Question on Matthew 9:4-8

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Aug 7, 2016
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Matthew 9:4But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Why do you harbor 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 mat, and go home.” 7And the man got up and went home.8When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.




I noticed that there was a authority thread going on already, but I figured I would post here instead, and get your take on what this could mean.


Is Jesus Christ who told the paralytic to get up in walk, also saying that we as people have the ability to forgive sins of others, no matter what type of sin it is, we can forgive them, and possibly love them in return?

Is the authority that was given to men the ability to forgive others just like Jesus Christ forgave us?

 
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trofimus

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2015
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#2
"Son of Man" refers to Christ. Not to all men.
 
Aug 7, 2016
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#3
"Son of Man" refers to Christ. Not to all men.
Oh okay brother, but what about the last verse that is what I find interesting.

Matthew 9:8 When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

Maybe it doesn't mean anything.
 

MarcR

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2015
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#4
Matthew 9:4But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Why do you harbor 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 mat, and go home.” 7And the man got up and went home.8When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.




I noticed that there was a authority thread going on already, but I figured I would post here instead, and get your take on what this could mean.


Is Jesus Christ who told the paralytic to get up in walk, also saying that we as people have the ability to forgive sins of others, no matter what type of sin it is, we can forgive them, and possibly love them in return?

Is the authority that was given to men the ability to forgive others just like Jesus Christ forgave us?

Jesus spoke as God; we are only His creation.
 
Aug 7, 2016
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#5
Jesus spoke as God; we are only His creation.
Okay, but you might be just mis-understanding what I'm trying to ask.
Maybe it is just the way I am looking at the scripture, friend in Christ Jesus.

Here is one more scripture about forgiving.

Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!

That is why I am asking the question I am asking, what authority was given to men in verse 8 in Matthew Chapter 9?

Or was there not any authority given to men in verse 8 in Matthew Chapter 9?

Was there more freedom in what Christ Jesus said, about forgiving, and helping out others even if the temple religious leaders did not think it was right to do on that day wasn't it the sabbath?
 

trofimus

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2015
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#6
Oh okay brother, but what about the last verse that is what I find interesting.

Matthew 9:8 When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

Maybe it doesn't mean anything.
I see...

I think that this sentence can be explained like "people rejoiced that God sent a man with such authority so that he could serve to other men (to heal them, to forgive their sins...)".

"Such authority" would refer to the person of Christ, in such a case.

But I may be wrong.
 

trofimus

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2015
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#7
Or, more simply, they meant that God gave such authority to one of men, i.e. to men (= humanity).

If some astronauts were given to walk on the moon, this ability was, in a sense, given to "humanity", but we know, its not given to all. But the few represent all "men".
 
Aug 7, 2016
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#8
I see...

I think that this sentence can be explained like "people rejoiced that God sent a man with such authority so that he could serve to other men (to heal them, to forgive their sins...)".

"Such authority" would refer to the person of Christ, in such a case.

But I may be wrong.
So if Jesus Christ in us, we are Christ like unto others? Unless I'm reading it wrong, but if I am not great point.

I just find it interesting that is all. Jesus Christ does tell us to forgive others, pray for others, even enemies.

Lets look at the whole context;

Matthew 9:1-8 New living translation

[FONT=&quot]1 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.”

Verse 1-2 :: So Jesus Christ came to his own town, and some people brought Him a helpless paralyzed man on a mat, and seeing the people having faith, Jesus said to the helpless paralyzed man, be encouraged, my child, your sins are forgiven.

Can't we say to someone who is down trotted and out, that their sins have been forgiven? That God loved them, that He sent His only Son Jesus Christ to die, for our sins, that we can have a relationship with Him, and His Father?

[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]3 But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves,That’s blasphemy! Does he think he’s God?”

Verse 3 So some of the teachers of the religious law, where looking at Jesus Christ and had heard that Jesus Christ told the paralyzed His sins where forgiven, and they believed only God could forgive man for sin. It was not like that this man Jesus Christ, who they don't believe is the messiah, can forgive anyone sins.

So do you understand now what I am saying that as human beings we can forgive other people for their sins that commit no matter how many times that they commit them, they can be forgive. The scripture I shared earlier was from Matthew 18 and Jesus Christ said we must forgive seventy times seven, meaning we are to forgive others for their own doings, and pray for them, and share God and the Lord Jesus Christ with them.

[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]4 Jesus knew[a] 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’?

Verse 4-5: Jesus Christ knew what they were thinking, so He asked them a question, saying which one is easier to say your sins are forgiven, or stand up and walk?

So which one is easier to do He is asking them, to tell this man His sins have been forgiven or stand up and walk.

6 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man[b] 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!

Verse 6: So Jesus Christ says to them, I have the authority on earth to forgive sins. Then Jesus Christ tells the man to stand up and go home. Jesus Christ had already forgiven the man of His sins, before hand, now He tells them to pick up his mat and Go home.

[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]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.

Verse 7-8 Why is this here exactly? I'm not sure, unless it is what I'm talking about under verse 3[/FONT]
 

MarcR

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2015
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#9
We are indeed both able and expected to forgive sins and wrongdoing against us. Only Jesus is able to forgive Sin against God.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
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#10
Is the authority that was given to men the ability
to forgive others just like Jesus Christ forgave us?
Forgiveness in Christ leads to eternal life.

The forgiveness we extend to others does not.
 

iamsoandso

Senior Member
Oct 6, 2011
7,773
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#11
Matthew 9:4But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Why do you harbor 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 mat, and go home.” 7And the man got up and went home.8When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.




I noticed that there was a authority thread going on already, but I figured I would post here instead, and get your take on what this could mean.


Is Jesus Christ who told the paralytic to get up in walk, also saying that we as people have the ability to forgive sins of others, no matter what type of sin it is, we can forgive them, and possibly love them in return?

Is the authority that was given to men the ability to forgive others just like Jesus Christ forgave us?


I think it's like this. I ask God to forgive me for the sins I commit and when I do i really deep down in my heart pray one deep down to the heart prayer when I ask for him to forgive me. It took me half my life to turn it around and pray deep down in my heart and forgive those who sinned against me the same way I had always ask for my own forgiveness.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
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#12
Is the authority that was given to men the ability to forgive others just like Jesus Christ forgave us?
There is a huge difference between men forgiving each other and God REMITTING THE SINS of sinners. And that is what is in view in this passage. The Son of Man is also the Son of God, and is indeed "God manifest in the flesh". Therefore He had the authority or power to REMIT the sins of sinners. Which means that God would not hold those sins against that sinner any longer. They were wiped off the record.

Human beings DO NOT have the ability to remit sins, and the Roman Catholic Church falsely teaches that their priests can give sinners absolution. We can simply forgive others their sins against us.
 
Apr 15, 2017
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#13
Matthew 9:4But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Why do you harbor 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 mat, and go home.” 7And the man got up and went home.8When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

I noticed that there was a authority thread going on already, but I figured I would post here instead, and get your take on what this could mean.

Is Jesus Christ who told the paralytic to get up in walk, also saying that we as people have the ability to forgive sins of others, no matter what type of sin it is, we can forgive them, and possibly love them in return?

Is the authority that was given to men the ability to forgive others just like Jesus Christ forgave us?

That is what the people thought that God gave such authority to men as common place,but it was Jesus who healed and forgave sins.

Jesus healed in the sense that He is the Spirit so He healed them by His Spirit,where people may lay hands on people and they are healed,but it is their faith that healed them,and it is God that healed them,and not by their power,but nobody can forgive sins but God alone,and Jesus is God.

How can we forgive sins for people do not repent to us,and people should not repent to a priest,for there is one God,and one mediator between God and men,the man Christ Jesus,and if we sin we have an advocate with the Father,Jesus Christ the righteous.

There is no middle man but the man Christ Jesus,and all sins are repented to God,and forgiven by God.

We can forgive the sins of others if they trespass against us,but that is according to us,and that is not forgiving them that it is off their record,for that is up to them to repent to God to get it off their record.
 
J

JB2018

Guest
#14
Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you: The faith of the paralyzed man's friends did something - they brought this man to Jesus. Yet they only thought of bringing him to Jesus for the healing of his body. They certainly didn't think that Jesus would forgive His sins.
i. But Jesus addressed the man's greater problem. As bad as it was to be paralyzed, it is infinitely worse to be bound and lost in your sin. ii. We need not infer that the man was paralyzed as the direct result of some sin that needed forgiving. This did not seem to be Jesus' point in saying, "your sins are forgiven you."
iii. Matthew Poole saw six reasons why Jesus dealt with the man's sin first.
- Because sin is the root from which all our evils come. - To show that forgiveness is more important than bodily healing. - To show that the most important thing Jesus came to do was to deal with sin. - To show that when a man's sins are forgiven, he becomes a son of God. - To show that the response to faith is the forgiveness of sin. - To begin an important conversation with the scribes and Pharisees.
This is from https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/archives/guzik_david/studyguide_mat/mat_9.cfm
The commentary of David Gurke
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
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#15
The word 'authority' is variously translated 'power' - even ye olde kjb gives both translations of exactly the same Greek in different places. So in the context of reading most English language Bibles, in many places the two terms should be thought of as synonymous. Here, it could be power just as well as authority; think of both interchangeably.

So we should ask, did the people marvel that God had vested such power in a human form, to heal this man? Or did they marvel that God had put the authority of forgiveness in the hand of what looked like a human being?

And, are the people in error, thinking Christ a mere man, at this point in Matthews account? Just because what a person or a group is thinking is recorded, even glorying God, doesn't necessarily mean they are doctrinally correct and that they understand the mystery of Christ, God enfleshed
 
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Joseppi

Senior Member
Jan 4, 2018
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#16
No man can easily forgive the sins of others because the price of sin has to be legally met.
Someone must pay the actual cost.
If a man stole a $1ooo from a widow, can another man walk up and forgive the widow’s thief? Or, lower the cost to $5oo?

A man can forgive sins if he is willing and able to pay the brutal cost of sin, eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, all manner of offense, unto life for a life.

This is why the blood of Jesus is most precious and vital to salvation, it is valuable enough to pay for the sins of the whole world, it redeems.

I think the Pharisees thought it easier to say , Thy sins are forgiven.
Legalists underestimate the cost.
Jesus’ question confounded the Pharisees.
If Jesus does the impossible thing before all eyes, even on the sabbath, then how great is his authority and power?
They didn’t know that forgiving sins was the harder thing for him to do.
Jesus could only have the power on earth to forgive sins by knowing he was slain from the foundation of the world.
Jesus was proving he would faithfully go to the cross, be crucified, and die to redeem mankind.

Matthew 9:
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.
 
Jun 1, 2016
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#17
Probably someone confised about verses like these....


john 20:22-23 " And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained."

matthew 16 " He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 20Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ."


its the constant problem of taking verses out of context if I would just show you a few examples like this, taken from context and then it appears i have some scriptural suppot to say " Jesus Gave the authority to men, to determine forgiveness of others"


the truth is, that He gave His disciples instructions He had taught them to forgive all offenses as many times as someone repents and asks. and then He makes that a very powerful warning in the parable of the unforgiving debtor. who is forgiven abundantly and then goes and refuses to give mercy to another. this man who refuses to give Mercy as He received it, angers the Lord and is brought back in front of Him and sentanced according to His debt.

Be Merciful and you will receive Mercy, forgive and you will be forgiven, judge not and you will not be Judged. our authority is to forgive others because we Love them. if were Gods children and we pray and forgive someone who offended us in some way, He hears this and will remit thier sins, based on our intercession. if we ask God to not Hold something against someone, He wont. as we Know He will give us anything we ask in prayer......His disciples who follow Him where He leads will always forgive and never bear a grudge is the thing.


sometimes its not a matter of us forgiveing someone, sometimes they dont want to be forgiven. often ive noticed if you loan money, and then someone doesnt pay you back, they never call or visit, like they used to. probably one of the reasons is they dont understand you have already prayed and forgiven them and asked God to forgive them.


when we are wronged By someone, it does matter to God Whether we forgive them or not. I Know that some things will not be forgiven, because they are unforgivable. and other things will not be forgiven, because some will not repent and ask for it. which is the saddest thing because its available to all men. those with the Holy spirit will always forgive because they will know the gospel principles "by the measure you use it will be measured to You" thats the believers authoirty How i treat others, will be my treatment. what i forgive will be forgiven, how i judge others is How i will be judged....
 
Jun 1, 2016
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#18
Paul actually makes a statement also someone could use as an example

2 corinthians 2 : So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. 8Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. 9For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.10To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;

 
Aug 7, 2016
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#19
Think that there has been enough answers to this to suffice my curiosity, Thanks to you all.

God bless :)
 

anerlogios

Junior Member
Mar 2, 2017
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#20
Or, more simply, they meant that God gave such authority to one of men, i.e. to men (= humanity).

If some astronauts were given to walk on the moon, this ability was, in a sense, given to "humanity", but we know, its not given to all. But the few represent all "men".
I agree. Verse 8 could be better read “When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe and glorified God for giving a man such authority.”