Matthew 9:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Yet, when this man was healed, the religious leaders said nothing, whereas they relentlessly persecuted the Lord for healing the other.

I share these comparisons not out of mere whimsy but to clarify that those who may confuse the two paralyzed individuals should not assume that the evangelists contradict one another. Observe the humility and gentleness of the Lord. Even when He faced rejection from the residents of Gadara and the people of Gerasa, He did not confront them but chose to move on peacefully, remaining nearby. He did not always seek to perform miracles, wanting to maintain a certain order in His ministry. Matthew mentions simply that the paralytic was brought to Him; however, the other evangelists provide additional details, noting that those who assisted him opened the roof to lower him before Jesus without uttering a word, entrusting everything to the Savior’s discretion.

Prior to this, the Lord traveled through various regions, not demanding faith from those who approached Him; yet, now these individuals demonstrated their faith by their actions, as the Evangelist clearly states: when Jesus saw their faith—referring specifically to those who lowered the paralytic. The Savior did not always insist upon faith from the afflicted, especially if they were suffering from madness or other ailments that obscured their reason. Nevertheless, in this case, the paralyzed man exhibited faith. Had he lacked faith, he would not have allowed himself to be lowered. Therefore, since both the afflicted man and his companions displayed remarkable faith, the Lord manifested His divine authority by forgiving the man's sins, as He had the power to do so.

Indeed, the word of the Lord reaches him, purifying and healing him: it cleanses his hidden sins and restores his visible body, demonstrating through both apparent and concealed acts that He (Christ) is God in the unseen and man in the seen. His external human form made it clear that He was man, while His inner majesty suggested His divinity. “Thy sins are remitted unto thee.” What transgressions did He forgive? Undoubtedly, those committed against Him. Therefore, how could He be opposed to the law? What obligations did people have to Him or His Father, when they recognized neither His power in reality nor in the law (cf. Acts 17:27)? How could Jesus absolve sins that indebted one to the God of the law, if He was not connected to Him by birth? Clearly, this indicates He is His Son. Since the paralytic had sinned against Him, he was punished physically. According to the perspective of Jason, they question why it was necessary for the Lord to declare, “Thy sins are forgiven thee”? It would not have been required if that afflicted man’s debilitation was not the result of sin. Moreover, why did He grant forgiveness if the paralytic was not His direct debtor? Or, if he was not indebted to Him, what benefit did it provide him that the Lord said, “Thy sins are forgiven thee”? For even without the remission of his sins, the paralytic would not have suffered at all, as he had been graciously and kindly liberated from punishment.

Furthermore, He performed the healing on the Sabbath in one instance, prompting objections from the Jews, while on this occasion, He healed on a different day, which elicited no complaints.

As noted in the accounts of Mark (Mark 2:4) and Luke (Luke 5:19), those who brought the paralytic, unable to access the house due to the multitude, ascended to the roof where Jesus was teaching. They then made an opening in the roof and lowered the bed upon which the paralytic lay. Their actions were a testament to their profound faith, demonstrating their determination not to succumb to despair, but rather to exert every effort to present the sick man to the Savior, firmly believing in his immediate healing. The faith recognized by Jesus encompassed not just that of the bearers but also of the paralytic himself; he would not have allowed himself to be lowered if he had not held faith in his healing.

Upon witnessing their unwavering faith, Jesus initially forgives the paralytic's sins before addressing his physical ailment, thereby indicating that many afflictions are rooted in sin. This is echoed in His words to the paralytic recounted by John: “Behold, you are healed; sin no more, lest something worse happen to you” (John 5:14). This dual action highlights the belief that while saints may heal physical ailments, the power to forgive sins belongs solely to God. This distinction is what incited the ire of the scribes.

The Lord, witnessing their faith, acknowledges the offering of the apostles, who serve as our teachers and intercessors before God. In response, He extends the gift of adoption to those who are incomplete, saying to each one presented, ‘Take courage, child; your sins are forgiven.’ He urges them to release their dread of sin, for it has been removed; to abandon their fear of impending judgment, as through the acceptance of the message delivered to them, they have become His children and heirs. This divine act also occurs through holy Baptism, where we are renewed by the Spirit of adoption, experiencing the remission of past sins and, as promised, becoming heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.

Whose faith did Christ recognize? The faith of both the afflicted man and those who carried him. Jesus referred to them in the plural form, indicating that not only the paralytic hoped for healing but also those who bore him to Christ. Likely, they were his relatives, friends, neighbors, or other compassionate individuals. Their act demonstrated both their faith and that of the paralytic. For had the paralytic lacked belief, Jesus would not have addressed him as "child"; had the bearers lacked faith, they would not have shown such diligence in bringing him or climbing to the roof, as recorded by Mark, to lower him down before the Savior (Mark 2:4). Understanding their faith, Jesus spoke to the paralytic, saying, "Child, do not be afraid, but take heart: your sins are forgiven." These words signify that the paralytic not only had faith in Jesus but also repented of his sins, for no unbeliever is deemed a child of God, nor does an unrepentant individual receive forgiveness. Belief in Christ grants the gift of sonship, transforming a person into a child of God. "But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12). Genuine repentance leads to forgiveness of sins. Therefore, the God-Man teaches that it is essential not only to proclaim repentance in His name but also to declare forgiveness through repentance: "and to preach in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins to all nations" (Luke 24:47). Notice that Jesus first forgave the sins of the paralytic, addressing his spiritual ailment before healing his physical one. This illustrates that often we suffer weakness due to sin. When we repent for our transgressions, we are restored to physical health. What then transpired when Jesus proclaimed to the paralytic, "Your sins are forgiven"?

In the Eastern homes, the layout typically formed a quadrangle surrounding an inner courtyard, and perhaps to accommodate more listeners, the Saviour taught there instead of inside the living areas. The courtyard was sheltered from the sun by lightweight coverings made of leather and fabric, which could be easily taken down without endangering those in the courtyard. The flat rooftops were bordered by railings, allowing enough room for movement, and ladders were available from both the courtyard and the street. Therefore, the compassionate individuals who brought the paralyzed man used these ladders to lower him to the feet of the Lord Jesus. In this action, they expressed their faith without uttering a word. St. Chrysostom notes that the Saviour did not always require faith from those who were suffering, particularly when they lacked awareness or had lost it due to illness. Yet in this instance, the sick man demonstrated his faith, for if he had not believed, he would not have consented to be carried to the roof and lowered to Christ. Such is the power of fervent desire, fueled by love. Indeed, "he that seeketh finds, and to him that knocketh it shall be opened" (Luke 11:10). Hence, since both the paralyzed man and his bearers displayed such faith, the Lord revealed His divine power: "And seeing THEIR faith, HE said to the paralyzed man, conscious of his sins and perhaps too ashamed to raise his eyes to the Healer, 'Take heart, my child! Your sins, which weigh heavily on your soul, are forgiven.'” This illustrates how the Giver of all blessings often provides them before we even ask, granting us gifts surpassing our requests. It also affirms the truth that the prayer of faith can bring healing to the sick, as the holy Apostle James teaches: "And the prayer of faith shall heal him that is sick, and the Lord shall restore him: and if he hath committed sins, they shall be forgiven him" (James 5:15). St. Philaret of Moscow reflected, "God alone grants forgiveness of sins; faith alone appropriates it. His mercy alone will not suffice; our faith must engage as well. But how can one believe and another be healed, one believe and another be absolved? Spirit transcends flesh; grace surpasses nature; faith transcends reason; thus, it is unsurprising that the workings of the spirit are elusive to the flesh, the workings of grace unclear to nature, and the workings of faith a mystery to reason. Nonetheless, there exists a certain knowledge of faith (Hebrews 11:3) regarding itself and its saving acts. The souls of those who brought the paralyzed man sought Christ through their faith while also demonstrating compassion for the paralyzed man's affliction. Jesus recognized their faith, and grace flowed from Him to the soul and body of the paralyzed man, whose soul was open to receive this grace through faith. Sin, that affliction of the soul, often underlies physical illness; for instance, paralysis might arise from indulgence or intoxication. The Lord, who embodies the heart of God, perceived the anguished soul of the sick man—understanding that he suffered far more from his sins than from his physical condition. Thus, He first addressed the root of the ailment—He forgave the man's sins, addressing him with the loving term of 'child,' demonstrating His divine authority and equality with God the Father. Even His adversaries were compelled to acknowledge this divine authority by their own words. St. Chrysostom remarked, "The Saviour was free from ambition; He did not hasten to heal the paralytic’s body but awaited an opportunity from His adversaries to first heal the invisible, that is, the soul, by forgiving sins—an act that ultimately brought healing to the paralytic yet drew little glory for the Healer. The scribes, filled with resentment and seeking to accuse Him of blasphemy, unintentionally glorified Him through this healing."

Given this layout, it was not necessary to dismantle the ceiling to lower the paralyzed man; rather, one would need to ascend an external ladder to the rooftop, reach the courtyard's edge covered with a temporary roof, remove a few boards, and lower the man using ropes. According to Mark’s account, four individuals carried the paralytic (Mark 2:3), which was manageable for them. The courtyard was typically larger than the individual rooms, suggesting that Jesus was likely teaching there to accommodate more listeners. Thus, as Jesus was preaching and everyone’s attention was focused on Him, the paralyzed man was lowered to His feet. It was only due to their deep faith in Jesus’ power that his companions undertook such a bold act. Upon seeing their faith, Jesus addressed the man, saying, "Go ahead, child, your sins are forgiven you" (Luke 5:20). In granting forgiveness, Jesus highlighted the sinful nature of the man's past as a possible reason for his affliction; it is possible that his own excesses and moral failings had led him to this condition, leading him to feel unworthy to seek healing. According to Matthew, Jesus reassured the paralyzed man with, "Courage, child, your sins are forgiven you," instilling him with hope for healing. Through his humility, acknowledgment of sin, and strong faith, the man’s sins were absolved, and the root of his sickness was removed.

When the Lord boldly declares, "thy sins are forgiven thee," he is addressing the understanding that, according to Scripture, illnesses often stem from sin (John 9:2, James 5:14, 15) and can sometimes be sent by God as divine retribution (1 Cor. 5:3-5, 1 Cor. 11:30, 2 Sam. 24:10-14). Frequently, there is a clear link between moral wrongdoing and physical ailments, such as those arising from greed or drunkenness. Thus, for healing to occur, it is essential to address the sin, necessitating God's forgiveness; removing the root cause will consequently eliminate the resultant affliction. The Lord discerned that the moral root of the paralytic's condition lay in sin (possibly greed), which is why He first speaks of sin's forgiveness as a requisite for physical healing. It is likely that the sick man was acutely aware of his wrongdoings, possibly feeling too sinful to expect the Savior's grace. In response, the Savior reassures him, saying, "Have courage, child."