Luke 5:21 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition) Then the experts in the Law of Moses and the Pharisees began to reason [in their minds], saying, “Who is this man who speaks things against God [i.e., by claiming the ability to forgive sins]? Who can forgive sins except God only?” More versionsKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? Amplified Bible - Classic Edition And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason and question and argue, saying, Who is this [Man] Who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone? American Standard Version (1901) And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this that speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? Common English Bible The legal experts and Pharisees began to mutter among themselves, “Who is this who insults God? Only God can forgive sins!” Catholic Public Domain Version And the scribes and Pharisees began to think, saying: "Who is this, who is speaking blasphemies? Who is able to forgive sins, except God alone?" Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version And the scribes and Pharisees began to think, saying: Who is this who speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? |
Then the head priest tore at his clothing [i.e., as an expression of frustration], saying, “He has spoken against God [i.e., by claiming Deity for Himself]. What additional need do we have for witnesses? Look, you [yourselves] have now heard him speaking against God.
Seeing this, certain experts in the Law of Moses said to themselves, “This man is speaking against God.”
Demonstrate by your lives that you have [really] repented, and quit saying to yourselves, ‘We claim Abraham as our forefather,’ because I tell you, God is able to make Abraham’s children out of these stones.
And it happened on one of those days [in Capernaum. See Mark 2:1], as Jesus was teaching, that some Pharisees [i.e., a strict sect of the Jewish religion] and teachers of the Law of Moses, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem, were sitting around [i.e., listening to Him]. And the power of the Lord was with Him, enabling Him to heal people.
But Jesus perceived their reasonings and answered them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts?
And those who were reclining at the [dinner] table with Him began saying among themselves, “Who is this person who can even forgive sins?”
The Jews answered Him, “We are not stoning you for a good deed, but for your abusive speech [i.e., about God], and because you are claiming to be God, even though you are [only] a man.”
Who will bring an accusation against God’s chosen people? [Certainly not God, for] He makes people right with Himself.