3 Four men brought a sick man to Jesus. The man could not move his arms or legs.

4 But they could not get in the house where Jesus was, because there were so many people. So they went up on the roof. They made a hole in the roof. Then they let down the mat with the sick man on it.

5 Jesus saw that they believed he would be healed. So he said to the sick man, Son, the wrong things you have done are forgiven.

6 Some of the scribes were sitting there.

7 They were thinking, Why does this man say such wrong things against God? He is not giving God respect! Who can forgive the wrong things people do? No one but God can do that.

8 Jesus understood in his spirit what the scribes were thinking. He said right away, Why do you think these wrong things in your hearts?

9 Which is easier, to say to the sick man, "The wrong things you have done are forgiven," or to say, "Get up. Take up your mat and walk"?

10 I want you to know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive the wrong things people do. So he said to the sick man,

11 I tell you, get up! Take up your mat and go home.

12 Right away the man stood up in front of them. He took up his mat and went home. They were all very much surprised, and they praised God. They said, We have never seen anything like this before.