²³ If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

¹⁸ “I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid^[a] on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit^[b] on earth will be permitted in heaven.

¹⁹ And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid^[a] on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit^[b] on earth will be permitted in heaven.”

²⁰ Hymenaeus and Alexander are two examples. I threw them out and handed them over to Satan so they might learn not to blaspheme God.

⁵ Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”

⁶ But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, ⁷ “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”

⁸ Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? ⁹ Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? ¹⁰ So I will prove to you that the Son of Man^[a] has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said,