HE KNEW THEIR THOUGHTS

“And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.   And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.   And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.   And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?   For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?  

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.   And he arose, and departed to his house.  But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men” (Matt. 9:1-8).

Mark 2:1-5, “And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.  And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.   And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.  

And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.   When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.”

I. JESUS HAD THE POWER TO HEAL

Matt. 8:16, “When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick”

Matt. 14:14, “And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.”

Matt. 15:30, “And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them.”

Mark 3:10, “For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.”

II. JESUS HAD THE POWER TO FORGIVE

“Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.   And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.”  

The Woman Anointing the Feet of Christ Luke 7:47-50, “Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.   And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.   And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?   And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.” 

III. JESUS HAD THE POWER TO KNOW THEIR THOUGHTS

When accused of being Beelzebub, Matt When accused of being Beelzebub, Matt. 12:25, “And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.”

The man let down from the roof, Mark 2:8, “And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?”

The man with the withered hand, Luke 6:8, “But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.”

John 2:23-25, “Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.   But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.”

IV. JESUS HAD POWER TO MOVE MEN!

“But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men”

Adam Clarke wrote, “That which to the doctors of the law, the worldly-wise and prudent, is a matter of scandal, is to the humble an occasion of glorifying the Most High.”

HOW DID THE LORD MOVE MEN? 1) He Told Stories: Matt. 13:34, “All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them.”

2) He Preached Sermons: The sermon on the mount is an example how Jesus preached a well-arranged sermon focusing on the attributes of a citizen of the kingdom.

3) Spontaneous: The woman who washed His feet (Luke 7:36f), the disciples that argued on who would be chief among them (Luke 9:46f), or the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1-29).

4) Adaptability: Jesus never compromised but conveyed His teachings according to the audience he was addressing.

5) Selectivity: Three distinct areas of selectivity, (1) time, Jn 5) Selectivity: Three distinct areas of selectivity, (1) time, Jn. 16:12, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.”

Second area of selectivity, (2) audience, At times He took His apostles separately and taught them, “But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.” (Mark 4:34).

At times he refused to speak to some At times he refused to speak to some. This would include Pilate, Herod, and the Sanhedrin. This would also include his brothers and mother that sought him, but he refused to speak to them in Luke 8:19-21.

Third area of selectivity, (3) Content, Jesus knew all things, but was selective in what He taught others. The apostles asked when the Lord would restore the kingdom? Note His reply, Acts 1:7, “And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.”

(6) Simplicity: Luke 4:22, “And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?”

(7) Authoritatively: Matt (7) Authoritatively: Matt. 7:29, “For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”

(8) Practicality: He never requested His followers to do things beyond their reach. Lk. 17:10, “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.”