"You might assert, "GOD ALONE CAN FORGIVE."
But, isn't the same assertion made by the Pharisees questioning the authority of JESUS to forgive sins (Mk.2:7)? True, GOD alone can forgive, JESUS alone can forgive, BUT we should also not discount the fact that, in many occasions, GOD has delegated His authority to His appointed people. Take for example the authority He gave the disciples to cast out demons, the "binding-losing" authority given to Peter (Mt. 18:18), and, of course, the authority to forgive sins (Jn. 20:23), among others."