In Matthew’s Gospel account, the story of the paralytic is significantly shortened from Mark’s account. Mark told about the effort the paralytic’s friends took on. Matthew largely skips it, saying, “Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”
Where Mark is concerned with demonstrating the humanity of all involved by explaining how his friends brought him to Jesus, couldn’t get into the home Jesus was teaching in and so cut a hold in the roof and lowered the paralytic down, Matthew is far more focused of the Lordship of Jesus. The primary point of the story cannot be missed – we can do nothing but come to Him in faith, and to the glory of God, Jesus responds to our faith and forgives sin.
That Jesus forgives sin, and that we can do nothing of ourselves, is the most freeing truth imaginable. It means salvation is not by works, but by faith. This Jesus specifically affirmed when asked what was the work that people should do to gain eternal life, “Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” Grasping this, Paul would later write, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
There is only one thing to do when you realize you have sinned. We cannot do a good thing to try to cancel out the sin we’ve done. We cannot hope that making better choices in the future will drown out the sin we’ve committed. What is done is done and there is nothing we can do about it. We can only call out to Jesus in prayer and ask Him for forgiveness! Praise God, He is faithful to forgive. As He Himself said, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”
Moreover, Jesus is faithful to forgive our sin multiple times. This the apostle John affirmed, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” It matters not if it is the first time you approach Him for forgiveness, or the ten thousandth time. Jesus’ unchanging nature, His grace and ultimately His sacrifice on the cross, are sufficient for all, all the time!
Our part – whenever we sin and as often as we sin – is simply to identify with the man on the mat. The paralytic, who cannot walk, get up or in any way help himself. Simply by encountering Christ, this man will be fully well again. It is only Jesus who forgives, and praise His Name, He forgives always!
Being always ready to forgive doesn’t mean you’re permissive. It means you are like the Father.
Larry & Judi Keefauver
APPLICATION: Thankfulness
Thank God that He is always ready to receive us. Ready to forgive us. Ready to wash us clean. Ready to restore us to fellowship with Him and ready to put us back into His service.