Matthew 9:1-8 Getting into a boat, Jesus crossed over the sea and came to His own city. And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, ‘Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.’ And some of the scribes said to themselves, ‘This fellow blasphemes.’ And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, ‘Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.’ Then He said to the paralytic, ‘Get up, pick up your bed and go home. And he got up and went home. But when the crowds saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
It is noteworthy first to point out that this account also appears in Mark 2:1-12 and Luke 5:17-26, where additional details are given. Specifically, one detail Matthew omits is cutting a hole in the roof to let the paralytic down into the house where Jesus is. Each account seems to have its own emphasis.
Matthew’s omission of details places the emphasis on sin. Throughout this account, sin is a central theme – the guilt of the paralytic, the guilt of the scribes, and the forgiveness offered by Christ.
The added detail of cutting a hole in the roof leads to an emphasis on faith. While such an emphasis is not wrong (we need faith to receive forgiveness of sin), the focus on sin is at risk of being overlooked.
In his commentary on these verses, Alexander MacLaren writes, “Many voices proclaim many gospels today. Culture, economical or social reconstruction is trumpeted as the panacea. But it matters comparatively little how society is organised. If its individual members retain their former natures, the former evils will come back, whatever its organisation. The only thorough cure for social evils is individual regeneration. Christ deals with men singly, and remoulds society by renewing the individual.”
While sin is emphasized, the key lesson is forgiveness. The forgiveness of Christ brings with it freedom from the bondage of sin. While the paralytic was healed both from the guilt of sin and the physical pain, we all know plenty of people who have only been forgiven. These verses are not a promise of physical healing. However, Jesus here ties the two together.
The account ends with Jesus revealing that He can forgive sin because he was sent by God and is our Messiah. The crying need of our day remains healing from the guilt of sin through the forgiveness of Christ.
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