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Matthew 9:1-8 The Power to Forgive Sins (Mat 9:1-2 NKJV) So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. {2} REMEMBER what we said last week - The Bible is the BEST COMMENTARY on the Bible. So whenever we study a portion of Scripture we want to search the rest of the Scriptures to see what light they shed on the passage at hand.

In Luke and Mark we are given further eyewitness details that help fill out the COMPOSITE PICTURE of this event! Mark’s Gospel tells us that it was Capernaum Capernaum was the headquarters for the ministry of Jesus while He was here on the earth. Jesus worked more miracles in Capernaum than in any other of the cities Most of the gospels are centered around the ministry of Jesus in Capernaum and the area of the Galilee. By this time was already called His own city.

Mark 2:1-5 And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. 2 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. 3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 4 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.

5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. Luke 5: And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. 19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

I WANT US TO SEE that these guys possessed three qualities that are essential to bringing a friend to Jesus. 1.)DESIRE These guys DESIRED to get their friend to Jesus so that he could be cured. There is NOT anything more loving that you can do for a friend than to bring them to Jesus! 2.)DEDICATION Most Christians will readily SAY that they DESIRE to bring their friends to the Jesus, but that desire does NOT often translate into action.

But these guys DEDICATED themselves to getting their friend to Jesus….. They sought means. 3.)DETERMINIATION – Persistence Luke 5:19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. When you're TRULY DEDICATED to something you will PERSISIT until you accomplish your task By PAIN and LABOUR and PERSEVERANCE they got their friend to the Lord.

Matthew 9:2 Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.” Here we see another necessary trait in leading others to Jesus - FAITH! KEY POINT: REAL FAITH works. (Gal 5:6 KJV) For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

(Gal 5:6 NLT) For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, it makes no difference to God whether we are circumcised or not circumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love. Most times it is NOT a lack of DESIRE to see friends come to Christ… But our DESIRE often fails to translate into DEDICATION and DETERMINATION WHY is that? Bottom line it is because we really don’t BELIEVE that Jesus will save THEM. We really don’t believe that the Gospel is THE power of God unto salvation!

v. 2 "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you." I wonder if perhaps his friends were thinking - “Not his sins… his legs.” KEY OBSERVATION: Suddenly Jesus makes this man see that his GREATEST NEED is NOT his paralysis…. But his need to have his sins forgiven! Over the few years of Metro we have seen many come for prayer Many of them would say - Can you pray for me…. My wife left me,”

They want prayer for their circumstances or their physical needs. In many cases they don’t understand that what they REALLY NEED is for Jesus to forgive them their sin. Because it’s their sin that’s going to separate them eternally form God. REMARKABLY - When this man looks up in the face of Christ, the first thing that happens is that his heart overwhelmed - NOT with his paralysis But he is overwhelmed by his own nature and his sin….. Because Jesus says, “Child be of good cheer your sins are forgiven you.”

Matthew 9:3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. KEY QUESTION: WHY did they say that to themselves? Again - The Bible answers the question! Luke 5:21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? NOTE WELL: They were RIGHT when they said - Only God can forgive sins

ONLY GOD can forgive sins IF you want your sins forgiven, DON'T come to me Ps. 51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Sin is AGAINST God - THUS God is the ONLY One who will judge sin… and the ONLY One who can forgive sin. BUT - They were WRONG when they said - This man blasphemes - BECAUSE JESUS IS GOD!

4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? 5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? 6 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. KEY INSIGHT: Jesus knows OUR thoughts... ALL of them ALL of the time Hebr. 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Ps. 139:1-4 O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. EVER MOMENT of EVERY DAY Jesus KNOWS and our ACTIONS and our WORDS and our THOUGHTS (Today’s Bible Bus - Acts 1 - “the knower of hearts.”) That FACT should FRIGHTEN the hypocrite out of their hypocrisy

The hypocrite might deceive men... BUT not Jesus These hypocrites didn't You and I will be no different On the other hand - This same reality should comfort the SINCERE (not the perfect.... but the sincere) The SINCERE - but not perfect - BELIEVER can rest in the fact that Though the world might mock or slander or wrongly accuse They are fairly and justly measured by an all knowing and loving Jesus.

5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? The answer is simple It is EASIER to SAY - "Your sins are forgiven" Because there is no way of telling that anything happened But if you say - "Rise up and walk" you will know in a hurry whether or not there is power in those words IF the guy lies there you are a phony SO - "Rise and walk" is harder to say because you put it all on the line…. you will be proven tp be a phony real quick if nothing happens

6 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. CRUCIAL: Jesus was claiming to be God, who alone has the power to forgive sins. Jesus basically said - Because you can NOT see into the heart of man to know if sins are forgiven Here is something that you can see…. SO THAT you might know that I have such power... I will say to him - "Rise and walk.”

And when he stands and walks you will KNOW that - I am God - And as God I possess ABSOLUTE POWER to forgive sins! THIS IS OUR JESUS In MATTHEW 8 we see that Jesus possesses ABSOLUTE POWER over nature ABSOLUTE POWER over demonic power Here in MATTHEW 9 we see that Jesus possesses ABSOLUTE POWER to forgive sins!!

Next to v. 2 write - “MANS GREATEST NEED” KEY OBSERVATION: Jesus makes it clear that this man’s greatest need was NOT to be physically healed! Every mans greatest need is the forgiveness of sins You might be down and out and come saying - "God I need you to save my marriage / save my family from financial disaster" BUT - If your sins aren't forgiven you have a greater need than that

MAYBE your down and out condition is a result of your own sin EXAMPLE: Drugs can bankrupt you... Get you in trouble Jesus saw the man’s GREATEST need Jesus met him in the DEEPEST area of need So too, Jesus comes to us NOTE: Now if his friends were anything like you or me (and I’m sure they were) they were are on the roof - wiping sweat off their faces - saying, “No, No…. Not his sins his legs.”

Though the friends didn't know that was his greatest need, perhaps the paralytic did And those words were glorious to hear What joy it is to here those words Ps. 32:1-2 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity 7 And he arose, and departed to his house. 8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.The RESULT of being made right with God was wholeness

The tragedy is that some want wholeness without dealing with their sin They don't want to think of themselves as sinners They don't want to be told that they sinners They don't want to relinquish their sins THAT is how much of the Church tries to “sell” Jesus today KEY INSIGHT: Jesus didn’t do the miracle so they would know that He has a healing ministry. He performed the miracle so they would know that He has authority to forgive sins.

That’s why He came. He didn’t come just to TEMPORARILIY fix people physically. He came to fix people eternally. And that is a sin issue. (Mat 9:8 NKJV) Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God INSIGHT: Marveled means that they feared. And I think they’re were wondering, “does God really desire to forgive sins that readily?”

That’s the point He wanted make on their hearts. If you don’t know Christ this morning maybe you’re asking yourself that question. “Is He really that ready to forgive sin?” And NOW you know that the answer to that question is, “Yes, He is.” Jesus is the same today as He was in Matthew 9. COMMUNION / OFFERING