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The below verses demonstrates Jesus telling a paralysed man and an adulterous woman that their sins have been forgiven. It is of great importance to realise that Jesus did not say he or himself forgave the sins but stated they have been forgiven. It would make more sense that Jesus is telling them that God has forgiven their sins.
"And behold, they brought to him a paralytic, lying on his bed; and when Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, 'Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.'" Matthew 9:2 RSV
"'Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.'”
"And he said to her, 'Your sins are forgiven.'” Luke 7:47-48 RSV
A similar episode happens in the old testament with Prophet Nathan and King David:
“Then David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’
Nathan replied, ‘The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.’” 2 Samuel 12:13 NIV
It is important to remember these verses from Jesus:
“… These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.” John 14:24 NIV
“For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.” John 12:49 KJV
Following on from the story of the paralytic man Jesus then says:
"But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." Matthew 9:6 NIV
This is the same authority on earth Jesus has to heal the sick and cast out demons. He has been given this authority from God. See the verse below:
“I can do nothing on my own authority; as I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.” John 5:30 RSV
The Holy Spirit also gives the apostles of Jesus the authority to forgive sins:
"Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.'”
"And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit."
"If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.'” John 20:21-23 RSV
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