Please turn in me with your Bibles to Matthew 9, verses 1-8.
!
At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves,
This fellow is blaspheming.
Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said,
Which is easier, to say,
Your sins are forgiven, or to say,
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.
Then the man got up and went home.
When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe,
and they praised God who had given such authority to man.
This is God's Word.
Let me pray quickly.
Dear Lord, bless us today with your Word and the lessons from it.
Bless me to preach,
and help us all to receive in our hearts the wisdom
which we have read.
To bring us up to speed,
so far in this series,
we have seen the authoritative power of the Messiah
and his kingdom power demonstrated.
Jesus has shown himself to be the Messiah in word,
through his teachings,
and by performing many miracles.
Now, a new stage unfolds.
He proves he is the Messiah in action,
demonstrating power over all Satan's strongholds.
This shows the kingdom of God has truly arrived,
and highlights Jesus' unique authority to forgive sins.
Following these demonstrations,
Jesus stepped into a boat,
crossed over,
and came to his own town.
Once again,
Christ passes over the water
on his messianic,
kingdom-hearkening mission,
arriving in his own town,
likely Capernaum.
Upon his arrival,
there's a hustle and bustle.
A familiar scene unfolds.
People are being healed,
scribes are watching,
and big crowds are full of expectation.
Amidst the crowd,
a group of mates,
no doubt having heard of Jesus' miraculous powers,
approaches.
Jesus had cured paralytics,
and performed many miracles,
healing the sick,
casting out demons,
and cleansing a leper.
Motivated by this,
they come expectantly,
demonstrating an act of faith.
What we are about to see
is Jesus doing something astonishing.
By forgiving sins,
he claims the authority
that only God possesses.
Let's look at how this is,
and what we can learn from the response.
When Jesus saw their faith,
he said to the man,
take heart, son,
your sins are forgiven.
And Jesus responds to this act of faith
for healing
by forgiving the man's sins.
At first,
it seems Jesus is promising the paralytic
something other than what he asked for.
There is perhaps
a link between sin and sickness in this case.
As Matthew describes in other passages,
individual sin
is not always the direct cause
of a person's disease or illness.
nonetheless,
ultimately,
all corruption and death
result from the entrance of sin
into the world.
But either way,
this man has come for healing.
Although Jesus seems to address
something different from the man's request,
he highlights the main issue.
Sin is the fundamental human problem.
By forgiving sins,
Jesus reveals his authority
and clarifies the true nature
of the Messiah's mission.
Forgiveness for us is an expected result.
But what does it mean for this man?
Indeed, what does it mean for everybody there?
It's more than an unexpected result.
Remember that Jesus
is on a kingdom-hearkening mission.
What have we learned
about the kingdom of heaven so far?
There is healing,
blessing for the poor in spirit,
and power over evil.
Even repentance.
Repent,
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
This is John the Baptist's call.
People confess their sins
and are baptized by him in the Jordan
as a sign of repentance.
Repent,
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,
is what Jesus says
to launch his ministry.
In the mind of the crowd,
to repent is to turn from sin
and to seek God's mercy,
to return to covenant faithfulness.
So what on earth is forgiveness?
Often tied to atonement,
death,
and sacrifice,
forgiveness is God's exclusive act.
Human actors might facilitate forgiveness,
as in the case of priests
sacrificing animals.
Even then,
the text describes
how to do this process.
And they simply say,
and their sins shall be forgiven.
There is no declaration
from the priest.
So understand
just what an incredible break
from normal life
these people experience
when they hear this teacher
and miracle worker
personally and directly
declare the forgiveness
of the paralytic sins
beyond the day of atonement
and temple sacrifice.
Sacrifices, sorry.
No man before Christ
has personally declared
the forgiveness of someone's sins.
Only God from heaven.
Even Christ has not done so
before this.
This event marks
a significant escalation
in the unveiling
of the nature
of the incoming kingdom.
Sins are forgiven.
At this,
some of the teachers
of the law
said to themselves,
this fellow is blaspheming.
Highly respected
Jewish scholars
and religious authorities
who were experts
in the Torah,
the law of Moses,
the teachers of the law
or scribes,
as they are often called,
are expertly applying
the law
to the wrong person,
accusing Jesus
of slandering
and dishonoring God
by usurping
his unique role.
A priest in the temple
can look at a stranger
and conceivably say,
your sins are forgiven.
But here it's Capernaum.
Jesus is not a priest
in their understanding
and the sick man
has brought no offering,
scapegoat
or guilt offering.
So because the scribes
don't hold Jesus
to be God,
they hear only blasphemy
in what he says.
They are not wrong
that Jesus has just claimed
divine authority,
but what does Jesus
tell us about their response?
Knowing their thoughts,
Jesus said,
why do you entertain
evil thoughts
in your hearts?
What's so evil
about a little skepticism?
The scribes' eagerness
to slander
led them to reach
a conclusion
without investigation.
They had every right
to question the grounds
on which Jesus
was claiming
this kind of authority,
but instead of inquiring
or giving him
a chance to explain,
they jumped to the conclusion
that he was nothing more
than a regular person
and rushed to pronounce
him guilty.
Jesus' miracles
and teachings so far
should be evidence
enough of his authority.
Remember,
in previous weeks,
when hearing about
the nature of the
coming kingdom of heaven,
Jesus has been there
when people have been healed.
Jesus has been there
as storms are stilled.
Jesus has been there
when demons
have been cast out.
more than just being there,
though,
Jesus also,
in a never-before-seen way,
has personally
and directly
healed,
calmed,
and cast out
by his own word.
Jesus has already
exercised
divine authority
over nature
and the demonic.
To understand
the scribes' guilt,
we must understand
how these are also
God's prerogatives.
Only God heals.
Even as we heard
of Elijah's involvement
in healings
as evidence
of his authority
as a prophet,
he prescribes actions
and routines
to facilitate
God's healings.
Do this
and God will heal you
is how he can
think about it.
Always,
only God heals.
And yet,
this Messiah heals.
Always,
only God
has mastery
over nature.
And yet,
this Messiah
has mastery
over nature.
always,
only God
has control
over demons.
And yet,
this Messiah
has control
over demons.
Jesus has already
exercised
divine authority
over nature
and the demonic.
And miracles
are evidence
of authority.
The evil
lies in rejecting
the clear evidence
of Jesus'
divine authority.
It stems
from pride,
envy,
or hardened unbelief
plotting against
the obvious
manifestation of God
rather than
humbly accepting
it.
The scribes
here illustrate
one of the main
takeaways
from this passage.
Hardened unbelief
and pride,
especially religious
pride,
can blind
even knowledgeable
people
to clear evidence
of who Jesus
is.
False religion
or self-righteous
skepticism
is one of the
biggest obstacles
to truly
encountering Christ.
The scribes
should have
turned away
from their ways
and believed.
Or since
coming to
repentance
can take
time,
they should
have questioned
themselves
enough
to start
moving
towards real
faith.
Today's
skeptic may
be very
different
from the
scribes
in most
ways,
but everyone
should stay
open to the
evidence of
Jesus'
godhood,
authority,
and grace,
and all
should repent
and believe.
If you're
wrestling with
who Jesus
really is,
don't harden
your heart.
Look at the
evidence he's
already given
in scripture
and in the
changed lives
of the people
around you.
We should
take a hard
look at our
own hearts
for evil
thoughts,
like the
ones the
scribes
had,
judging ahead
without proof,
refusing to
check the
evidence,
or holding
tight to our
own ways
and ideas
instead of
bowing to
Jesus'
word.
After all,
he speaks
with the
authority which
only God
possesses.
But Jesus
doesn't leave
the claim to
God's
authority
hanging.
He knows
the scribes'
thoughts and
confronts them.
Rather than
destroy them,
he graciously
offers proof.
Jesus proves
his authority
with visible
power.
Jesus provides
this proof
clearly and
deliberately to
unveil his
godly nature
to us,
and we'll
explore what
that means
and consider
some implications
of healing
the man
second.
Describe the
scribes'
evil,
Christ deals
graciously with
them,
saying,
which is
easier,
to say
your sins
are forgiven
or to
say get
up and
walk?
He asks
a rhetorical
question,
one which
is far
gentler than
the rhetorical
rebukes we
see earlier
in Scripture.
When Job
doubts God's
justice,
he is asked,
where were
you when I
laid the
foundation of
the earth?
Tell me if
you have
understanding.
It's a
completely
legitimate
response,
but Christ
now simply
asks,
which is
easier?
An opportunity
for the scribes
to reflect,
perhaps?
Let us
reflect together.
Well,
which is
easier to
do?
And what
would it
mean?
For us,
neither is
really easier.
Achieving
either is an
impossibility.
For Christ,
both are
declared easily.
He has the
authority.
forgiveness.
But for
which is
easier to
say,
for Christ
under
scrutiny,
the scribes
can easily
deny that
forgiveness
has happened.
They can't
deny that a
man with
no use of
his limbs
gets up
and walks
before their
very eyes.
Therefore,
the implication
is saying
your sins
are forgiven
is easier.
If the
man's sins
are forgiven,
then there
is no
usurpation
or blasphemy.
Likewise,
if the
man gets
up and
walks when
told,
Jesus is
the one
who did
it.
The healing
miracle is
proof of
Christ's
authority to
forgive sins.
What we
don't get is
a technical
analysis of
precisely which
mechanism enables
what.
That's why,
at first glance,
Jesus' argument
might be
confusing.
After all,
since the
soul is more
mysterious than
the body,
forgiving sins
should make
maybe or
obviously be
a bigger,
more impressive
miracle than
healing someone's
body.
Sorry,
forgiving sins
should be a
bigger,
more impressive
miracle than
healing someone's
body.
But here's the
simple explanation.
Jesus is
meeting them
right where
they are.
These people
were so focused
on physical,
visible things
that a tangible
miracle like
healing hit them
much harder
and felt more
real than the
deeper spiritual
work of
forgiveness
and eternal
salvation.
And this
stooping down
to their
level is our
first hint that
Jesus cares to
show himself to
us, uncovering
his true nature.
He continues to
do so plainly.
To the scribes
he continues to
speak, saying,
but I want you
to know that
the Son of Man
has authority on
earth to forgive
sins.
Very clearly
here, Christ
states his
intention.
He is about
to show his
power and
right to
forgive sins.
He will give
everything, this
is no simple
claim.
Son of Man
is a messianic
title, the
one who comes
to redeem
God's people.
But even with
all the intense
implications that
come with it,
the claim to the
authority to
forgive sins on
earth is a new
development from
the point of view
of the scribes.
Indeed, the
Messiah might
intercede for
forgiveness or
atone via
temple rituals or
end-time
restoration.
But not like
this.
It's not just
new, it's
shocking.
And it's
shocking for a
reason that we
as Christians
ought to take
great comfort
in.
Because it
claimed for a
human figure,
the Son of
Man, what
belonged to
God alone.
And it
bypassed the
temple's
sacrificial
systems as
the scribes
understood it.
Jesus shows
that there is
no higher
court to appeal
to you.
No extra
step needed.
No room for
doubt.
When Jesus
says your
sins are
forgiven, it
carries the
full weight of
God's own
pardon.
You can have
full assurance
of forgiveness,
not based on
how you feel,
what you've
done, or
what any
temple priest
says, but
on the sure
word of the
Son of Man,
who proves he
has the right
to say it.
Be encouraged
because Jesus
is fully God
and fully
man.
He perfectly
bridges the
gap that sin
made between
God and
us.
That means we
can draw near
with confidence
to the throne
of grace without
any fear of
being turned
away, without
needing go-betweens
or special
rights.
His work as
our go-between,
our middleman,
gives us bold,
close prayer and
true fellowship
with the Father.
Be encouraged
because with
these words,
Jesus makes
it clear that
he's not just
a messenger or
a witness to
this grace,
he's the very
source of it.
But why does
he add on
earth?
What good would
it do us to
get forgiveness
here if it's
not backed up
in heaven?
Is this what
this means?
No, rather
the opposite.
His point is
simple, we don't
have to look far
off for forgiveness
of sins, he
holds it right
there in his
own person, as
if it's in his
hands for us to
take.
Jesus came
down to earth
to show us
that God's
grace is right
here among us,
present and
real.
That's why we
talk about him
forgiving sins
visibly, because
in him and
through him, God's
true will was
laid open for
all to see.
Before that, to
our fleshy eyes,
it had always
seen hidden, far
above the clouds.
There is so much
grace and blessing
for us here.
And beyond
the grace,
essentially Jesus
affirms that he
does claim
Godhood.
He has forgiven
the man's sins.
He claims it
is his right as
the son of man,
a title formulated
in a way which
incidentally is
very formal.
Son, in this
sense, shows
identity and is
similar to the
concept of an
heir, which is a
legal identity,
much different from
how he has just
addressed the poor
but faithful
paralytic, calling
him my son, my
child, tenderly.
Let us see now how
he deals tenderly
with him.
From the scribes, he
then turns back to
the man lying on the
floor.
There is the grace
of God before their
very eyes.
Then the man got up
and went home.
The healing is
complete.
And the man shows
total obedience to
the command, carrying
that which carried
him.
The less easy thing
to say is verified
quickly, giving
assurance of his
forgiveness.
A man destitute of
all the use of his
limbs, lying on a
bed and lowered by
cords, suddenly rises
again in health,
vigor, and agility.
The scribes are
silenced.
The man has been
faithful and obedient.
And remember that he
was forgiven first,
with what felt, to me,
like a lot of suspense
in between.
By healing him
physically last, Jesus
gently reminds the man
where his trouble
really came from, and
how he should shape
his prayers.
Most of us don't
stop to think that the
hardships and
illnesses we suffer are
ultimately due to sin.
Shown in earlier
narratives is moved
with a feeling of sorrow
and compassion in the
face of suffering.
But sometimes we ask
for nothing more than
some relief in the body
while staying completely
unconcerned about our
sins.
Like a sick person who
ignores the actual
disease after it has
been clearly diagnosed
for him.
And just wants pain to
ease for now.
Again, it is good to
hope for relief from
pain.
But we can ask for
more.
Jesus ranks forgiveness
first because the only
real way to be freed from
every kind of evil is to
have God at peace with
us.
Christian, we must pray
for forgiveness and
reconciliation to God
above all else.
And do so with
confidence because Jesus
has proven his
authority with visible
power.
And because the Holy
Spirit has given us
faith and has
witnessed to our
hearts the truth of
Christ's words when he
says to us, my
child, your sins are
forgiven.
There is a right
response to proven
authority to forgive
sins, which is all
faith and worship.
If we look at the
responses from the
people in the passage,
we can reflect on
ours.
So the scribes are
silenced.
It is they who have
slandered God after all.
What about everyone
else?
When the crowd saw
this, they were filled
with awe and they
praised God who had
given such authority to
man.
The crowds reached the
realization which the
scribes had not, of the
authority of God
vested in man.
The awe and fear are a
holy, trembling wonder
at something divine
breaking into the
ordinary.
Glorifying God is the
right response and is
almost the opposite of
the scribes' evil
thoughts.
They do all this without
yet fully grasping his
divine identity.
We, therefore, who do
grasp this union of
godhood and humanity in
Christ's person should
glory all the more.
But the crowd who
glorify God are only
partly right here.
Yes, they saw a man
standing in front of
them, but they should
have sensed in their
hearts something far
greater than just a man.
They're spot on that
human nature was lifted
high in Christ for the
good of humanity, for
the good of everyone.
But because they didn't
yet see that he was God
made flesh, this praise
still carries a bit of a
mistake.
In short, yes, God
really did give this
authority to a man.
But they hadn't yet
grasped how that the full
majesty of God had been
joined to human flesh.
Is this a fair critique of
the crowds?
Historically, we might not
expect an ordinary crowd
to uncover the full truth
right away.
But if you read Matthew's
whole gospel as one big
story with its deeper
teaching in mind, the
crowds and the scribes
really ought to have seen
that Jesus wasn't just
someone with special
authority.
They ought to have known
from his teaching that
they're amazed by him, but
they never step into true,
deep belief.
When Christ was later to be
innocently crucified, they
chose to free Barabbas, not
him.
And the guilty silence of the
scribes as religious leaders
will grow into doubt, then
open hostility, and finally
murder.
I'm going far forward in the
book for a reading, for a
warning.
When reading this passage,
I'm tempted to make the
scribes in the crowd into a
nicely packaged juxtaposition.
How unlike those hypocritical
scribes are those jolly
trusting fellows in the
crowd?
Again, glorifying God is the
right response, and it is
almost the opposite of the
scribes' evil thoughts.
They recognize something
special.
But if you are here and you
do not believe in the God-man
Jesus Christ, even if you
enthusiastically recognize
something special in Christ,
something prophet-like,
somewhat virtuous, somewhat
powerful, quite forgiving,
even quite loving, you are
missing something like the
crowds are missing something.
And you will go on to do as
the crowds later do.
When push comes to shove, you
will crucify Christ in your
heart.
There is nothing somewhat
goddish about a quite loving
Messiah.
There is only an absolutely
sovereign God-man with a
finished work on the cross and
a complete forgiveness for
those who have faith and
repentance for the forgiveness
of sins.
This is the good news, that even
whilst there is enmity between
God and humanity, God the Father
sends God the Son to take on
flesh and to be like us, the Son
of Man.
And the Son of Man, as it says
in Daniel, will be lifted up.
How?
By willingly being raised onto a
cross in excruciating pain,
despite being innocent, having
completely and perfectly kept the
law, the law that we break
daily.
And on that cross, he feels in
his humanity the weight and
wrath the Father has for sin.
So excruciating is the pain that
it is described as God
forsakenness.
Jesus suffers and dies at the
cost for sin.
And that great cost pays for the
sins of anyone who by faith
believes it is theirs.
Even those who in that moment
jeer and spit and torture him.
Even we who have jeered and spat on
and offended Christ in our
hearts.
Even for you, who still do so by
denying him as the scribes did, can
see and accept Jesus for who he
has shown himself to be, God and
Savior, and be forgiven.
Jesus died and rose again, ultimate
proof of his truthfulness.
Those who believe, sustained always
by God the Holy Spirit dwelling in
us, live in fullness of life, and
have a sure place in heaven for all
eternity.
So do not deny the scriptural
evidence of Christ's authority as
the scribes did.
Learned as they were.
The takeaway is this.
Jesus perceives our faith and is
moved to action by it.
He grants what we need most on
earth from the kingdom of heaven.
Forgiveness.
Therefore, he is surely a worthy
object of all faith and worship.
To finish, let me end with these
words of encouragement.
Christian, we must be encouraged by
this wonderful assurance.
And in gratefulness and love, worship
God as often as we can.
And let us never doubt or be
discouraged.
This voice of authority from Christ
is the voice of God.
It speaks creation into existence.
It comes from the cloud, bringing
God's good law.
And when we fail to keep that law,
Christ here uses it to bring the
gospel, to forgive.
The same voice with the same
authority, though we die, calls us to
newness of life and will raise us up in
a new creation.
Jesus personally declares,
your sins are forgiven.
Martin Luther, in his sermon on the
same passage, says,
these words show and contain in brief
what the kingdom of Christ is,
namely this sweet voice,
these motherly and fatherly words
penetrating our inmost soul.
your sins are forgiven.
God shows himself to us and teaches
us about himself, coming to earth and
so clearly and beautifully telling us
he is here to forgive us.
We can indeed draw nigh to God,
but so mighty is our mistrustfulness
that we never risk believing God is
kind to us till he draws nigh to us
and speaks to us as one who is well
known and dear to him,
saying, my child,
your sins are forgiven.
Let us pray.
Amen.