The Pharisees and scribes of Jesus' time believed that only GOD could forgive sins and that anything else was tantamount to blasphemy. When Jesus granted a person forgiveness of his sins, he explained that he was doing so with the authority that GOD had given him (Matthew 9,6 / Mark 2,10 / Luke 5,24). This special authority was intended to clarify Jesus' position as Messiah and his role as GOD's representative and judge. At the same time, Jesus emphasized that he would never judge or make decisions on his own authority, but always only in accordance with the will of GOD, his Father (John 5,30). Jesus later passed this authority on to his disciples (John 20,23). It is basically GOD'S free and sovereign decision to transfer the right to forgive sins to any person. As GOD's representative, Jesus received the right from GOD to forgive sins. However, the fact that Jesus can forgive sins in no way proves that he is GOD.

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