Jesus, the Son of God: The One Who Can Forgive Sin
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Scripture Reading (Matthew 8:28-9:8)
Prayer
Review
Introduction
Exegesis (Point 1 8:28-9:1)
28 And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way.
Jesus is now “on the other side” meaning this happened on the other side of the sea of Galilee
This story occurs in the other synoptics but this is the only one that reveals that there are two men.
“So fierce”
29 And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?”
Notice, the demons know who Jesus is
The “Son of God” vs. the “Son of Man”
The Son of Man
20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
Daniel 7 comes to mind
13 “I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
14 And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.
Son of Man is Jesus’ favorite title to give himself.
Simplest meaning is that He is human
Those who know Daniel 7, the meaning is far more complex
The “Son of God”
Simplest = Deity
Together, these two terms help us understand the incarnation
“Before the time”
Before the “end of time” when Jesus will ultimately cast all evil/unclean spirits into the lake of fire
Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters. The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men. And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region. And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city.
I. Jesus is Fully God (8:28-9:1)
I. Jesus is Fully God (8:28-9:1)
Preexistence implied
Authority implied
Exegesis (Point 2 9:2-8)
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.”
How did the Scribes respond?
3 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.”
This was either in their own heads or spoken quietly
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.
Two possible ways of hearing this claim
First, it is easier to say that sins are forgiven because nobody can test it whereas the claim to heal physically is easily observable
Second, it is easier to heal since only God can forgive sin
I think it is both and there is intentional irony
8 When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
The response is astonishment and praise to God
II. Because Jesus is Fully God, He has the Ability to Forgive Sin (9:2-8)
II. Because Jesus is Fully God, He has the Ability to Forgive Sin (9:2-8)