Matthew 9:1-8 Can Jesus Forgive Sin?
The festival of Easter used to be the highlight of the year in Britain. Now it tends to be known for its Bank holiday.
When someone receives good news such as a new job, a marriage proposal, being given an honour it is unusual not to be jubilant for a short while. Yet the events that took place that first Easter have fantastic implications and should thrill everybody. The crucifixion of Jesus and his subsequent resurrection means that we can be forgiven by God and accepted into his family. This raises two issues
1. Do I need forgiveness?
If I don’t then the message of the cross has nothing to say to me.
2. How can I be forgiven?
Can Jesus forgive me whatever I have done and how can this forgiveness be received?
Do I need forgiveness?
In the previous chapter Matthew has given us snapshots about the extraordinary power of Jesus. He is presented as God’s Promised King, his Messiah, who has power over sickness and nature. Although God has always had supernatural power such that he can create the universe and raise the dead, he has only chosen to exhibit this power occasionally through a few of his chosen people. Thus Moses, Elijah and Elisha performed occasional miracles as did Jesus’ apostles in the early days but no-one has ever matched the miraculous power of Jesus. His power was to prove who he is. Beware those healers who claim to have supernatural powers todays. Their claims, when investigated have been shown to be false and dependant on psychological manipulation and theatre. Long term healings of organic disease such as death, amputations, paralysis, blindness and dementia are lacking.
But what did Jesus actually come to do? We are first given evidence for who Jesus is and now we are being told about his purpose. He primarily came to forgive our sin, to both teach us who he is as he is the only person who can forgive sin against God and then to die as the final sacrifice to pay for our sin. Jesus told the selfish tax-collector Zacchaeus:
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10
Early in Mark’s record of the gospel he tells how Jesus become inundated with people wanting healing of their diseases. He went off to pray and then told his disciples:
“Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages - so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” Mark 1:38
Jesus repeatedly told his disciples why he had come to earth:
“He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this . . .” Mark 8:31-32
The wonders of Matthew chapter 8 act as a trailer for what all of God’s people will experience in the next life. It is a mistake if we think we can claim such things now.
If Jesus is going to return in glory to establish his rule, why did he come earlier. Matthew chapter 9 answers this. He came so that people of all nations can be forgiven and so can become members of his kingdom.
A paralysed man is forgiven
Jesus returned to his home town of Capernaum. He had done many miracles there and undoubtedly news about him had spread:
“Some men brought to him a paralysed man, lying on a mat.” Matthew 9:2
The crowds would know what to expect. In the previous chapter the Centurions servant who was paralysed had been healed. Here another man with paralysis is brought to Jesus. It is striking how leprosy and paralysis are the healings emphasised. They both indicate man’s helplessness and dependance signifying the problem of sin. What Jesus said next must have stunned his listeners:
“When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” Matthew 9:2
What was this all about? Have Jesus overlooked why the man had been brought to him? The man surely needed healing, he would love to be able to walk.
In those days sick people tended to be shunned because it was thought that sickness was the result of a person’s sin. Jesus robustly opposed this view. One one occasion Jesus and his disciples met a man who had been born blind:
“His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” John 9:2-3
We live in a world full of disease and natural disasters and the Bible is clear that this is the result of sin, our rebellion against God. However we must understand this correctly. It does not mean that an individual’s illness is usually the effect of their own sin but just that illness is the result of our corporate sin. None of us are blameless, we have all turned away from the rule of our creator and have failed to establish a close relationship with him. For this reason we all need to be forgive. This paralytic was also a sinful man whose prime problem in god’s eyes is his personal sin. What Jesus said to the man is thrilling, it was so encouraging:
“Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” Matthew 9:2
Today we all face a wide variety of pressures and problems but can so easily overlook that the deepest problem is our sin that separates us from God. This is a constant theme of Scripture.
“There is no one righteous, not even one;there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.All have turned away . . .” Romans 3:11-12
Have we all recognised that the greatest need we have is to be forgiven by God?
How can I be forgiven?
Jesus said that the paralysed man’s sins were forgiven but this caused a strong reaction among the religious authorities.
“At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, ‘This fellow is blaspheming!’” Matthew 9:3
Blasphemy is not just swearing but claiming to do what only God can do. The authorities were right, only God can forgive sin against God. Who was this man who claimed this right? They had forgotten Psalm 2, Daniel 7 and Isiah 53, that God will have a son who will pay for our sin.
Jesus asks which is harder - to forgive or to heal? The whole of the Old Testament shows how difficult forgiveness is. But note that Jesus adds ‘to say’. The issue is what can be verified. It is easy for a priest to say someone is forgiven their sin but is that true. Martin Luther’s 95 theses that he posted on the door of the Castle church in Wittenberg in Germany to highlight how the sale of indulgences for the forgiveness of sins was invalid. It is very difficult to know if someone has indeed been forgiven. In contrast, if a paralytic is told ‘Rise’, people will know straight away whether that word is effective.
Both the forgiveness of sin and the healing of a paralytic are humanly impossible, they both need god’s intervention. Jesus wants us to grasp that he can do both. God alone can heal the paralytic and God alone can forgive his sin.
“But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralysed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Matthew 9:6
We again see a clear demonstration of Jesus’ power. The reason he can heal is because he has the authority to forgive sins. Everything depends on who Jesus is, a man can only forgive sins if he is both the Son of Man and the Son of God.
In a similar way Jesus could say to the thief crucified next to him, ‘Today you will be with me in paradise’. We know that is true because of who Jesus is and because he rose from the dead three days later.
Isn’t God in heaven?
That is how Jesus began the prayer he taught:
“Our Father in heaven . . .” Matthew 6:9-13
In Israel God’s presence on earth was symbolised by the tabernacle and then by the temple. In this story God is in Capernaum in person. Here is the person who can meet our deepest needs. Jesus calls himself the temple. When the Jewish leaders challenge His authority after He clears the temple, Jesus says,
"Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days". John 2:19-21
The Apostle John later clarifies that Jesus was speaking about His own body. Jesus is now the place where God and people can meet. He has the authority to meet our deepest needs, he can forgive our sin.
How must we respond?
1. The healed man
The man’s response was immediate:
“Then the man got up and went home.” Matthew 9:7
Why was his first response to go home? Surely he wanted his family and friends to see that he was a new man, a new creation. Do you think he could fail to mention how he had been saved? This is the response of all who have experience the forgiveness of our sins and the empowerment to live a new godly life, walking with Jesus.
The next story tells us how Matthew himself had become a follower of Jesus. His immediate reaction was to long for others to understand who Jesus is and to meet him:
“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples.” Matthew 9:10
This is the response God wants to see in all those he calls to himself.
2. The crowd
The effect on the crowd was dramatic:
“When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.” Matthew 9:8
When we see the effect God has had on others and the change in their lives for good, we too can be filled with a sense of awe. Matthew says simply, ‘They praised God”, but what does this mean. For many it meant they praised God who entered his world as Jesus. Worship is a life turned round, a life spent all the time living for the glory of Jesus.
3. The deniers
There always have been and always will be people who refuse to accept the claims of Jesus:
“Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?” Matthew 9:4
To call such people ‘evil’ is a strong claim but to reject God and his son and put ourselves in the centre is the height of treason against God. We all know who is on the throne in our lives.
It is thrilling to read that many Pharisees and Scribes did change their minds and became followers of Jesus. So today there are many Jews who have recognised that Jesus is their Messiah
In the 21st century there are many who dismiss Jesus quickly, often with superficial reasons without investigating the evidence for his claims. Rejecting Jesus is more serious than the world thinks. Instinctively we all recognise that that what Jesus embodies is the ideal, he is honest, loving, fair and what he says resonates with our innermost selves. Matthew’s point is that who Jesus is is obvious to any who will take note of him. His words, his miracles, his resurrection can all be investigated. To refuse to take not of Jesus and to deny him is to think evil in our hearts.
The religious need forgiveness. Can’t they see this? There is Jesus next to them doing wonder things. What they need to do is to humbly come to him and ask for his forgiveness and help.
The centurion in the previous chapter tells us of the right response to Jesus. Faith is bringing our needs to Jesus, whatever they are. But remember, out greatest need that must first be addressed is our need for forgiveness. If we come to Jesus we will find that this is utterly life-changing, but it starts with:
“Your sins are forgiven.”
This is the primary reason Jesus came into this world. Do you remember what the angel said to Joseph about the unborn Jesus at the beginning of this book?
“She will give birth to ason, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21
Jesus means ‘the Lord saves’.
BVP
This article has been posted on the website www.bvpalmer.com where there are many other helpful articles and videos.
Christchurch Baldock is a Bible teaching gospel centred local church. More details can be found on its website. It meets every Sunday morning at 10.30 am in Knights Templar School, Baldock
Bernard can be contacted at berniepalmer1@sky.com
