Smoodock's Blog

One has to wonder about what has occurred up to this point in the text. First, we discover that in Jesus’ early ministry he gathered certain men to himself, and he called them his apostles. Nevertheless, many people, described as the multitudes, were impressed with what they saw and heard of Jesus doing. Yet, they don’t seem to understand the true meaning behind what Jesus says about the Gospel. Therefore, he does what he can to avoid them. Jesus’ disciples, on the other hand, don’t seem to understand the things Jesus says and does either, but they are willing to let Jesus be who he is, while they observe and learn. Next, we are taken to the Decapolis,[1] a land that hasn’t heard of Jesus. However, when he does a good and marvelous deed for one of their number, the whole town misunderstands and asks Jesus to leave. So, whether one is attracted to the miracles or in fear of them, folks remain in the dark about this mysterious Rabbi, who travels the countryside, speaking the good news about the Kingdom of Heaven, which in reality is the Kingdom of God’s Presence in one’s life and how his Presence affects us.

Upon leaving the Decapolis in a boat with his disciples, Jesus sailed back to Capernaum, which the text identifies as “his own city” (Matthew 9:1). There, the multitudes greeted him once more, as they were waiting for his return (Mark 5:21; Luke 8:40).

Some scholars have Jesus living with Peter during his public ministry, probably because they don’t believe Jesus had a home of his own (cp. Matthew 8:20), but in an earlier study I concluded that Jesus was not a homeless man. He had property, which he inherited from Joseph, his adoptive father. Therefore, the house (Mark 2:1), where Jesus spent much of his time, when he was in Capernaum, was his house, which was located in his city (Matthew 9:1).

When Jesus, therefore, returned to the house, friends of a certain paralytic, brought him to Jesus, and the paralytic was yet in his bed. Both Mark and Luke tell us that they had trouble getting the man to Jesus, because the multitude gathered in and around Jesus’ house, so the friends removed some of the ceiling tiles of the house and lowered the man to Jesus (Mark 2:2-4; Luke 5:18-19).[2] When the man was brought to him, and Jesus saw their faith, vis-à-vis the faith of the man’s friends who brought him, Jesus told the man his sins were forgiven (Matthew 9:1-2)

Why did Jesus tell the man his sins were forgiven, when he was clearly brought to him to be healed? Well, this isn’t quite true, as we understand matters of health. The text reveals that there were a number of scribes (rabbis) present in the house at that time, and when they heard Jesus tell the man his sins were forgiven, they took issue with his words, but silently, in their hearts (Matthew 9:3).

Jesus knew he had shocked the local Jewish authorities by saying the man’s sins were forgiven, and it wasn’t difficult to read the expressions on their faces, to know they took issue with Jesus’ words. Nevertheless, we often say things are true without realizing the full impact of our own words. The scribes and Pharisees taught that a man’s illness or his handicap were due to his sins or those of his fathers (cp. John 9:2). Therefore, reading their thoughts, vis-à-vis their facile expressions, Jesus asked them which is easier to say, if a man’s illness/handicap was due to sin? Is it easier to say: “Your sins are for given!” or “Rise up and walk?” Therefore, as proof of his reasoning, he told the man “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your own house,” and the man obeyed Jesus’ voice (Matthew 9:4-7).

The multitude rejoiced and praised God to see such a miracle, which seems to emphasize that, what the learned rabbis believed to be blasphemy (Matthew 9:3), the ignorant multitudes believed was praiseworthy.

I believe I should point out, at this time, that Jesus neither agreed nor disagreed that sins cause health problems. Some do, but not all. What Jesus was doing was accenting an erroneous teaching of the learned Jewish authorities. They taught that all health problems are due to sin. Therefore, Jesus played the devil’s advocate to show they were in error. In fact, Mark tells us that the rabbis were simply amazed at the miracle, and they confessed that they had never seen their teaching this way (Mark 2:12). Yet, if the doctrine were true, and it isn’t true, anyone one who healed a man’s illness or cured his handicap would be forgiving sin, which only God could do (Matthew 9:3; Mark 2:7; Luke 5:21).

__________________________________________________________________________

[1] The Decapolis is an area south and west of Capernaum across the Sea of Galilee. It was a collection of 10 cities, including Gerasa and Gadara, whose interests were non-Jewish and they successfully petitioned Pompey, the Roman general, who conquered and reorganized the eastern frontier of the Empire, to be permitted to govern themselves according to non-Jewish traditions in BC 63.

[2] It is also evident that both Mark and Luke have Jesus performing this miracle prior to leaving for the Decapolis, which once more points to Matthew’s interest in themes that point to Jesus being the Messiah, rather than narrating his deeds according to strict chronology.