The Four Greatest Words Matthew 9:1-8
Today’s passage deals with what are the four greatest words in the world; your sins are forgiven.
We live in a world of constants. The sun will come up tomorrow, summer will give way to winter, and gravity will always win. A constant in our lives is what some call our “sinful nature.” I’m not sure I like that term. God gave mankind freedom of choice and you have to know he did this out of love. With freedom of choice comes learning and growth. Freedom of choice gives us many of the things that make us in the image of God. It gives us a sense of purpose; it gives us a sense of accomplishment and at times a sense of disappointment. It gives us a sense of belonging because we get to choose who we allow into our lives.
I might joke that life would be easier if Jen just did what I wanted but if she didn’t have a choice, if she didn’t get to choose to be with me, then our relationship would be a sham. It wouldn’t be based on mutual love and respect. It’s the same with God. God gives us a choice. We’re not forced to follow him, it’s our choice. And that gives us a relationship with the creator based on love and respect.
Verse 2, “Some men brought to (Jesus) a paralyzed man lying on a mat.”
We can say that before this day this man was separated from Jesus, and whether it was just the physical distance or whether he didn’t know God doesn’t really matter to the point of this verse. Here is a paralyzed man lying on a mat and he’s probably uncomfortable, he’s definitely unable to change his circumstances. Without Jesus we are on our mat, unable to change our circumstances. Without Jesus in our lives we cannot get away from our sin.
“Some men brought to him a paralyzed man…” These men obviously knew who Jesus is. These men obviously believed in Jesus and his ability to help so they introduced their paralyzed friend to him. Here is a picture of us. These men know Jesus, we know Jesus. These men must have talked to their friend about Jesus, introduced him to Jesus ministry to the point where he allowed them to carry him to Jesus. We all know people who are non-believers. Like these men we must recognize their situation and introduce them to Jesus and his salvation. This is one of the greatest expressions of Christian love for without Jesus they will remain paralyzed and on their mat.
We all know someone who has drifted away from their faith. This can be for any number of reasons; but it is us that should reach out to them. They may be saved but worshiping together gives us encouragement and a sense of family; Hebrews 10:25, “Do not forsake meeting together…but let us encourage one another…”
We all come across strangers. We should reach out and plant seeds for Christ. I have two habits that I think help plant seeds for Christ. One is I give away those pennies from heaven and two is I say “God bless you” to just about everyone I engage with. Whether it’s the clerk in a store or the technician who came to fix our furnace, they all get a “God bless you.”
Verse 2, “Take heart son, your sins are forgiven.”
Notice this is verse 2, Jesus doesn’t tell the man to get up until verse 6. Take heart, your sins are forgiven. This man’s situation, his paralysis didn’t change instantly but Jesus tells him to take heart, his sins are forgiven. Believing in Jesus may not change the circumstances of your life; there are plenty of desperately poor people all over the world who believe in Jesus. Whether we’re well off or poor, from the United States or Ecuador; our faith removes our sin. Whether we’re rich or poor we should not let the circumstances of our life prevent us from believing in Christ. Like this man, when we come to Jesus he always responds with love and compassion; and whether or not our lives change we should take heart because the miracle of salvation has happened.
Verse 3, “This fellow is blaspheming.”
The more you confess your faith, the more you live your faith, the more you make Jesus apparent in your life; the more you will come up against people who say you are misguided.
It has been my observation that we are criticized from two different groups. The first are those who don’t believe. There will always be those who think the story of Jesus is a fairy tale, that we’re naïve to believe in Jesus and they like to try and prove we’re wrong. And it has been my experience that more than one “devote” atheist has asked me to pray for them or a family member and when I said “I thought you didn’t believe in God” They said “I don’t but I want to cover all bases.”
The second group who come against us are other believers. In our scripture those against Jesus are teachers of the law and Jesus says to them in verse 4, “Why are you thinking such evil thoughts?” These teachers supposedly know God and yet they are against Jesus because he is not doing things their way, he is saying things differently than they do. They are putting requirements onto scripture.
Christians need to stop thinking “I’m saved, but you’re not because your church does things different.” Romans 3:22, “Righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” Some churches say you’re not saved because you have a drink, because you don’t tithe, or because you watch shows about ghosts. These ideas put up stumbling blocks to someone’s faith. Romans 14:13,“Therefore, let us stop passing judgment…instead make up your mind not to place any stumbling blocks…in the way of a brother or sister.”
Our readings verse 6, “…the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”
Jesus went to the cross. Jesus is our interceder with God; Hebrews 7:25, “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to god through him because he always lives to intercede for them.” Jesus is the originator of our forgiveness.
Again verse 6, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Through his faith Jesus forgives this man’s sins and his miracle is he can walk. Through our faith Jesus forgives our sins and our miracle is salvation.
To this man Jesus says get up, to us Jesus says your life has changed, your circumstances have changed; you are no longer ruled by sin. 1 John 3:6 “Whoever abides in him does not sin.”
To this man Jesus says take your mat. His life has changed, he doesn’t need it anymore. To us Jesus says take your life and move forward. Your position with God has changed, don’t dwell on past sins. Live your life in God’s glory.
To this man Jesus says go home. To us Jesus says you will go home, you will walk into heaven.
Verse 7, “Then the man got up and went home,”
This man goes home after his encounter with Jesus, we will go to heaven after our encounter with Jesus.
Verse 8, “When the crowd saw this they were filled with awe, and they praised God.”
I know what I have done in my life, I know I still sin in my life. When I hear God telling me all I see is perfection when I look at you because all I see is Jesus righteousness when I look at you, all I can say is praise God.
When we see what Jesus did at the cross and how God sees us we should be in awe. We should praise Jesus for what he did at the cross; freeing us from sin. We should praise God because he will bring us home into his holy presence.
Verse 8, “…they praised God who had given such authority to man.”
I looked at a couple of translations and they all say “authority to man” not “authority to a man.” God gave Jesus the authority to forgive sins, and God gave man, each of us, authority over our own salvation. You have the authority from heaven to either believe in Christ or not to believe in Christ. You have the authority to choose. You don’t have to hope God arbitrarily chose you over someone else. You don’t have to worry if you did enough good in your life. You don’t have to worry if you’re better than someone else. You don’t need a minister or a church to officially by ceremony grant you salvation. You have all the authority over your choice and salvation. You choose, and from the moment you choose Jesus as your savior you are redeemed, glorified and the possessor of salvation.
So yes, whatever the language, these are the four greatest words on earth; your sins are forgiven.
Amen.