I just finished a paper for my Gospel of Matthew class. The purpose of the story in the narrative is to demonstrate Jesus’ authority to forgive sins. Throughout the gospel, the writer continues to emphasize Jesus’ authority. At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, the writer mentions Jesus teaching the people as one who had authority (7:29). The theme is also seen at the end of the book when Jesus sends out the twelve saying “All authority has been given to me…therefore go (28:18).”

There are two miracles in the pericope of Matthew 9:1-8. The first miracle is invisible to the audience, but the second miracle is visible. Jesus crossed the politically correct boundary with his first statement when he told the paralytic his sins were forgiven at that moment. The experts in the Law accuse Jesus of blasphemy because they know that only God can forgive sins (the irony of their statement is that the experts in the Law are the ones speaking blasphemy by disrespecting Jesus’ claim). Jesus follows his first miracle with a second miracle that could only be accomplished by God himself. By showing his ability (being God himself) to heal the man, Jesus makes a visible demonstration to the crowd that He must also have the ability to forgive the paralytic of his sins.

It is significant that Jesus speaks the words to the paralytic, “your sins are forgiven.” It is signicant because when God speaks, reality happens. This is also true of the creation acount in Genesis 1; when God spoke he created the heavens and the earth. All of creation is a reality of God’s word.

The meaning of this can become even more significant for you when you understand that Jesus offers to forgive all of your sins. If the Bible is God’s word, then the message is the reality. Thus, when the Bible says that salvation is found in no one else other than Jesus, then Jesus must be the only way to eternal life. So if Jesus freely offers to forgive your sins and you accept his offer, then take courage friend because the reality of eternal life in heaven is true for you.

Below is the DJT (Daniel Jensen Translation) of Matthew 9:1-8.

And then Jesus, stepping into a boat, crossed over and went into his own town.

Now it happened that some brought to him a paralytic lying on a mat. Now Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Be confident, child, your sins are now forgiven.”

In response, some of the experts in the Law grumbled amongst themselves saying, “This is blasphemy.”

And Jesus, seeing their thoughts said, “For what reason do you consider this an evil in your hearts? “For what would have been easier to say, ‘your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk?’ So in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” then he spoke to the paralytic, “…Get up, take your mat and go to your home.”
So he got up and went to his home.

Now when the crowds witnessed this they were awe-struck and glorified the God who had given such authority to men.