Daily Devotional For Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Good morning everyone. As we continue to make our way through Matthew’s Gospel, today we come to Matthew 9:1-8:
“Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to His own town.(2) Some people brought to Him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, ‘Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.’ (3) But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, ‘That’s blasphemy! Does He think He’s God?’ (4) Jesus knew what they were thinking, so He asked them, ‘Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? (5) Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? (6) So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.’ Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!’ (7) And the man jumped up and went home! (8) Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen. And they praised God for giving humans such authority” (NLT).
It says that Jesus got in a boat with His disciples and traveled back to His own town. Notice it does not say, “home town,” but “own town.” Jesus’ hometown was Nazareth but His own town was His base of operation – Capernaum. This city was located on the Sea of Galilee and was a wealthy city due to the fishing business and trade. It was also a melting pot of different cultures, religions and politics. It was a very eclectic town. It was also the home of a Roman garrison.
Returning to the town where He had previously performed miracles, when people heard Jesus was there, they brought a paralyzed man on a mat to Jesus to heal. Matthew leaves out some details that Mark’s Gospel gives us. There were so many people around the house where Jesus was staying that these friends could not get their paralyzed friend into the house. So, they thought “outside of the box” and got creative. Since most Jewish homes had outside steps going up to the roof, these four friends used the outside steps to carry their friend up on top of the roof. Once there, they made a hole in the roof to lower their paralyzed friend right in front of Jesus. Nothing is said of the homeowner and his reaction to this.
Why did Matthew omit these details? That is a good question. It may have to do with Matthew’s emphasis on Jesus’ authority. Matthew emphasizes Jesus’ authority in these ways:
- Matthew emphasized Jesus’ authority in His teaching (Matthew 7:28-29).
- Matthew emphasizes Jesus’ authority to heal diseases (Matthew 8:1-17).
- Matthew emphasizes Jesus’ authority over all other loyalties and allegiances (Matthew 8:18-22).
- Matthew emphasizes Jesus’ authority over nature (Matthew 8:23-27).
- Matthew emphasizes Jesus’ authority over demons (Matthew 8:16 and Matthew 8:28-34).
- Here, Matthew emphasizes Jesus’ authority to forgive sins.
Jesus first acknowledged that the man’s paralysis was due to some sin he had committed. Often in the Scriptures forgiveness and healing go hand in hand (Psalm 41:4-5, Psalm 103:2-3 and James 5:13-18). Jesus addressed what was most important – the man’s spiritual condition before healing his physical condition. It wasn’t just his legs that were paralyzed; it was his heart also. The word translated as forgiven is [ἀφίημι; aphiemi]. It means “to leave or let go, to give up a debt, to send away from oneself.” When we forgive someone who has sinned against us, this means we have initiated the steps to restore our relationship despite the wrong that the person did. This never erases or changes what they did to us.
This word has two major implications for us today. First, Jesus’ death on the cross satisfied God’s payment for our sin according to the Old Testament Law. Jesus removed our debt on the cross and that debt can never be held against us if we receive His free gift of salvation. Second, our guilt is removed and replaced with Christ’s grace. Jesus could have just healed the man physically and left him in a far worse condition spiritually. By dealing with both the man’s spiritual and physical illnesses, he left the man in a far better position relationally with God the Father.
What these four friends did not only required faith that Jesus would heal their friend, it took boldness, courage and precise measurements to lower the man right in front of Jesus. In that day, people believed that all sicknesses, ailments, deformities, disabilities and lameness were due to sin. Jesus rebuked that thinking in John 9:1-3. There are many infirmities that are the result of sin. Jesus heals this man and his friends are elated, but not everyone in the room shares that same feeling. The religious leaders, the joy killers in the New Testament, had a meltdown when Jesus said the man’s sins were forgiven.
If Jesus had been a mere man, yes, they would have been right to charge Jesus with blasphemy. But Jesus was no mere man; He was God in human flesh. Knowing what they were thinking in their hearts and acting quickly so that their false claims could infect those around the house, Jesus swiftly confronted them telling them He knew what they were thinking. This had to shock them just as much as He had shocked them.
To prove He had the authority to forgive this man’s sin, Jesus told him to get up and walk. This had to be a shock to those listening. If the man had groaned and moaned and was unable to get up and walk, Jesus would have been seen as a fake and a fraud. The Bible says the crowd was filled with awe. Mark 2:12 states this, “They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming,’ ‘We’ve never seen anything like this before!’” (NLT). I call this the “Gomer Pyle” reaction (if you remember the TV show from the mid 60’s). Meaning there was clapping, singing, dancing and celebration minus the party pooper religious leaders. No one could deny what they had just witnessed.
Assignment: These 4 friends did not let anything or anyone stop them from getting their friend before Jesus. What excuses or obstacles do you allow to keep you from getting your lost friends to Jesus? What are some illnesses or problems in your life that are due to your sins? Confess them and receive God’s forgiveness and grace for them.
Scripture To Meditate On: Psalm 32:1, 5, “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! . . . (5) Finally, I confessed all my sins to You and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, ‘I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.’ And You forgave me! All my guilt is gone” (NLT).
Prayer To Pray: “Lord, please forgive me when I do not do what is necessary to get my lost friends to You. Lord, forgive me when I love myself more than I love You and my lost friends. Use me this week to get my friends to You and watch you change their lives forever. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly