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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mat_9:2-8
2And 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." 3And some of the scribes said to themselves, "This fellow blasphemes." 4And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, " Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? 5Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,'or to say, 'Get up, and walk'? 6But 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." 7And he got up and went home. 8But when the crowds saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
Mat_9:2 "they brought to Him a paralytic" Fuller details of this event are found in Mar_2:1-22. This is the account in which the friends of the paralytic man tear the roof apart and lower him to the floor at Jesus' feet.
▣ "Seeing their faith, Jesus" In context "their faith" referred not only to the man who needed healing, but primarily to his friends who had so much ingenuity and persistence.
▣ "Take courage son; your sins are forgiven" This is a present active imperative (cf. Mat_9:22) and a present passive indicative. The Jews often related sin and sickness (cf. Joh_5:14; Joh_9:2; and Jas_5:15-16). Although Jesus apparently recognized the connection, He also seemed to resist a formal linkage (cf. Joh_9:3 and Luk_13:2-3). This is a powerful statement of Jesus' self understanding. Only God can forgive sin (i.e., passive voice)!
Jesus addressed this man as "child" (teknon). However, this was not an indication of his age, but a term of endearment (cf. Mar_10:24; also possibly Luk_16:25 and Gen_43:29 in the LXX).
Mat_9:3 "the scribes" Since the Babylonian captivity, the Temple had been somewhat rivaled by the Synagogue as the place of honor in Jewish society. These local experts in the Jewish law, following the tradition of Ezra, became known as scribes (see Special Topic at Mat_12:38, Ezr_7:8; Ezr_7:10). They were from several theological backgrounds, but they were mostly Pharisees. Whether they were present because of genuine interest or to spy on Jesus is uncertain. They would certainly have been astonished at His claiming to have the power to forgive sin. They believed that only God had this power. In this context, they condemned the radical claims of Jesus as blasphemy (cf. Mar_2:7); indeed, they were blasphemy if Jesus was not the Incarnate Son of God!
Mat_9:4 "and Jesus knowing their thoughts" Whether this is an example of Jesus' supernatural knowledge, which seems to be implied from the context, or whether someone in the crowd passed on their grumbling verbally is uncertain. There are passages in the New Testament which imply that Jesus knew human nature well and other passages which imply that He used His supernatural power.
There is a manuscript variation between
1. seeing (idôn) - à , C, D, L, W, and the old Latin, Vulgate, and Coptic translations
2. knowing (eidôs) - B, Ec, and the Syrian and Armenian translations
The UBS4 rates #1 as "B" (almost certain). The second option probably comes from Mat_12:25; Luk_6:8; Luk_9:47. The NASB, NKJV, and NJB follow option #2.
Mat_9:5 "Which is easier, to say 'Your sins are forgiven'or to say 'Get up, and walk'" To say, "Your sins are forgiven" is harder, but it is not as obvious as a physical healing. Both are impossible for sinful mortals!
Mat_9:6 "But so that you may know" Throughout the Gospels Jesus was concerned not only with the poor and needy, but also the Jewish leadership (cf. Joh_11:42; Joh_11:45). Jesus was confronting them for the purpose of turning them to faith in Himself. This healing was as much for the scribes as it was for the paralyzed man and his friends. As a matter of fact, this is true of most of Jesus' healing ministry. Often these acts of power were to encourage the faith of the disciples or engender faith in by-standers.
▣ "the Son of Man" This was an adjectival phrase from the OT. It was used in Eze_2:1 and Psa_8:4 in its true etymological meaning of " human being." However, it was used in Dan_7:13 in a unique context which implied both the humanity and deity of the person addressed by this title. Since this title was not used by rabbinical Judaism and, therefore, had none of the nationalistic, exclusivistic, militaristic implications, Jesus chose it as the perfect title of both veiling and revealing His dual nature (cf. 1Jn_4:1-6). It was His favorite self-designation.
▣ "has authority on earth to forgive sins" This term " authority" (exousia) was the word for "right," " power" or "authority." It strongly implied Jesus' Messiahship, if not His Deity. The Jews were not expecting the Messiah to be divine, but to be a supernaturally-empowered military/political leader, like the Judges of the OT. It is only through NT progressive revelation that believers recognized the incarnational nature of the Messiah (i.e., Joh_1:1; Joh_5:18; Joh_8:58; Joh_10:30; Joh_10:34-38; Joh_14:9-10; Joh_20:28; Rom_9:5; Php_2:6-7; Heb_1:8; 2Pe_1:1).
▣ "He said to the paralytic, 'Get up, pick up your bed, and go home'" There are three verbals in this phrase.
1. " get up" is an aorist passive participle used as an imperative
2. " pick up your bed" is an aorist active imperative
3. " go home" is a present active imperative.
The implication of these tenses would have been that God was the agent of the passive voice, "be raised up." The two imperatives would speak of the man's actions immediately after his healing. Taking up his bed was a sign that his days of begging were over and he was returning home. This healing confirmed Jesus' claim of Deity and Messiahship!
Mat_9:8 "But when the crowds saw this, they were awestruck" There is a Greek manuscript problem here connected to the term "awestruck." The oldest and best Greek texts have "were afraid" (MSS à , B, D, W). Later texts softened the term to "marveled" or NKJV "were astonished" (MSS C, L). Some Greek manuscripts simply left the phrase out (MS X). The UBS4 gives option #1 an "A" rating (certain).
The crowds were not accustomed to someone speaking with this kind of authority. Rabbinical Judaism had become trapped by tradition and the quoting of the ancient sayings of the rabbis. Jesus spoke with truth and authority, which this generation of Jewish people had never heard. They praised God for giving this kind of power to a man. This may be a veiled allusion to the humanity of Jesus which was questioned by the early church heresy called "Gnosticism." It is also likely from further reading of the NT that the religious leaders were jealous of Jesus' popularity.