“1 And after getting into a boat he crossed the sea and came to his own town. 2 And some people were carrying to him a paralyzed man lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, child; your sins are forgiven.” 3 Then some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” 4 But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’? 6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Stand up, take your bed, and go to your home.” 7 And he stood up and went to his home. 8 When the crowds saw it, they were filled with awe, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings” Matthew 9:1-8.
Now Jesus has cured many people but He uses this opportunity to point to an even deeper kind of paralysis that He wants to cure: sin. In the bible sometime sickness is punishment for sin (Deut. 28:21–35; 2 Chron. 26:16–21; Ps. 38:2–18), but not always. Many righteous people suffer from sickness as well. But here Jesus sees more than physical sickness. There is an interior, spiritual paralysis that Jesus wants to heal. This is why He says to the paralyzed man: your sins are forgiven (9:2).
The scribes object because only God can forgive sins — and only through the temple system with animal sacrifice. So here Jesus is putting Himself on par with God and forgives this man’s sins. This is why Jesus is accused of blaspheming!
But Jesus does have the authority to forgive sins, and since such an action by Jesus is a spiritual work, there is no way anyone can prove that this pain’s sins are forgiven. So Jesus forgives this many by physically healing him.
So today in your prayer today, examine your heart before the Lord and ask the Lord to forgive you. Pray for His grace of forgiveness and pray for His grace to sin no more.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
From the Bible:
“Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more’”
John 8:11.
“Jesus said, ‘Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you’” John 5:14.
“Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness”
1 John 3:4.
“Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin” John 8:34.
“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” 1 John 2:1.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” John 3:16.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” 1 John 1:9.
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