Read Introduction to Matthew

 

¹ “So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. ²Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.” ³And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!” ⁴But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? ⁵For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? ⁶But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” ⁷And he arose and departed to his house. ⁸Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.”

 

Matthew leaves out details that Mark provides. This gospel puts the spotlight on forgiveness of sins rather than the healing of the paralytic.

9:1

So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city.

Jesus went back over the Sea of Galilee to the eastern shore after His rejection by the Gergesenes. He came to Capernaum (“His own city”) which was his headquarters. He moved there after his encounter with John the Baptist.

9:2

Then behold,

“Behold” indicates an extraordinary event is about to happen.

they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed.

Mark mentions that the crowd was so large that four men from Capernaum had to tear a hole in the roof to let the paralytic down to Jesus’ presence (Mk 2:3-4).

When Jesus saw their faith,

Faith of the paralytic’s friends caused them to bring him to Jesus. They believed Jesus could heal their friend.

He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”

Evidently the paralytic was discouraged because of his sin; Jesus allayed that by assuring him of forgiveness of sin.

9:3

And at once some of the scribes said within themselves,

The “scribes” were the academics of Israel. They were the theologians, jurists, and legislators of the nation.

“This Man blasphemes!”

The scribes muttered among themselves accusing Jesus of blasphemy because he forgave the paralytic his sins. Forgiveness was a divine prerogative.

9:4

But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?

Jesus read their hearts and brought their evil thoughts out into the open.

9:5

For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’?

It is easy to say, “Your sins are forgiven you,” but it is very difficult to heal the paralytic. Jesus connected the right to forgive with the credentials of healing. The lesser proves the greater.

9:6

But that you may know

Jesus accepted the challenge of the scribes; this phrase carries the idea of I will prove to you.

that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”

Jesus demonstrated that He had the authority (“power”) to forgive sins by healing the paralytic. The words “has power [authority]” are emphatic in the Greek.

9:7

And he arose and departed to his house.

The paralytic obeyed Jesus and walked home! What a demonstration and picture to the multitudes!

9:8

Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.

Upon seeing the miracle, the multitudes “marveled.” This word carries of the idea of being filled with awe. When the multitudes saw the paralytic walking among them, they also “glorified God” for the miracle. The crowd marveled and gave God glory for granting such power to the humanity of Christ.

PRINCIPLE:

Forgiveness is the prerogative of the one offended.

APPLICATION:

Jesus’ claim to forgive sins was a claim to deity.

I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins. Is 43:25