Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?”
49. And those who sat at table with him began to say within themselves. Hence we again learn, that ignorance of Christ’s office constantly leads men to conceive new grounds of offense. The root of the evil is, that no one examines his own wretched condition, which undoubtedly would arouse every man to seek a remedy.
When and where this passage of story happened does not appear; this evangelist does not observe order of time in his narrative so much as the other evangelists do; but it comes in here, upon occasion of Christ's being reproached as a friend to publicans and sinners, to show that it was only for their good, and to bring them to repentance, that he conversed...
Commenting on Luke 7:36-50
Verse 49. Who is this, &c. A very pertinent question. Who could he be but God? Man could not do it, and there is no wonder that they were amazed. (h) (Who is this that forgiveth sins.)