#1248 Matthew 9 Part 1 The Greater Gift

 

And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. 2 And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” 3 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” 4 But Jesus, knowing 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, ‘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 bed and go home.” 7 And he rose and went home. 8 When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men. Matthew 9: 1-8 ESV

Matthew 9: 1-8 Authority to forgive sin.

And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. Mark 2: 1-4

Some people brought to Him a paralytic - So we see in Matthew that some people brought him, and in Mark that their were 4 men carrying this paralytic, who was on a bed. We also see that Jesus had returned to Capernaum, which is not far from Nazareth, but since a prophet is without honor in his home town, He is probably staying in Capernaum, possibly in Peter's home, where he healed his mother in law. Matthew does not mention that it was 4 but in Mark 2 and Luke 5 we receive some more information. This is remarkable faith, undeterred faith, and I would that I had one friend like this in the world, but this fellow has 4. There was no room for them to enter the house, the meeting was packed, Jesus was preaching, and people knew about His power to heal. There are many in attendance, including scribes and Pharisees, but there is no access for this man on a bed, so they should just give up and move off to the side, maybe hope that Jesus will pass that way later, or that this a sign that they should go home because it's just not meant to be. Talk about buddies though, they carry him on his bed, up to the roof, remove the tiles from over Jesus's head while He is preaching, and then they lower their friend down to the Master. 

…16Rejoice at all times. 17Pray without ceasing. 18Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.… 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

…8The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.… Galatians 6: 8-10

Take heart My son, your sins are forgiven - This is one of the most incredible statements in the story. Let me explain, death, sickness, harsh toil, all these things entered the world through sin, and we know of nothing else now, no other system or reality, just entropy, everything dies, even the universe is dying. We fret over global warming now, cows farting, but we have evidence from archeological sites, of large and great civilizations that existed in places that could now no longer support such large groups of people, due to climate change there. This has been going on for a long time, thousands of years before men ever drilled for oil. There is a much bigger problem that Jesus addresses here, and He goes right to the root. People there, and people in our day still, often don't care of the plight of others, or like Job's friends, many of the Pharisees and Sadducees, they believe that people are suffering this way because they have some greater sin. Look at what the disciple's asked Jesus in another instance.

…2and His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God would be displayed in him. 4While it is daytime, we must do the works of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work.… John 9: 2-4

So this paralytic is carrying not only his disease, and all the pain that comes with it, but also the cultural stigma of being a "worse sort of sinner." Jesus has defined sin as an issue of the heart, that as a man thinks, so shall he be, what goes on inside your mind is who you really are. If you look at a woman to lust then you are an adulterer, so there is nobody here in this scene without sin, except Jesus, and here is the controversy, He forgives his sin. I have a friend, and he tries to relate to me, he likes some of the ideologies associated with Christianity, so he tells me he tries to "practice" some of the things he hears us talk about. He admires honesty, loving your crew, doing nice things for others, having a code to live by, but I am trying to explain to him that that is not the gospel. What Jesus addresses is the gospel, He goes to the higher priority, this man is suffering from something far worse than palsy, and the healthiest person there is still going to die. Jesus's preaching exposes, diagnoses the real disease, sin, and if he did nothing else for that man, forgiving his sin was the greater gift, it bore eternal implications. Now take a macro view of this as well, for it has to be seen in light of the cross, every OT saint, every person that Jesus forgives before His atoning, redemptive work on the cross, is on the promise of the cross. This is why Satan doesn't want Christ to fulfill His mission, why He tried to tempt Him, but Jesus showed the power to resist the present ruler of this darkness, and when He speaks we saw the devil's minions had no recourse but to flee and drown some pigs. We know from our google earth satellite view, miles above the earth, reading in both the Old and New Testament, that all of life hangs on this One individual, the promise of His coming, and of His dying in my place. We know that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. We know that God is eternal and infinitely opposed to sin, and we also know that Messiah would have to come to restore, to redeem fallen humanity. Christianity is not about a 12 step program, losing weight, being a better you, but rather it is about brokenness over sin, and coming to God for forgiveness through Christ Jesus. 

…12And so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. 13All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14Now those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own.… Hebrews 11: 12-14

This man is blaspheming - This is the accusation of the scribes, those who study the law, and Luke gives us their reasoning in chapter 5: 

21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? Luke 5: 21-23

Every sin is against God, and He is eternally holy and just, so the scribes are technically right, only God can forgive a man's sins like this, but they are wrong, in that they don't know Who Jesus is.

Why do you think evil in your hearts - Why automatically assume that He is a blasphemer, pretending to be God? What has He done and said before you? He has shown many great signs and wonders, every miracle revealing Who He is. Power over disease, able to resist Satan, power over nature, and power over demons. He has a pretty good resume, but my guess is that you don't like what He says, it doesn't fit with your delusional works based religion. 

But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins - He had already extended the greater gift, forgiving the man's sins, an immeasurable gift. Now, He is going to support His right and authority in this by way of the lesser gift, being healed in a temporary world. That would have been a struggle in my mind when I was young, I even denied Christ in my youth, angry about having epilepsy, angry about losing friends, but those were very temporary circumstances, not even measurable against eternity. 

Rise, pick up your bed and go home - This is a man who had to be carried here, and so Jesus gives him, not only the ability to stand up, but also the strength to carry his own bed. I would love to have been a fly on the wall at that house. Imagine the entrance, your parent, or brother, or husband, or son, that had all these years been laden with such a burden, crippled, now standing at the door carrying the bed that four others had carried him upon. There may have been some weak knees, some passing out, many a tear, but you know what's best of all, the One Who did this, He also forgave me, I'm forgiven. That is the gospel.

They glorified God - As it should be, we should always do everything with a view to His glory. Those that go about pretending to heal today, they want glory, they want what doesn't belong to them, and they want the praises and riches of men. They need to be forgiven, but that is a small thing to them, like Job's friends they equate wealth with righteousness. 

…16For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You take no pleasure in burnt offerings. 17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. 18In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem.… Psalm 51: 16-18