Matthew 9:1-8
¹Getting into a boat, Jesus crossed over the sea and came to His own city.
²And 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.” ³And some of the scribes said to themselves, “This fellow blasphemes.”
⁴And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, “Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? ⁵Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk’?
⁶But 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.” ⁷And he got up and went home.
⁸But when the crowds saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
Devotional
Jesus heals a paralytic, as a sign and proof of the redemption of sinners.
Jesus’ work on earth:
- is according to God’s command,
- serves the good of the people
- and glorifies God (Matthew 9:8).
It shows ignorance and unwillingness that scribes, who should have known better, think that Jesus is blaspheming God. ‘That man pretends to be God Himself by thinking that he can forgive sins!’ (Matthew 9:2,3).
A greater contrast cannot be imagined.
Jesus exposes this as evil thoughts (Matthew 9:4).
One who is unspiritual, who has not changed, refuses what comes from the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:14).
We see an ascending line in Matthew’s account of Jesus’ miracles.
What does Jesus do?
- He heals the sick,
- drives out evil spirits,
- silences natural disasters and …
- forgives sins.
The latter is the core of salvation.
Without it, everything else is incomplete and cannot stand.
In general, sickness is the result of sin.
If there were no sins, there would be no wounds.
Sometimes sin is the special cause of a disease (cf. John 5:14).
Personal guilt can then stand in the way of healing. But sin doesn’t have to be a wall need in this passage.
Perhaps this man had a greater need for forgiveness than for healing.
In any case, everyone needs forgiveness more!
Also as the basis of healing.
God alone can forgive sins, so that it is valid and effective.
And especially for this purpose Jesus came (1 John 4:9,10)!
When He forgives sins, that is a sign that He shares in that power and authority of the Lord.
What is happening here, is another step in the revelation of Who Jesus is.
Whoever accepts what He says, will experience forgiveness as the greatest benefit of this time and gain a deep knowledge of Him.
In our view, letting a paralytic walk is more difficult than forgiving sins, for the result must be visible to us.
Therefore, Jesus heals this man, as a visible confirmation that He can forgive sins (Matthew 9:5-7).
The crowds are amazed and glorify God, who gives ‘men’ such power (Matthew 9:8).
They must come to worship the true man: the Son of Man, Jesus (Matthew 9:6; Daniel 7:13,14).
Question
- If you feel paralyzed, powerless in the battle against sin, what should you do? (Compare Acts 4:12.)
Prayer Suggestion
- Ask God to teach you to put one need first and give Him only the glory.
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