"These [in Berea] were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." - Acts 17:11
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(1) Getting into a boat, Jesus crossed over {the sea} and came to His own city. (2) And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, "Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven." (3) And some of the scribes said to themselves, "This {fellow} blasphemes." (4) And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, "Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? (5) "Which is easier, to say, `Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, `Get up, and walk'? (6) "But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins--then He *said to the paralytic, "Get up, pick up your bed and go home."" (7) And he got up and went home. (8) But when the crowds saw {this,} they were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

(1) When He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home. (2) And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. (3) And they *came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. (4) Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. (5) And Jesus seeing their faith *said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." (6) But some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, (7) "Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?" (8) Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, *said to them, "Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? (9) "Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, `Your sins are forgiven'; or to say, `Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk'? (10) "But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins--He *said to the paralytic," (11) "I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home." (12) And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."

(17) One day He was teaching; and there were {some} Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting {there,} who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and {from} Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was {present} for Him to perform healing. (18) And {some} men {were} carrying on a bed a man who was paralyzed; and they were trying to bring him in and to set him down in front of Him. (19) But not finding any {way} to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiles with his stretcher, into the middle {of the crowd,} in front of Jesus. (20) Seeing their faith, He said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven you." (21) The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this {man} who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?" (22) But Jesus, aware of their reasonings, answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts? (23) "Which is easier, to say, `Your sins have been forgiven you,' or to say, `Get up and walk'? (24) "But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,--He said to the paralytic--"I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home."" (25) Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God. (26) They were all struck with astonishment and {began} glorifying God; and they were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen remarkable things today."

New American Standard Bible copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

In the healing of the paralytic (Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26), the physician Luke uses a medical term, "palsied" (KJV), the technical Greek word used to describe paralysis from disease in some part of the nervous system. Because his disease was so debilitating, the man needed comfort and healing. Jesus thus refers to him as "son," or more literally, "child," showing His fatherly compassion.

Paralysis represents sin's crippling power and the sinner's sheer helplessness to do anything to relieve his own suffering. The apostle Paul speaks of our initial lack of spiritual strength in Romans 5:6, "For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." With this miracle, Jesus forgave the penalty that the man had incurred through sin and raised him from his miserable state.

— Martin G. Collins

To learn more, see:
The Miracles of Jesus Christ: Healing a Paralytic (Part Two)



 

Topics:

Compassion

Healing

Healing of a Crippled Man

Healing of the Paralytic

Paralysis

Suffering




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