The Meaning of Mark 2:5 Explained

Mark 2:5

KJV: When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

YLT: and Jesus having seen their faith, saith to the paralytic, 'Child, thy sins have been forgiven thee.'

Darby: But Jesus, seeing their faith, says to the paralytic, Child, thy sins are forgiven thee.

ASV: And Jesus seeing their faith saith unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins are forgiven.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

When  Jesus  saw  their  faith,  he said  unto the sick of the palsy,  Son,  thy  sins  be forgiven  thee. 

What does Mark 2:5 Mean?

Study Notes

sins
Sin.
sinned
Sin, Summary: The literal meanings of the Heb. and (Greek - ἀλεκτοροφωνία sin," "sinner," etc)., disclose the true nature of sin in its manifold manifestations. Sin is transgression, an overstepping of the law, the divine boundary between good and evil Psalms 51:1 ; Luke 15:29 , iniquity, an act inherently wrong, whether expressly forbidden or not; error, a departure from right; Psalms 51:9 ; Romans 3:23 , missing the mark, a failure to meet the divine standard; trespass, the intrusion of self-will into the sphere of divine authority Ephesians 2:1 , lawlessness, or spiritual anarchy 1 Timothy 1:9 , unbelief, or an insult to the divine veracity John 16:9 .
Sin originated with Satan Isaiah 14:12-14 , entered the world through Adam Romans 5:12 , was, and is, universal, Christ alone excepted; Romans 3:23 ; 1 Peter 2:22 , incurs the penalties of spiritual and physical death; Genesis 2:17 ; Genesis 3:19 ; Ezekiel 18:4 ; Ezekiel 18:20 ; Romans 6:23 and has no remedy but in the sacrificial death of Christ; Hebrews 9:26 ; Acts 4:12 availed of by faith Acts 13:38 ; Acts 13:39 . Sin may be summarized as threefold: An act, the violation of, or want of obedience to the revealed will of God; a state, absence of righteousness; a nature, enmity toward God.

Verse Meaning

The pains they took proved their faith in Jesus" ability and willingness to heal. Jesus responded by dealing with their friend"s need better than they had expected. Sin is the root of all sickness, not that there is always a close correspondence between sinfulness and sickness. Jesus authoritatively forgave the man"s sins as only God could do and so dealt with the ultimate cause of sickness.
"We must admire several characteristics of these men, qualities that ought to mark us as "fishers of men." For one thing, they were deeply concerned about their friend and wanted to see him helped. They had the faith to believe that Jesus could and would meet his need. They did not simply "pray about it," but they put some feet to their prayers; and they did not permit the difficult circumstances to discourage them. They worked together and dared to do something different, and Jesus rewarded their efforts. How easy it would have been for them to say, "Well, there is no sense trying to get to Jesus today! Maybe we can come back tomorrow."" [1]

Context Summary

Mark 2:1-22 - The Friend Of Sinners
The leper, Mark 1:40-45. The news of Christ spread fast and far until it reached the outcasts from Jewish society, the very dregs of humanity. As the story of the wonderful miracles wrought by our Lord was pondered deeply by this man, He concluded that the only question which remained was that of Christ's willingness to hear. As to His power there could be no doubt. But no one of all the religious world of that time had ever thought of extending a helping hand to such as he. Note the instantaneousness of our Lord's response to this appeal. His love and power are commensurate; when you gauge the one, you have measured the other.
The paralytic, Mark 2:1-12. The disease had resulted from sin. It was necessary to deal with the soul before the body could be emancipated. As soon as we sin, God's pardon awaits our asking for it, and of this fact our Lord gave the paralytic man definite assurance. Jesus' right to speak was evidenced by His power to heal. If the latter was effectual, so was the former.
The sinner's friend, Mark 2:13-22. They thought to coin a term of reproach, but they added a crown of glory. In eternity the Friend of sinners will surround His table with saved sinners who have become His guests. [source]

Chapter Summary: Mark 2

1  Jesus followed by multitudes,
3  heals a paralytic;
13  calls Matthew;
15  eats with tax collectors and sinners;
18  excuses his disciples for not fasting;
23  and for picking the heads of grain on the Sabbath day

Greek Commentary for Mark 2:5

Their faith [την πιστιν αυτων]
The faith of the four men and of the man himself. There is no reason for excluding his faith. They all had confidence in the power and willingness of Jesus to heal this desperate case. [source]
Are forgiven [απιενται]
So Matthew 9:3, but Luke 5:20 has the Doric perfect passive απεωνται — apheōntai The astonishing thing both to the paralytic and to the four friends is that Jesus forgave his sins instead of healing him. The sins had probably caused the paralysis. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 2:5

John 20:23 Remit [ἀφῆτε]
Only here in this Gospel in connection with sins. Often in the Synoptists (Matthew 6:12; Matthew 9:5; Mark 2:5; Luke 5:23, etc.). [source]
John 20:23 Whosesoever sins ye forgive [αν τινων απητε τας αμαρτιας]
“If the sins of any ye forgive” They are forgiven Perfect passive indicative of απιημι — aphiēmi Doric perfect for απεινται — apheintai Are retained Perfect passive indicative of κρατεω — krateō The power to forgive sin belongs only to God, but Jesus claimed to have this power and right (Mark 2:5-7). What he commits to the disciples and to us is the power and privilege of giving assurance of the forgiveness of sins by God by correctly announcing the terms of forgiveness. There is no proof that he actually transferred to the apostles or their successors the power in and of themselves to forgive sins. In Matthew 16:19; Matthew 18:18 we have a similar use of the rabbinical metaphor of binding and loosing by proclaiming and teaching. Jesus put into the hands of Peter and of all believers the keys of the Kingdom which we should use to open the door for those who wish to enter. This glorious promise applies to all believers who will tell the story of Christ‘s love for men. [source]
James 5:15 Shall save [σωσει]
Future active of σωζω — sōzō to make well. As in Matthew 9:21.; Mark 6:56. No reference here to salvation of the soul. The medicine does not heal the sick, but it helps nature (God) do it. The doctor cooperates with God in nature.The sick (τον καμνοντα — ton kamnonta). Present active articular participle of καμνω — kamnō old verb, to grow weary (Hebrews 12:3), to be sick (here), only N.T. examples.The Lord shall raise him up Future active of εγειρω — egeirō Precious promise, but not for a professional “faith-healer” who scoffs at medicine and makes merchandise out of prayer.And if he have committed sins (καν αμαρτιας ηι πεποιηκως — kan hamartias ēi pepoiēkōs). Periphrastic perfect active subjunctive (unusual idiom) with και εαν — kai ean (crasis καν — kan) in condition of third class. Supposing that he has committed sins as many sick people have (Mark 2:5.; John 5:14; John 9:2.; 1 Corinthians 11:30).It shall be forgiven him Future passive of απιημι — aphiēmi (impersonal passive as in Matthew 7:2, Matthew 7:7; Romans 10:10). Not in any magical way, not because his sickness has been healed, not without change of heart and turning to God through Christ. Much is assumed here that is not expressed. [source]
James 5:15 The Lord shall raise him up [εγερει αυτον ο κυριος]
Future active of εγειρω — egeirō Precious promise, but not for a professional “faith-healer” who scoffs at medicine and makes merchandise out of prayer.And if he have committed sins (καν αμαρτιας ηι πεποιηκως — kan hamartias ēi pepoiēkōs). Periphrastic perfect active subjunctive (unusual idiom) with και εαν — kai ean (crasis καν — kan) in condition of third class. Supposing that he has committed sins as many sick people have (Mark 2:5.; John 5:14; John 9:2.; 1 Corinthians 11:30).It shall be forgiven him Future passive of απιημι — aphiēmi (impersonal passive as in Matthew 7:2, Matthew 7:7; Romans 10:10). Not in any magical way, not because his sickness has been healed, not without change of heart and turning to God through Christ. Much is assumed here that is not expressed. [source]
James 5:15 And if he have committed sins [καν αμαρτιας ηι πεποιηκως]
Periphrastic perfect active subjunctive (unusual idiom) with και εαν — kai ean (crasis καν — kan) in condition of third class. Supposing that he has committed sins as many sick people have (Mark 2:5.; John 5:14; John 9:2.; 1 Corinthians 11:30). [source]

What do the individual words in Mark 2:5 mean?

And having seen - Jesus the faith of them He says to the paralytic Son are forgiven of you the sins
Καὶ ἰδὼν Ἰησοῦς τὴν πίστιν αὐτῶν λέγει τῷ παραλυτικῷ Τέκνον ἀφίενταί σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι

ἰδὼν  having  seen 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: εἶδον 
Sense: to see with the eyes.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἰησοῦς  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
πίστιν  faith 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: πίστις  
Sense: conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it.
αὐτῶν  of  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
λέγει  He  says 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
τῷ  to  the 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
παραλυτικῷ  paralytic 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: παραλυτικός 
Sense: paralytic.
Τέκνον  Son 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Neuter Singular
Root: τέκνον  
Sense: offspring, children.
ἀφίενταί  are  forgiven 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀφίημι 
Sense: to send away.
σου  of  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
ἁμαρτίαι  sins 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Plural
Root: ἁμαρτία  
Sense: equivalent to 264.