Matthew shared how the people of the city where the demon possessed men were delivered by Jesus both “met” Jesus and “asked him to leave their coasts”, and afterward, “he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; your sins be forgiven you.” Matthew continued, “And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemes. And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think you evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Your sins be forgiven you; or to say, Arise, and walk?”, and in chapter nine and verse six of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus proved to the scribes how, “the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins” where we read:
But that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins,
(then said he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up your bed, and go unto your house.
The verse reads, “But that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins, ...” Matthew began with the word, “but” or “moreover and nevertheless” “that you may know” which means “so the scribes would perceive, observe, notice, discern and discover” “that the Son of man” which refers to “since and because the offspring, posterity and the title used by Christ himself doubtless in order that he might intimate his Messiahship and also that he might designate himself as the head of the human family, the man, the one who both furnished the pattern of the perfect man and acted on behalf of all mankind” “has power” which means “holds, owns and possesses the power of choice, liberty to do as He pleases and is equipped with the ability both physically and mentally” “on earth” or “upon the arable land, country, region and territory” “to forgive sins” which means “to disregard, leave, cause to depart and let go of the debt of errors, mistakes missing of the marks and wandering from the law of God”. Matthew shared how Jesus was to prove to the “scribes” who were examining Him that He was able to “forgive sins” as He made a proclamation to the man who was “sick of the palsy”.
The verse goes on to say, “... (then said he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up your bed, and go unto your house.” Matthew continued with the words, “then said he” or “at that time and moment Jesus uttered, declared and proclaimed” “to the sick of the palsy” which means “ paralytic suffering from the relaxing of the nerves of one's side, disabled and weak of limb”, “Arise” or “arouse and raise up” “take up your bed” which means “lift up and carry off the man's small couch”, “and go” or “and withdraw yourself or depart” “unto your house” which refers to “the man who was sick of the palsy's dwelling place, abode and habitation. Matthew shared how Jesus told the man who was “sick of the palsy” to rise up, carry his “bed” and go to his own house.
When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we can imagine the power within Jesus' voice as He instructed this man to get up, take up his bed and depart to his house. Jesus previously made the statement that this man's spiritual need for “forgiveness of sins” was accomplished, and now He was going to prove that He could also care for this man's physical need. When we remember that God spoke the world into existence, it is easy to realize He is quite capable of curing a man who was “sick of the palsy”. God desires for everyone to know Him through a relationship with His Son Jesus, and those who are wise shall not only consider how Jesus spoke a word of healing to this man “physically”, but also realize His power to “forgive sins” which shall have an everlasting effect upon him.
Next time Matthew shares how Jesus, “arose, and departed to his house”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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