"Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home."
I don't get it. Which IS easier to say? I've never known the answer to the question, even though I understand the meaning of the passage.
There are two possible theories I know of:
1. Jesus is saying that neither is easy for a man to say (and make happen), and by doing both, which are equally difficult (impossible) for a man to do, he is proving he is God.
2. It is easier for a man to say to someone that their sins are forgiven, since this can't be proven to have no effect, whereas telling someone to get up and walk can obviously be proven to be of no effect. Jesus then tells the man to get up and walk to silence the doubters who questioned his authority to forgive sins.
I don't know which answer is correct. I would appreciate your assistance.
Thankyou.
I don't get it. Which IS easier to say? I've never known the answer to the question, even though I understand the meaning of the passage.
There are two possible theories I know of:
1. Jesus is saying that neither is easy for a man to say (and make happen), and by doing both, which are equally difficult (impossible) for a man to do, he is proving he is God.
2. It is easier for a man to say to someone that their sins are forgiven, since this can't be proven to have no effect, whereas telling someone to get up and walk can obviously be proven to be of no effect. Jesus then tells the man to get up and walk to silence the doubters who questioned his authority to forgive sins.
I don't know which answer is correct. I would appreciate your assistance.
Thankyou.