Luke 5:23 net — Which is easier, to say,‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say,‘Stand up and walk’?

NET Bible

"Which is easier, to say,‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say,‘Stand up and walk’?"

— Luke 5:23, NET Bible

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Luke 5:23 in Other Translations

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Luke 5 — Context

20

When Jesus saw their faith he said,“Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

21

Then the experts in the law and the Pharisees began to think to themselves,“Who is this man who is uttering blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

22

When Jesus perceived their hostile thoughts, he said to them,“Why are you raising objections within yourselves?

23

Which is easier, to say,‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say,‘Stand up and walk’?

24

But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”– he said to the paralyzed man–“I tell you, stand up, take your stretcher and go home.”

25

Immediately he stood up before them, picked up the stretcher he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God.

26

Then astonishment seized them all, and they glorified God. They were filled with awe, saying,“We have seen incredible things today.”

Luke 5:23 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Luke 5:23 say?
Luke 5:23 in the NET Bible reads: “Which is easier, to say,‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say,‘Stand up and walk’?”
Where is Luke 5:23 in the Bible?
Luke 5:23 is found in the New Testament, in the book of Luke, chapter 5, verse 23.
Who wrote Luke?
Luke is traditionally attributed to Luke the physician, companion of Paul. It was written c. AD 60–62.
What is the book of Luke about?
Luke writes "an orderly account" of Jesus' life from a careful historian's pen, with special attention to the poor, the outsider, women, prayer, and the Holy Spirit. From the angelic announcements at the beginning to the Emmaus road at the end, Luke shows Jesus as the Savior of the world.
What are the major themes of Luke?
Luke explores themes including Salvation for All, Holy Spirit, Prayer, Compassion, Joy. These themes shape the meaning and context of Luke 5:23.
What translation should I read Luke 5:23 in?
Luke 5:23 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Luke 5:23?
Luke 5:23 reads (NET): “Which is easier, to say,‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say,‘Stand up and walk’?” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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