Came across this story from Matthew again this week as I was reading The Message version of the New Testament. I've always had trouble understanding what Jesus is saying here. In Matthew 9:1-8 Jesus heals a paraplegic, saying "I forgive your sins." Some religions scholars immediately accuse him of blasphemy.
I understand that much. But Jesus answers them by saying "which do you think is simpler : to say 'I forgive your sins,' or, 'Get up and walk'?
What does he mean by "simpler?" This is the part I don't understand - which is simpler.
He goes on to say that "just so it's clear that I'm the Son of Man and authorized to do either, or both ..." and turns to the paraplegic and tells him to "Get up."
I understand this part - that Jesus is letting people know he has the authority to heal AND forgive sins.
I just don't get why he said "which is simpler." Maybe it doesn't matter.
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3 comments:
Yes, they could SPEAK the forgiving words, but they didn't have authority to truly forgive sins. That's what confuses me - is Jesus just talking about saying the words, which is simpler to SAY, or is he talking about the deed? From what he goes on to explain, it seems like he's talking about the deeds. I think I'm getting too caught up in the semantics maybe.
Pam,
I would say Jesus is saying, "Do you realize what you are saying is equivalent to declaring that I am the Messiah, the Son of God, who alone can forgive sins and heal?"
"Simply" here is not just referring to the words that might be spoken, but, as both you and David point out, the right and the authority to do both--but the intended shocker here is that Jesus is saying that "forgiving sins" (a seemingly "spiritual" act) is such as signifcant and "difficult" as healing someone (a seemingly "physical" act), and that all "healing" really is the same thing as forgiving--a complicated but reverse metaphor (like Eph 5--marriage is a metaphor for Christ's love and not the other way around as most of us preach it at weddings. . .).
That is, Jesus "So you want 'healing' but did you know that what you really need is forgiveness of sins, and both require me to lay down my life?"
Thanks to both of you for your thoughts. I continue to mull over what you both wrote.
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