Matthew 9:1-8
Chapter 9
1
He Heals a Paralytic
Jesus got back into the boat, crossed the lake again, and arrived in his hometown.2
Here, they brought a paralyzed man lying on a bed to him. Jesus saw their faith and said to the paralytic:
“Courage, my son! Your sins are forgiven.”
3
Some teachers of the law thought to themselves:
“This man insults God.”
4
Jesus was aware of what they were thinking and said:
“Why do you have such evil thoughts?
5
Which is easier to say: ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or ‘Stand up and walk’?
6
But that you may know that the Son of Man has the power on earth to forgive sins,” he said to the paralyzed man:
“Stand up! Take your stretcher and go home!”
7
The man got up and went home.
8
When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe and praised God for granting humans such power.
Commentaries
He Heals a Paralytic.
The Jewish mindset linked illness with sin; the disciples themselves believed that sickness or misfortune were caused by some fault, either their own or someone else’s (cf. Jn 9:1f). Jesus shows that he has received the power to heal, but more importantly, the power to forgive—a divine attribute—covering his entire mission of liberation and addressing the core of the human condition in need of salvation. The healing of the paralytic publicly affirms his authority, much to the scandal of the scribes.