³ “Blasphemy! This man is saying he is God!” exclaimed some of the religious leaders to themselves.

⁴ Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked them, “Why are you thinking such evil thoughts? ^5-6 I, the Messiah,^[a] have the authority on earth to forgive sins. But talk is cheap—anybody could say that. So I’ll prove it to you by healing this man.” Then, turning to the paralyzed man, he commanded, “Pick up your stretcher and go on home, for you are healed.”