Jesus Power and Authority to Forgive Sin
Jesus Power And Authourity • Sermon • Submitted
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1 Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”
3 At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”
4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” 7 Then the man got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.
The New International Version Chapter 9
Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”
3 At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”
4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” 7 Then the man got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.
Of David.
1 Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
15 The life of mortals is like grass,
they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children—
18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.
19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise the Lord, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
21 Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the Lord, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the Lord, my soul.
The Gospel of Matthew c. The Paralyzed Man (9:1–8)
Other gospel accounts of healing do not mention the forgiveness of sins as if this were a necessary means to physical restoration; it is faith rather than forgiveness which is the normal requisite. We can only speculate as to whether in this case Jesus was aware of what we would call a psychosomatic element in the man’s condition, or whether we should understand Jesus as addressing a separate spiritual problem of which the man’s friends may have been unaware. Sin and disability are linked in this story in that the curing of the latter will be taken as proof of authority to deal with the former, but this does not in itself require us to regard the paralysis as caused by the sin which Jesus forgives, even though many of those present would probably have so understood it.
Mat 9
1 Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”
3 At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”
4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” 7 Then the man got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.
1 Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”
3 At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”
4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” 7 Then the man got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Right at the beginning of Mathews gospel we are told
21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
The New American Commentary: Matthew 3. Paradigmatic Healing (8:1–9:35)
In any event, Matthew’s focus remains Christological. Jesus continues to appear as one with divine authority. Just as Jesus exercised Yahweh’s sovereignty over wind and waves and demonstrated his superiority over Satan’s minions, so now he displays the very authority of God to forgive sins.
Jesus continues to appear as one with divine authority.
Just as Jesus exercised Yahweh’s sovereignty over sickness, wind and waves and demonstrated his superiority over Satan’s minions, so now he displays the very authority of God to forgive sins.
In any event, Matthew’s focus remains Christological. Jesus continues to appear as one with divine authority. Just as Jesus exercised Yahweh’s sovereignty over wind and waves and demonstrated his superiority over Satan’s minions, so now he displays the very authority of God to forgive sins.
A fundamental error that our culture believes- We are all just good people trying our best.
Big Idea - The greatest display of Authority and Power and it is also the most relevant to you and to me.
- “For all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God”
Psalm 14: 1-3 - The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.
They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds;
there is none who does good.
2 The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man,
to see if there are any who understand,
who seek after God.
3 They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt;
there is none who does good,
not even one.
They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds;
there is none who does good.
2 The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man,
to see if there are any who understand,
Big Idea - The greatest display of Authority and Power.
Big Idea - The greatest display of Authority and Power.
who seek after God.
3 They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt;
there is none who does good,
not even one.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
The New International Version Chapter 3
There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Big Idea - The greatest display of Authority and Power and it is also the most relevant to you and to me.
Big Idea - The greatest display of Authority and Power and it is also the most relevant to you and to me.
A fundamental error that our culture believes-
“We are all just good people underneath, trying our best. That we make mistakes. The Culture does not understand the gravity of fallen condition.” or when we mess up our favourite sayings is “we are only human”
Obama - “People must learn to hate, and, if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart.”
Does it? Does it really? Nobody doubts that people can be taught to hate and even to love, but If love comes more “naturally” tho the human heart then why is the world so very broken, and messed up? If love is more natural then why is the world becoming more wicked?
The Bible takes a very different point of view, we have inherited a “sinful nature,” a fallen nature inherited from Adam and Eve, a disposition and proclivity to rebelling against God the source of all love from our very.
The Bible takes a very different point of view, we have inherited a “sinful nature,” a disposition and proclivity to rebelling against love.
- Surly I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me
- “For all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God”
- The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
- We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us turned our on way and the Lord has laid on him the inquity of us all.
For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.
The New International Version Chapter 6
9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men r 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
10 Commandments -
I have to convince you why this is a bigger deal than you realise, we dont understand the offence of Sin. We just dont get it in our culture.
The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Use the Law to convict -
I am the Lord thy God! Thou shalt have no other Gods but me!
Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain! How would you feel if the world to your personal name ans used it as a curse to express disgust, filth, disapproval, shock.
Thou shalt keep the Sabbath Day holy! A day set a side in the week to come and rest with God and join his people in playing and praying to his Glory.
Thou shalt honor father and mother!
Thou shalt not Murder! (Jesus Elevates)
Thou shalt not commit adultery! (Jesus Elevates)
Thou shalt not steal! (How many murders to become a murderer)
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour! Telling Lies, !
Do not let thyself lust after thy neighbor’s wife!
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, nor his farm, nor his cattle, nor anything that is his!
nor his farm, nor his cattle, nor anything that is his!
The Lord’s Prayer
Gods law transcends culture.
13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.
For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.
1 If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? 2 Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? 5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6 But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!
7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. 9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” 17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
1 Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7 I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
8 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
17 Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts. 20 Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
21 Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22 For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. 24 Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
25 Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. 26 Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is. 27 Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife. 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.
29 What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; 30 those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
32 I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. 33 But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife—34 and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.
36 If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married. 37 But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—this man also does the right thing. 38 So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better.
39 A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. 40 In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. 2 Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. 3 But whoever loves God is known by God.
4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.
7 But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.
9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.
1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? 2 Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
3 This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. 4 Don’t we have the right to food and drink? 5 Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? 6 Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living?
7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? 8 Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10 Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?
But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.
13 Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast. 16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.
19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
1 Cor 6-9
1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? 2 Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
3 This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. 4 Don’t we have the right to food and drink? 5 Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? 6 Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living?
7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? 8 Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10 Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?
But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.
13 Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast. 16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.
19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
1 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.
11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.
18 Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? 19 Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons. 22 Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.
25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”
27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. 29 I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
2 I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you. 3 But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. 6 For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.
7 A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9 neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12 For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.
13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 16 If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.
17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.
33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34 Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.
And when I come I will give further directions.
Cor 6:9-11
The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? 2 Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
3 This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. 4 Don’t we have the right to food and drink? 5 Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? 6 Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living?
7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? 8 Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10 Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?
But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.
13 Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast. 16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.
19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
1 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.
11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.
18 Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? 19 Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons. 22 Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.
25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”
27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. 29 I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
2 I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you. 3 But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. 6 For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.
7 A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9 neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12 For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.
13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 16 If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.
17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.
33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34 Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.
And when I come I will give further directions.
9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
The New International Version Chapter 6
9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men r 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
A Dreadful situation
Jesus could Heal, Jesus Could Command the weather. Jesus could confront and overpower the forces of Evil that seek our destruction, But if that was all then so what? You and I, just like like the demons whom Jesus confronted, have sinned against a Holy righteous and perfect and good and loving God who by his very nature and goodness must punish evil. That is a terrible, dreadful situation for us to be in, the implications of our relational disfunction to God are huge and unsettling. Left in our sinful state, and disposition we are not fit for the kingdom of heaven, no less the Holy presense of God, We deserve nothing but Just Judgment from God. We have turned our backs on him, each one his own way.
It means in our sinful state we are not fit for heaven, we are not fit for the the Holy presense of God.
The New International Version Chapter 1
21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, t because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” w (which means “God with us”).
Question Where does authority come from?
A man with that kind of power could destroy us if he wanted to?
Jesus Could Command the weather and defy physics.
The Primary Human Dilema: Not Sickness but Sin
The Primary Human Dilema: Not Sickness but Sin,
Jesus could confront Evil
In affirming this in no way is the bible belittling your sickness disability, poverty or illness, But what it is claiming is that your human condition before God and in a broken world is far worse than you ever realised. (This is bad news)
I have to convince you why this is a bigger deal than you realise, we dont understand the offence of Sin. We just dont get it in our culture. Jesus could HealJesus Could Command the weather and defy physicsJesus could confront EvilBut if he could not forgive you and I our sin so what?
If Jesus is as he claims to be the Son of man of “Daniel,” That is, The one who and yields all the power and authority of God then what does that mean for sinners like you and me? When a criminal breaks the law and a cop shows up with all the power and authority of the Law to arrest and prosecute thats not good news usually.
But if he could not forgive you and I our sin so what?
If Jesus is the Son of man of “Daniel” The one who and yields all the power and authority of God then what does that mean for us.
Lets Consider Authority
Authority has a bad press in much of the world today. For more than a hundred years the word in the popular minds has gone along with nasty ideas of “repression” and human rights abuses”
we often talk in terms of people “abusing their authority” When we think of authorities or authority figures we might think of people only too ready to wield it policemen, Judges with stern faces, ready to send us to prison when we break the law, faceless folks who’s laws and regulations seem designed to make life difficult for ordinary folks. In a fallen world Authority and the power that accompanies it can and often does become corrupted, consequently we become very suspicious the word “authority”
Authourity has a bad press in much of the world today. For more than a hundred years the word in the popular minds has gone along with nasty ideas of “repression” and human rights abuses”
we often talk in terms of people “abusing their authority”
When we think of authorities or authority figures we might think of policemen, Judges with stern faces, ready to send us to prison, faceless folks who laws and regulations which seem designed to make life difficult for ordinary folks.
Authority and Power go hand in hand. Those who yield it often weld great power, but in a broken world Authority and the power that accompanies it can and often does become corrupted and so we often become very suspicious the word authority.
(Lord Acton) "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men."
Jesus has Great Authority
Yet here we see
Yet here we see again that Jesus has Great authority and the ability to do what only God does, If Jesus is as he claims to be the Son of man of “Daniel’s Vision,” That is, The one who and yields all the power and authority of God then what does that mean for sinners like you and me? When a criminal breaks the law and a cop shows up with all the power and authority of the Law to arrest and prosecute thats not good news usually for the criminal.
If Jesus is as he claims to be the Son of man of “Daniel,” That is, The one who and yields all the power and authority of God then what does that mean for sinners like you and me? When a criminal breaks the law and a cop shows up with all the power and authority of the Law to arrest and prosecute thats not good news usually.
What we see in this story is How Jesus chooses to yield his authority,
He uses his power to put sins away, to change a persons life from the inside out, to free them from whatever was gripping them so tightly that they couldn't move.
to put sins away, to change a persons life from the inside out, to free them from whatever was gripping them so tightly that they couldn't move. What is this authority? is it anything like the authorities we know in our world? No, this is an authority that
Alot of People Got upset at Jesus’s Authority, because it undermined their own
This is an authority of a different kind, a compelling power of freedom and love that cares only for the wellbeing and prosperity of the offender and sinner.
Alot of People Got upset at Jesus’s Authority, because it threathend their own,
The Temple
The heart of the Story
Question Where does authority come from?
Jesus Claims to forgive sin “to put them away” as the jews often said, the word forgive means to literally “send away” sending ones sins off into the far beyond where they are forgotten forever.
The Identity of Jesus. This is the purpose more than just what he will do for people
A lot of People got upset at Jesus’s Authority,
but two they thought he was being blasphemous.
They thought he was being blasphemous. They where right in what they affirmed to be true - Only God can forgive. But they were wrong in their conclusions about the identity of Jesus.
Only God can forgive sins
Only God can forgive sins. -
What about you?
What Jesus did for this man in forgiving his sin he will do for anyone who comes to him. For that is why he came into the world, to save his people from their sins, I am not making this up.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
But how is this possible? Because of what the bible calls his atoning death.
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
Rom 5:
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
But Why? Why would Jesus Forgive my sin?
The Primary Human Dilema: Not Sickness but Sin
Because he loves you and desires you to know God.
Because he cares for you and wants to heal you spiritually, and even physically wether it be now or in eternity to come.
Application
Application
Eph2:4-8 - Because God loves mercy over Judgment.
Because of his amazing Grace.
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
The New International Version Chapter 2
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
Application
Application
But Why does God allow so much suffering?
Its not because he doesn't love you (He gave his son for you)
All Power and Authou
Its not because he doesn’t understand, Jesus understood suffering he was a man of sorrows aquatinted with grief and pain and sorrow. “ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” ( 15-16)
Do you believe in the authority of Jesus today to forgive Sins
But if God ends the world tomorrow and stops all suffering are you ready for heaven, have you been forgiven your sins and reconciled to him, because when he returns he is coming with all the power and authority of God with the heavenly angels to wield his authority and power in righteous judgement of the living and the dead.
The Identity of Jesus. This is the purpose more than just what he will do for people
LANDING -
LANDING -
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Challenge?
Because of Sin?
Do you need Jesus, do you need Gods forgiveness. Begins with a prayer. I will help you through it.
Aslan -
Maybe your afraid to meet someone with that kind of authority in the light of your sin. He is good.
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Math 11:28
The message here is that Jesus is Lord over the world of sin as well as sickness. The kingdom of God has broken into the world, and every aspect of the realm of evil—sin as well as sickness—must be removed. It is important to note that Jesus uses the divine passive “are forgiven” (ἀφίενται), which means “God has forgiven your sins.” Yet Jesus is clearly more than the divine agent proclaiming forgiveness, for in v. he claims for himself the authority to forgive. Probably he includes himself as Son of God in the divine passive.
Grant R. Osborne, Matthew, vol. 1, Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2010), 327.
France, R. T. (2007). The Gospel of Matthew (p. 345). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publication Co.
If the healings done by Jesus presuppose the invasion of the kingdom of God into the realm of suffering caused by evil (as can most graphically be seen in the demon exorcism of the preceding passage), then the healing of diseases is only a part of a much larger picture, wherein sin itself, and not just its symptoms, is dealt a final blow. The primary mission of Jesus is the overcoming of sin through the cross (cf. ; ; ); the healings are only a secondary indication of that fact. This connection, indeed, has already been seen in the citation of in . In the sin-bearer is also the disease-curer; and the same connection is made quite explicit in , “who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases” (cf. ; ; ; ).
Son of Man
Donald A. Hagner, Matthew 1–13, vol. 33A, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1998), 232.
1. The Primary Human Dilemma: Not Sickness but Sin
Authourity
Sin is the origin of all sickness and suffering. Here we are at the heart of the human equation and the basic question in all God-talk: How can a loving, all-powerful God allow the innocent to suffer? In an ultimate sense, there are no innocents. It is clear in Scripture that we are all conceived and born in sin (). We have inherited our sin condition from Adam (), and we therefore live in a sin-sick world. In fact, all creation “groans” with us, longing to be released from what we have brought upon God’s creation (). Thus, when tsunamis, mudslides, avalanches, plane crashes, and the like happen, we cannot help but ask, “Where is God?”
The Gospel of Matthew c. The Paralyzed Man (9:1–8)
authority” we should probably understand their response as triggered not so much by the miracle itself as by the claim to have authority to forgive sins which the miracle has now demonstrated to be valid
Yet we must also realize that we have brought such things on ourselves. Through our trespass sickness and death have entered this world, and we must live with the consequences. It is not God; we have brought it on ourselves! Yet at the same time, the kingdom of God has entered this world through Christ, and the solution is in process of being realized. God is sovereign over these tragedies, and through the Spirit’s intercession “in all things God works for the good” of God’s people, even in tragedies ().
Fear (see p. 333, n. 19) is not the usual reaction to a healing miracle in this gospel, and since the explanation is in terms of “authority” we should probably understand their response as triggered not so much by the miracle itself as by the claim to have authority to forgive sins which the miracle has now demonstrated to be valid.
Grant R. Osborne, Matthew, vol. 1, Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2010), 330.
France, R. T. (2007). The Gospel of Matthew (p. 348). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publication Co
2. The Cross as the Final Solution
It is common in many circles to highlight the individual aspects of what Christ has done, as in his many miracles for individuals. For many the presence of miracles is the highest good in our day as well Yet it is clear here that forgiveness precedes healing, and the cross is the greatest miracle of all! There is a corporate dimension to the Christian experience, and in the cross we are all brought together in Christ. This does not denigrate the value of supernatural miracles, for God is still at work today But spiritual healing is the greatest miracle of all.
Grant R. Osborne, Matthew, vol. 1, Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2010), 330.
3. Expecting Opposition When Proclaiming Truth
Grant R. Osborne, Matthew, vol. 1, Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2010), 330.
Blasphemy/ opposition
Blasphemy/ opposition
This is the first mention of opposition to Jesus, which will be a recurrent theme. It derives from the scribes, now seen (unlike ) in their typical role as representatives of the official religion which necessarily reacted against the radical claims of Jesus. How Jesus is blaspheming need not be stated (as it is in ): Jewish religion of the time had no room for a personal declaration of forgiveness, still less for this to be uttered by a mere man, on his own authority.
R. T. France, Matthew: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 1, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 169.
blaspheming. Simply declaring a person’s sins forgiven would not have meant one was blaspheming. Priests did it regularly. But making such a declaration while bypassing the temple authorities and the biblical requirements for animal sacrifices was something only God could do.
Having heard this statement forgiving the paralytic of his sins, some of the scribes said οὗτος βλασφημεῖ, “this man is blaspheming.” The basic meaning of blasphemy in Judaism is to revile the very name of God (Str-B 1:1019–20). By extension this comes to refer to any pretense to be or do what only God can be or do, as in the present passage (cf. ; ). The rabbis believed that only God could forgive sins (Str-B on ). The rhetorical question that follows in Mark () defines the sense in which blasphemy is understood here: “Who is able to forgive sins but God alone?” Although Matthew omits this statement, his simple statement “this man is blaspheming” contains the same unavoidable implication. The scribes, as professional Torah scholars, would have been especially sensitive to the assumption of God’s prerogative. Although the scribes said this ἐν ἑαυτοῖς, “to themselves,” perhaps not yet feeling prepared to launch a public attack against Jesus, he supernaturally discerns their thinking (“seeing their thoughts”; cf. ; ) and in his rhetorical questions (v ) faults them for thinking “evil things” (πονηρά) in their hearts
Donald A. Hagner, Matthew 1–13, vol. 33A, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1998), 233.
D. A. Carson, “The Gospels and Acts,” in NIV Zondervan Study Bible: Built on the Truth of Scripture and Centered on the Gospel Message, ed. D. A. Carson (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2015), 1947.
This Man blasphemes! This would be a true judgment about anyone but God incarnate, for only the One who has been sinned against has the prerogative to forgive. Jesus’ words to the man were therefore an unequivocal claim of divine authority.
John MacArthur Jr., ed., The MacArthur Study Bible, electronic ed. (Nashville, TN: Word Pub., 1997), 1407.
The message here is that Jesus is Lord over the world of sin as well as sickness. The kingdom of God has broken into the world, and every aspect of the realm of evil—sin as well as sickness—must be removed. It is important to note that Jesus uses the divine passive “are forgiven” (ἀφίενται), which means “God has forgiven your sins.” Yet Jesus is clearly more than the divine agent proclaiming forgiveness, for in v. he claims for himself the authority to forgive. Probably he includes himself as Son of God in the divine passive.
Grant R. Osborne, Matthew, vol. 1, Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2010), 327.
Easier (Authority)
Easier (Authority)
easier. It is far easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven” than “Get up and walk” because the first of these commands cannot be disproved as easily. So to show that Jesus has the authority to make the easier claim, he demonstrates his miracle-working power that vindicates the harder claim.
D. A. Carson, “The Gospels and Acts,” in NIV Zondervan Study Bible: Built on the Truth of Scripture and Centered on the Gospel Message, ed. D. A. Carson (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2015), 1947.
which is easier. It is certainly easier to claim the power to pronounce absolution from sin than to demonstrate the power to heal. Christ actually proved His power to forgive by instantly healing the man of his paralysis. If He could do the apparently harder, He could also do what seemed easier. The actual forgiving of the sins was in reality the more difficult task, however, because it ultimately required Him to sacrifice His life.
John MacArthur Jr., ed., The MacArthur Study Bible, electronic ed. (Nashville, TN: Word Pub., 1997), 1407.
. The command to the paralytic in fact proves more than that his sins are forgiven; it indicates the authority of the forgiver. For the Son of man see pp. 46–48. Here, as in , it makes nonsense in context to take it as meaning ‘man’ in general; Jesus is not claiming that anyone can pronounce forgiveness (nor would his act of healing in any way indicate that), but that he himself has this special authority. The term ‘Son of man’ could not by itself convey this, even if it were understood to have a Messianic connotation, for Jewish expectation did not include forgiveness among the Messiah’s functions. It was rather a part of God’s eschatological blessings (e.g. ; ; ). Yet here on earth Jesus is claiming this authority: cf. ; for forgiveness ‘on earth’ as an extension of the authority of God ‘in heaven’. Jesus therefore brings on earth the authority of God (cf. for this idea of ‘realized eschatology’).
R. T. France, Matthew: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 1, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 170.
The emphasis is again on his authority, seen in his teaching (), his power over illnesses as varied as ‘leprosy’, paralysis and fever (), his demand for undivided allegiance (), his control over natural forces (), over supernatural powers (), and now his right to pronounce God’s forgiveness. In all these Jesus stands out as different from other men
R. T. France, Matthew: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 1, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 170.
Since any charlatan can claim to forgive the sins of another, Jesus decides to demonstrate the unseen by means of the seen. It is, of course, easier to say “your sins are forgiven,” something that cannot be seen, than to say “rise and walk,” which would entail a miraculous healing plain for all either to see or not to see.
Donald A. Hagner, Matthew 1–13, vol. 33A, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1998), 233.
Jesus is not arguing that it is not God’s prerogative to forgive sins, but rather than he himself, uniquely, shares it. The Son of Man, who according to will be enthroned in heaven to share God’s sovereignty over all peoples, is already during his earthly ministry (hence the addition of “on earth,” in distinction from his future heavenly sovereignty) authorized to dispense God’s forgiveness. The forgiveness of sins as such was not, of course, a part of Daniel’s vision of the authority of the Son of Man. Jesus is not expounding , but boldly extrapolating from that vision to make a claim for his present status, as he will do again in .
R. T. France, The Gospel of Matthew, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publication Co., 2007), 347.
Knowing thier Thoughts
Knowing thier Thoughts
knowing their thoughts. Cf. ; . Though the Lord Jesus humbled Himself () and set aside the independent use of His divine prerogatives in incarnation (), He was still fully God and, therefore, omniscient. See ; .
John MacArthur Jr., ed., The MacArthur Study Bible, electronic ed. (Nashville, TN: Word Pub., 1997), 1407.
His Condition
His Condition
paralytic. Jesus had already cured paralysis (; ), and these people had no doubt heard of his miraculous powers. Your sins are forgiven implies that in this case sin and sickness are related but also that, of the two, sin is the more fundamental problem. Though individual sin is not always the direct cause of a person’s disease or illness (), ultimately all corruption and death result from the entrance of sin into the world (see ; ).
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1837.
I would excersise some caution in assuming this mans condition is accocaited with his personal Sin. All sickness is a consequence of living in a fallen world. Sin Has consequence, But personally I think commentators are mistaken to assisicate sin with sickness in this individual.
Sickness and sin were closely linked in antiquity. tells us that when sin entered the world, death accompanied it, and all sickness is in one sense related to sin (cf. also ; , ; ). In other words, sin was the generating force for sickness and death.
Grant R. Osborne, Matthew, vol. 1, Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2010), 327.
Result
Result
They Dont get it ! Even though the Demon in the Previous passage do get it"
The onlookers do not necessarily draw the correct conclusions about Jesus’ identity, concluding only that God had given remarkable “authority to man.”
D. A. Carson, “The Gospels and Acts,” in NIV Zondervan Study Bible: Built on the Truth of Scripture and Centered on the Gospel Message, ed. D. A. Carson (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2015), 1947.
The mixture of fear and praise in the crowd’s response corresponds to the awesome truth they perceived about Jesus. He is indeed the Son of God who has authority on earth to forgive sins (). • for sending a man with such great authority: Literally for giving such authority to human beings.
New Living Translation Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008), Mt 9:8.
The crowds are “awestruck” when they “see” (temporal participle) Jesus’ authority in word and deed. While “fear” is a common feature of theophanies, it is more likely that the feeling they experience is more one of awe, as seen in their “glorifying” God in the next phrase. φοβέω and cognates cover a range of feelings from “terror” to “reverence,” and “awe” seems to be the concept that catches all aspects best. The crowds recognize the divinely given authority Christ possesses and are filled with awe, thus glorifying the God who “had given such authority.”
Grant R. Osborne, Matthew, vol. 1, Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2010), 329.
Challenge Aplication
Challenge Aplication
Church
What do we see as the greatest need of those around, is the forgivness of Sins.
We provide food banks and Cafes but our primary task is Always the preaching of the forgivnesss of Sins in Jesus name.
Personal
What do I believe is my greatest need.