Part 31 | Jesus Heals & Forgives a Paralytic

Matthew 9:1-8

Matthew 9:1–8 ESV

And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. 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.” And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 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.” And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

Intro

· Importance of Repeated Word

· ‘Authority used twice in short passage (v. 6 & 8)

· Authority of Jesus = key theme in Matthew

Review

· Chapters 5-7 – Jesus’ Authority to teach

7:28, 29 “And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.”

· 8:1-14 – Jesus’ Authority Over Sickness

· 8:23-27 – Jesus’ Authority Over the Natural Realm

· 8:28-34 – Jesus’ Authority Over the Spiritual Realm

Differing Views of Authority

1) Positive: loving parents, wonderful boss

2) Negative: abusive parents, demeaning boss | Overreaching government | Hitler or Stalin

If you have a negative view of authority, you may be reluctant to trust the authority of Jesus.

· Today’s text = crescendo of Jesus’ authority | Uses authority to heal and deliver (not to crush)

· He came to use His authority to meet humanity’s greatest need: forgiveness of sin.

Main Points: Two Responses to Jesus’ Authority

I. Paralytic and His Friends

Matthew 9:1–2 (ESV)

And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. 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.”

A) Story

· Matthew gives condensed version (Mark & Luke Give Detail)

o Jesus is in Capernaum (Adopted City)

o Teaching in Home (Packed Out)

o 4 Friends lower paralytic through roof

B) Three Questions Raised by first two verses

i. Why Did Jesus the Paralytics Sins Forgive when the Man Came for Healing?

· Verse 6: Jesus showed, so that they may know that Jesus has the authority to forgive.

· Priority on the forgiveness of Sin

· Matthew 1:21

Matthew 1:21 (ESV)

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

· (Pause) This doesn’t mean that Jesus doesn’t care about our bodies. (physical bodies aren’t bad)

· Physical healing means little if a person is not forgiven.

ii. Why did God allow this man to be sick in the first place?

(a) Popular belief in ancient Judaism that all sickness was the result of a particular sin (& sometimes this is the case).

· OT (Numbers 12) – Miriam (Moses’ Sister)

· NT (Acts 5) Ananias & Sapphira | & 1 Cor. 11

Though sickness is sometimes the result of a particular sin, it is certainly NOT always the case.

· OT – Story of Job

· NT – John 9:1-3

John 9:1–3 ESV

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.

I don’t know why the man was paralyzed. We can’t it was because of a certain sin. Here is what I do know:

(b) It is often in peoples’ greatest hardships that they realize their need for Jesus.

· Crises in marriage… finances… health…

What you thought was a burden turned out to be a blessing, because it drove you to the feet of Jesus.

iii. Why did Jesus offer forgiveness to a man who didn’t repent?

· The Bible knows nothing of salvation without repentance.

Acts 2:38 (ESV)

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

How then could Jesus offer forgiveness if that paralytic didn’t repent?

a) He knows the paralytic’s heart (2b)

b) Jesus SEES his faith

V. 2b …And when Jesus saw their faith…

How do you know you have true, saving faith?

· Not by what you say

· Not by what you think

· By your actions

(This is not salvation by works)

· Tim Keller – Jesus is aggressive with His grace

How Did the Paralytic and His Friends respond to Jesus Authority? Joyfully. They saw His authority as liberating.

II. The Scribes (Read verses 3, 4.)

(A) The Truth of The Scribes Statement

· When the Scribes say, “only God can forgive sins” they are correct.

How Can Jesus then forgive sins?

(i) Jesus is Divine

· Only God can control the wind and the waves

· Only God has absolute authority over spiritual evil.

· He can declare someone forgiven because he is part of the Godhead.

(ii.) What About the Justice of God: (No forgiveness of sin without the shedding of blood)

Hebrews 9:22 ESV

Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

· God instituted a sacrificial system for the forgiveness of sins in the OT

· If a person sinned, they would have to bring (or purchase) and animal to be sacrificed in the temple.

The paralytic brings no sacrifice. And yet, Jesus declares him forgiven.

John 1:29 (ESV)

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

· The man didn’t need a sacrifice, because Jesus would be the perfect sacrifice.

What can wash away my sins?...

What can make me whole again…

O’ precious is the flow that makes me white as snow! No other name I know…

B) Why Does Jesus Accuse the Scribes of Having Thinking Wicked Thoughts?

· They know the Scriptures, but they miss their point. They all point to Jesus!

· Matthew 5:17

Matthew 5:17 (ESV)

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

· The Scribes have witnessed the miracles of Jesus.

· They have heard of His calming of the seas and his casting out demons.

· The OT Scriptures told of the coming Messiah.

· Sacrificial System pointed to Jesus Sacrifice

· Israel’s Messiah had finally come, and those most trained in the OT Scriptures missed it.

· It is possible to know about God, but actually not know Him. Christianity is about KNOWING HIM…

· Our sin separates from God; Jesus came to bring us forgiveness, that we might know the Father.

Closing

A) How Have You Responded to Jesus Authority?

· Have you been like the Scribes and rejected it?

· Have you been like the paralytic and submitted to it?

· Submitting to someone’s authority can be vulnerable.

o Jesus’ authority won’t crush you.

o It will heal you.

o It will liberate you.

o It will bring you near to God.

B) We All Need Forgiveness & Cleansing

Macbeth

· In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Lady Macbeth is ridden with guilt because of her part in persuading Macbeth to kill the king.

· She has insomnia but when she finally goes to sleep, she sleepwalks and hallucinates.

· She sees blood on her hands, a stain that can’t be removed.

· In madness, she cries “Out you spot!”

· She can smell the blood. She exclaims, “All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand".

The truth is that we all have a stain that we can’t get out.

A counselor can’t remove the stain. Good works can’t remove the stain. Religion can’t remove the stain.

· But through Jesus own blood, the stain can be removed.

· That happens when we humbly repent and turn in faith to the Lord Jesus.

· He has the authority to remove the stain of sin, to free us from guilt, and to set us free.