What do you think Jesus “sees” when Mark says he saw their faith?
  2. Can the faith and actions of other people help carry someone who cannot reach Jesus on their own?
  3. Why do the words about forgiveness create a greater controversy than the healing itself?
  4. What does it mean that Jesus says the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins “on earth”?
Parallel passages
  • Matthew 9:1–8
  • Luke 5:17–26
  • John 9:1–3
Sources
  • The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition (SBLGNT), Michael W. Holmes, ed.
  • Mark 2:1–12
  • Matthew 9:1–8
  • Luke 5:17–26
  • Standard Greek lexical resources for pistis, teknon, aphiēmi, blasphēmeō, exousia, and egeirō