Matthew 9:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This authority was affirmed not only through His words but also through His actions. He posed the question: “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?” (Matthew 9:5). The answer remained unspoken in the hearts of those present; they had to acknowledge that mere human ability cannot command a sick man to “Rise and walk,” indicating the necessity of divine power for such a healing. Equally, it is divine strength that can proclaim to a sinner, “Your sins are forgiven,” providing true spiritual cleansing. The divine authority manifests equally in both instances, but the effect of sin's forgiveness, which pertains to the soul, may not be as immediately apparent as the bodily healing, which appeals to the senses. Thus, Christ healed the paralyzed man with a command, showcasing His divine capability to forgive sins.

One might ponder which declaration brought greater joy to the healed man: “Your sins are forgiven” or “Get up and walk”? I would argue that the assurance of forgiveness brought him more profound joy, as the health of the soul is of greater significance than that of the body. This supreme joy is also offered to you, dear brothers and sisters. The Lord manifested His divine ability to forgive sins over the paralyzed man so that it would not be limited to him alone but available to us all. Are any among you without sin? I doubt anyone would claim such a thing. If someone did, the astonishment of others would quickly challenge that presumption. If you are not without sin, then you bear guilt; if you are guilty, you deserve punishment that is neither small nor fleeting, for the majesty of God, offended by sin, is infinitely high and eternal. What should you do? Cease from sin? If that is your choice, it will not save you. A thief or murderer does not cease to deserve punishment simply by refraining from their crimes. What about doing good? This is commendable, but the good you undertake today fulfills your obligation today, failing to compensate for the wrongs done in the past, though it might amend them to some degree. Striving harder to do good is also commendable, yet it cannot completely atone for previous wrongs. Each day, you are called to do good with all the strength you possess, meaning no action exceeds your duty as a merit to atone for prior sins.

Furthermore, those wiser in the battle against sin than we may affirm that an individual, marred by ancestral sin and compounded by personal transgressions, lacks the strength to liberate themselves from sin and to do good perfectly. The Apostle Paul confesses, “I am of the flesh, sold under sin. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate” (Romans 7:14-15). He also states that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), and “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18). Given this, is not the fate of the sinner tragic, fearful, and even desperate by itself? Indeed, it would be, were it not for God the Word presenting the message of forgiveness, “Your sins are forgiven.” This was spoken both to the sinner and the paralyzed man, and he was restored so that we might know that Christ not only grants pardon for past sins but also the strength to resist sin and pursue good in the days to come. What comfort! What joy! May those weighed down by the burden of sin find solace! May they lift their eyes with courage before God's judgment! May the despairing rediscover hope! May the faithful be filled with joy! Let our hearts cling to Christ the Redeemer in heartfelt gratitude!

Another divine act of Christ the Redeemer in the Gospel story is His demonstration of omniscience. When some who did not recognize His divinity heard Him proclaim, “Your sins are forgiven,” they thought He was claiming an authority that did not belong to Him, and worse still, they reinforced this mistaken notion with disdain, accusing Him of blasphemy. They likely hesitated to express this openly in front of the crowd, who were in awe of Jesus' teaching and miracles. But the Lord did not permit their unjust and foolish thoughts to linger unchallenged: “Why do you think evil in your hearts?” (Matthew 9:4) With this remark, He disproved their erroneous assumptions and revealed to them the knowledge they lacked—namely, that He embodies the heart of God.

Consider what this display of omniscience meant for those it concerned. They must have felt unsafe exposing their unwholesome thoughts in public. How bewildered and astonished they were when their concealed intentions were revealed, along with the discreditable truth of their insincerity and cowardice. And ultimately, through the miraculous words and deeds of the Lord Jesus, it was shown that their thoughts were not just unfounded, but culpable! Beloved, let us recognize that Christ and the Gospel are not only addressing the scribes and the Jewish populace of the past, but speaking to us today. Let us reflect on how omniscience impacts our own lives. Do we not sometimes entertain thoughts that, if laid bare, would bring us shame before those who strive for righteousness? Thoughts of unjust or biased judgment, hatred, envy, pride, and illicit desire—do we not secure ourselves with false confidence that they remain hidden? How we deceive ourselves! Allowing an evil thought to linger in our hearts reveals our shame before the inner mirror of human and Christian dignity. Yet this self-awareness pales in comparison to the certainty of a witnessing truth even more significant and daunting. God’s omniscience perceives our most private thoughts, probing our hearts and asking, “Why do you harbor evil thoughts?” If we remain deaf to this rebuke, it is still true, and all the more severe for those who ignore the urgency of this divine reminder. Judgments will come when the Lord arrives, “who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness, and will disclose the purposes of the heart” (1 Corinthians 4:5). In that day, hiding from eternal disgrace will be too late, and in vain will those ashamed and terrified seek refuge, crying out to the mountains, “Fall on us,” and to the hills, “Cover us” (Luke 23:30). Now is the time for us to earnestly expel from our hearts the thoughts that would ultimately bring us shame before heaven and earth. “O Lord, do not cast us away” (Psalm 69:6), let Your omniscient gaze not only correct us but cleanse us of the unworthy thoughts that violate Your sight!

The third divine act of Christ the Redeemer that we have considered in this narrative is the miracle of healing. It is noteworthy that the word of the Lord, which brings healing, did not first appear until after His declaration that sins are forgiven. This connection between the affliction of the soul and the affliction of the body is clear; the sin dwelling within the soul would obstruct the healing of the body if not addressed first. The soul's illness must be removed before it can cease to harm the body. The impure shadows within must be cleared away so that the pure light of God may come close and restore the body. Do you sometimes lament that in our day miraculous healings and divine favors seem less frequent or evident than in the Gospel accounts? - Our focus should be redirected toward the true source of this grief: ourselves, our lack of faith, and our unclean deeds. “Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God” (Isaiah 59:2), warns the prophet. The compassionate God desires to draw near and do you good; however, your sins encircle you like shadows, blocking the reception of His enlightening grace. Hence, strive fervently to cleanse your soul from sin; let the life-giving word declare within you, “Your sins are forgiven,” and then you will witness many additional divine favors manifesting, often, visibly, and miraculously.

Finally, I draw our attention to the differing judgments of individuals regarding the actions of Christ the Redeemer that we have explored. Consider one response: “When the crowd saw it, they were amazed and glorified God for giving such authority to men.” Then there is a contrasting judgment: “This man blasphemes.” Whose verdict is this? The scribes—individuals who, by today’s standards, would be termed educated, enlightened scholars! What a contrast! The ordinary people, lacking full understanding of God through Jesus, still recognized God's power in His miraculous works and praised Him, whereas the learned denounced Jesus for blasphemy. Why is this? The common folk, although not formally enlightened, genuinely heeded their innate sense of reason and right, while the educated were blinded by arrogance. They sought to impose their limited understanding on God's actions rather than seeking the truth within His marvelous works. They presumed that God must comply with the confines of their prescribed notions and interpretations.

Do you not think, dear brothers, that we should take heed of this cautionary tale? Who does not appreciate the light? Who longs for darkness? Yet, what is the truth's call? “Be the true light, shining brightly.” There is also a false light, which merely glimmers superficially without bringing true enlightenment. Can we not find ourselves, as they did in Judea, where those seduced by superficial understanding fail to accept the deeper, transformative light? Do you not encounter people who might not wish to be labeled scribes yet believe themselves qualified to pass judgment on the sacraments of Faith, the wisdom of the Church, and the workings of divine Providence through the ages? The Apostolic counsel assures us that we must be wary of these dangers. To the Christian wise among us, including both you and me, the Apostle provides guidance: “For I say through the grace given to me, to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned” (Romans 12:3).

O Christ, true Light! Illuminate us with Your brilliance, instruct us through Your word, guide us with Your wisdom, and endow us with the Spirit of humility, so that He may subdue in us any arrogance that rises against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Let us realize how insufficient and untrustworthy is the wisdom of this world, which purports to adorn the mind but fails to enrich the heart; rich in dialogues and ideas yet impoverished in actions, easily ready to judge and condemn but powerless to save. To You, we confess our sins; to You, we commit to follow; we marvel at Your works of salvation; we glorify You, O Christ, in whom resides God’s power and wisdom. Amen.

If the Jewish leaders had maintained this understanding, they might have gradually learned that Christ is indeed the Son of God. Following His healing of the paralytic, Christ the Savior chose not to remain in Capernaum ‘lest, as St. Chrysostom notes, His continued presence provoke greater envy among the scribes; thus, He departed.’ Similarly, we should refrain from provoking our adversaries with our presence and, to quell their anger, consider withdrawing from them. ‘Brothers,’ teaches St. Philaret of Moscow, ‘the engagement of Christ and the Gospel is now directed not at the scribes and the people of Judaea, but at us. We need to reflect on the impact of His omniscience in our lives. Do unworthy thoughts of injustice, partiality, hatred, envy, pride, or illicit desires not occasionally invade our hearts while we falsely believe they remain unnoticed? How deceptive we can be towards ourselves in this regard! If we permit an evil thought to reside in our heart without rejecting it, we are already humbled when reflecting in the inner mirror of our conscience. Yet this is not all; a far more significant and formidable witness to our hidden thoughts exists. God’s omniscience permeates our innermost reflections. A day will arrive when this reproving omniscience shall be unveiled to all, as the Lord will come to illuminate the concealed and expose the intentions of the heart (1 Cor. 4:5). By then, it will be too late to escape the shame of eternal disgrace, and those who are ashamed and fearful will in vain seek refuge in the mountains, pleading, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ (Luke 23:30). Thus, let us resolutely begin to expel from our hearts any thoughts that might ultimately bring us shame before Heaven and earth.’ The Lord understands the heart of each individual and knows when someone is prepared to follow Him, calling each person at the appointed moment. For Matthew, the tax collector, who recounts his experience, the time of God's calling had indeed arrived.

As narrated by Mark (5:4), those who brought the paralyzed man made great effort to remove the roof. This suggests they likely disturbed the house's roof, which involved removing the mortar that held the tiles, excavating the earth, and ultimately breaking through the ceiling. The pallet upon which the sick man was carried was probably lightweight, easily transportable, and akin to felt, suited for resting wherever there was a need, as in this situation. Noticing the faith of those who assisted the sick man, Jesus addressed the paralyzed individual with the words: 'Child, your sins are forgiven you.' The Pharisees present interpreted this statement as blasphemy, reasoning that only God possesses the authority to forgive sins. In response, Christ conveyed that healing a sick person is no more difficult than forgiving sins; thus, if they acknowledged His capability to perform healing—something that was undeniable—they should also recognize His authority to forgive transgressions. To prevent the Pharisees from doubting the authenticity of His proclamation, 'Thy sins are forgiven thee,' Jesus instructed the healed man: 'Arise, take up thy bed, and go into thy house.' The immediate effect of the Lord's command would lead the Pharisees to conclude that His earlier statement of forgiveness was equally effective. The phrase 'Son of man on earth' stands in contrast to the notion of God, Who resides in heaven, as indicated by the Pharisees' perspective.

This is indicated by the words of Matthew, the Evangelist, who notes that the crowd reacted with wonder and praised God for endowing humanity with such authority; their glorification of God for bestowing such power upon individuals implies they viewed Jesus as merely a man, possibly a prophet. According to Mark the Evangelist, those present remarked, ‘Never have we seen anything like this’ (Mark 2:12).