New International Version
Luke 5:21
21The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Luke 5:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
- English Standard Version (ESV)And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
- New King James Version (NKJV)And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
- New Living Translation (NLT)But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”
Context of Luke 5:21
19When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. 20When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?
Read all of Luke 5Luke 5:21 word by word
καὶ ἤρξαντο διαλογίζεσθαι οἱ γραμματεῖς καὶ οἱ Φαρισαῖοι λέγοντες· τίς ἐστιν οὗτος ὃς λαλεῖ βλασφημίας; τίς δύναται ἁμαρτίας ἀφεῖναι εἰ μὴ μόνος ὁ θεός;¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- the scribesὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the scribesγραμματεύςgrammateus · scribeG1122
- the PhariseesΦαρισαῖοςPharisaios · PhariseeG5330
- beganἄρχομαιarchomai · to rule/beginG756
- to reasonδιαλογίζομαιdialogizomai · to discussG1260
- sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- Whoτίςtis · which?G5101
- isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- speakethλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
- blasphemiesβλασφημίαblasphēmia · blasphemyG988
- canδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
- forgiveἀφίημιaphiēmi · to release: forgiveG863
- sinsἁμαρτίαhamartia · sinG266
- ·εἰei · if: notG1487
- butμήmē · notG3361
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- aloneμόνοςmonos · aloneG3441
Cross-references for Luke 5:21
- Luke 5:17One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick.
- Luke 7:49The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
- Mark 2:6Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves,
- Leviticus 24:16anyone who blasphemes the name of the Lord is to be put to death. The entire assembly must stone them. Whether foreigner or native-born, when they blaspheme the Name they are to be put to death.
- 1 Kings 21:10But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them bring charges that he has cursed both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death.”
- Matthew 9:3At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”
- Matthew 26:65Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.
- John 10:33“We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
- Acts 6:11Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”
- Exodus 34:6And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,
- Psalms 32:5Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
- Psalms 35:5May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the Lord driving them away;
- Psalms 103:3who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
- Psalms 130:4But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
- Isaiah 1:18“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
- Isaiah 43:25“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.
Commentaries on Luke 5:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Who can forgive sins, but God alone? - If Jesus were not God, he could not forgive sins; and his arrogating this authority would have been blasphemy against God, in the most proper sense of the word. That these scribes and Pharisees might have the fullest proof of his Godhead, he works in their presence three miracles, which from their nature could only be effected by an omniscient and omnipotent Being. The miracles are: The remission of the poor man's…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17-26Verses 17-26 See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 9:1-7. Luke 5:17 On a certain day - The time and place are not particularly mentioned here, but from Matthew 9:1 it seems it was at Capernaum. Luke 5:19 The tiling - See the notes at Matthew 9:1-7.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-26Verses 17-26 How many are there in our assemblies, where the gospel is preached, who do not sit under the word, but sit by! It is to them as a tale that is told them, not as a message that is sent to them. Observe the duties taught and recommended to us by the history of the paralytic. In applying to Christ, we must be very pressing and urgent; that is an evidence of faith, and is very pleasing to Christ, and prevailing with him. Give us, Lord, the same…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17-26The healing of the paralyzed man began the conflicts between Jesus and the religious leaders that continued through his public ministry until his crucifixion in Jerusalem.Read the comment
Topics related to Luke 5:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Luke 5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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