⁴⁵ Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places.^(A) Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.^(B)

⁶ Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, ⁷ “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”^(A)

⁸ Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? ⁹ Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? ¹⁰ But I want you to know that the Son of Man^(B) has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, ¹¹ “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”

¹¹ The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven.^(A)

¹² He sighed deeply^(A) and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.”

²⁹ Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads^(A) and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,^{(B) 30} come down from the cross and save yourself!” ³¹ In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him^(C) among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! ³² Let this Messiah,^(D) this king of Israel,^(E) come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

³⁸ nor does his word dwell in you,^(A) for you do not believe^(B) the one he sent.^(C)

⁴⁰ yet you refuse to come to me^(A) to have life.

^[4] [a]