Discovery BoxLuke 5:23 
Context5:23 Which is easier, 1 to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’?
Luke 9:47
Context9:47 But when Jesus discerned their innermost thoughts, 2 he took a child, had him stand by 3 his side,
Luke 13:13
Context13:13 Then 4 he placed his hands on her, and immediately 5 she straightened up and praised God.
1 sn Which is easier is a reflective kind of question. On the one hand to declare sins are forgiven is easier, since one does not need to see it, unlike telling a paralyzed person to walk. On the other hand, it is harder, because for it to be true one must possess the authority to forgive the sin.
2 tn Grk “knowing the thoughts of their hearts” (an idiom).
3 tn On this use of παρά (para), see BDF §239.1.1.
4 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
5 sn The healing took place immediately.
