'(1) He entered a boat, made the crossing, and came into his own town. (2) And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.” (3) At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” (4) Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, “Why do you harbor evil thoughts? (5) Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? (6) But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic, “Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” (7) He rose and went home. (8) When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to human beings (Mt. 9:1-8).’
This story is also found in Mark 2: 1-12. Jesus had gained a reputation for healing, so a large crowd of people gathered to see him. The ancient Jewish belief was that illness was the result of sin. Jesus demonstrated he had not only the power to cure the effects of sin (illness) but also the power to cure the cause of the sin. Jesus cures the body of disease and the spirit of sin.
The Scribes understood that only God had the power to forgive sins because sins are committed against God and God alone; “It is I, I, who wipe out, for my own sake, your offenses; your sins I remember no more. I have brushed away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like a mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you (Is. 43:25, 44:22).” So, Jesus had to be blaspheming because they knew his origins and he was born of a woman and could not be God. It was the charge of blasphemy that ultimately got Jesus crucified. Jesus stressed the importance of faith (v. 2) for healing and salvation (Lk. 7:49-50). It was the active faith of the men that brought the paralytic to Jesus that allowed him to be cured. Jesus showed that he possessed divine power to forgive sins by choosing the harder task of healing the paralytic in view of everyone and the crowd acknowledged His divine power.
Almighty God, through the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ you freed mankind from the paralysis of sin and put before him the feast of this worldly life that leads to spiritual death and the austerity of spiritual life that leads to eternal life. Send down the Holy Spirit to strengthen us in our moments of weakness so that the teachings of Jesus may always be reflected in our words and deeds. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
References:
Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, & Roland E. Murphy, (Eds.). (1990, 1968). The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentis Hall, Inc.
Jose M. Casciaro, Santiago Ausin, Gonzalo Aranda, Claudio Basevi, Vincente Balaguer, Francisco Varo, James Gavigan, Brian McCarthy & Thomas McGovern (Eds.). (2017). The Navarre Bible - The Pentateuch. Dublin 8, Ireland: Four Courts Press.
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