Jesus Takes Care of Our Most Pressing Need :: Matthew 9:1-8

Which is easier to say: Your sins are forgiven, or arise and walk? (v 5)

It seems to be such a simple question. Which is easier? Is this a trick question? Which is easier to say? Jesus doesn’t spell out the answer. Which is easier? 

For Jesus ... to forgive sins is difficult. He had to die to do that. 

At the same time, for you and me, it is also difficult to tell someone paralyzed by sin to rise and walk. So I was definitely impressed by my confirmation class at Trinity in Clinton on Thursday. I asked each of the students this question, and I was pleased to hear all of them say, with little if any hesitation, it is easier to say, your sins are forgiven. 

If only we all had such childlike faith to believe this Gospel that Jesus not only has the authority to do this ... he fulfills our most pressing need, forgiving our sins ... that is, sending away the very thing that paralyzes you ... and then having forgiven you, he enables you to do as he says, to be raised and go forth into our own house of prayer, thanking the Lord, singing his praise, and telling everyone what Jesus has done about ... 

OUR MOST PRESSING NEED

This is our theme.

I.

Let’s be honest with ourselves: Too often we think our most pressing need is self-preservation. We do NOT want to forget ... OR forgive ... those who hurt us. 

Sins are not mere mistakes or short-comings ... nor are they mere accidents. Sin is paralyzing. You have been trapped by your sins. And it is NOT easy to forgive those who sin against you! You cannot get RID of your sins. You cannot make your sins disappear. You cannot offer enough sacrifices. You are sinners who sin, doing the very things you hate. There is nothing we can say ... nothing we can do to make it disappear. There is no apology that will EVER suffice for people who hate. 

Sin is blinding. Sin is deafening. Sin is paralyzing ... all at the same time. Sin is the source of your pain and shame. So now, with this in mind, ask yourself again the question: Which is easier to say: Your sins are forgiven, or arise and walk? (v 5)

II.

I am not sure that there are many ailments in this life that could possibly create more pressing needs than being paralyzed. When you lose one of your senses ... say your eyesight ... the body and the brain compensate for our great need to see by enhancing the other senses ... hearing, smell, taste, and touch. But to be paralyzed means you are totally dependent on other people. You can’t move. You can’t work. You are trapped physically. You are isolated socially. You are powerless. You are at the mercy of others for all your pressing needs. People who are paralyzed have to be bathed ... they have to be fed ... they have to be clothed. 

So now, with this in mind, ask again the question: Which is easier to say: Your sins are forgiven, or arise and walk? (v 5) 

You wouldn’t say to someone paralyzed, get a job, you slob, would you?

III.

Before we try to answer this question, it would be helpful to hear our reading again. 

In the Gospel of Matthew, our Lord Jesus has begun fulfilling his most pressing need. After preaching the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus cleanses a leper with a simple touch and a word (8:3). He heals the Centurion’s servant with just a word (8:13) and then Peter’s mother-in-law with just a touch (8:14). He goes on from there to cast out more demons and to heal many who were sick (Mt 8:16-17). When he finally calms a storm with just a word, his disciples begin to wonder, Who is this that even the winds and sea obey him? (8:27)

After Jesus cast out more demons in the region of the Decapolis ... and the people there chased him away thinking they didn’t need Jesus at all, Matthew writes: He embarked a boat, crossed over [the Sea of Galilee], and came to his own city ... which according to Matthew chapter 4 [v 13] would be Capernaum. And behold, (the people) were bringing him a paralytic who had been cast upon a recliner. And having seen their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, Take heart, my child, your sins are being sent away ... you know, forgiven.

And behold, some of the scribes said in themselves, This is blasphemy (vv 1-3) because we think only God can announce that, right? 

Then Jesus, having seen their thoughts, said, Why do you think evil in your hearts? In other words, why would you think it’s immoral that Jesus would announce the forgiveness of sins. Do you not have a more pressing need? Why would you think it is demeaning? Why would you not want people to have their most pressing need taken care of first? 

Then Jesus said: For which is easier to say, Your sins are being sent away? Or to say, Rise and walk? But so that you may know that the Son of Man holds authority upon the earth to forgive sins, [Jesus] then said to the paralytic, when you have arisen, take your recliner, and go home. And having been raised, [the man who once was paralyzed] went into his house (vv 4-7). 

Do you see what has happened? Jesus fulfilled the man’s most pressing need first, and then made him whole. And he offers you the same! And the crowds, when they saw this, became filled with reverential fear and glorified God, who gave such authority to men (Mt 9:1-8).

IV.

Please now open your (Lutheran Service Book) to page 324, and join me in our pressing need to continue confessing our faithful doctrine on the Fifth Petition of the Lord’s Prayer. 

What is the Fifth Petition? And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. What does this mean? We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look at our sins, or deny our prayer because of them. We are neither worthy of the things for which we pray, nor have we deserved them, but we ask that he would give them all to us by grace, for we daily sin much and surely deserve nothing but punishment. So we too will sincerely forgive and gladly do good to those who sin against us.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, receiving and giving the forgiveness of sins is our most pressing need. And the Office of the Keys is truly a wonderful gift God has given to you. 

Jesus has taken your sins from you, given you his righteousness, and has announced the forgiveness of sins is not only yours, but yours to give. Your sins have been ... and continue to be ... forgiven / released / sent away / remitted on account of Christ ... his birth, his life, his death, his resurrection, and his ascension. And because he has forgiven you, dismissing your sins, sending them away, you can now forgive others. 

So what are you waiting for? 

Christians forgive those who sin against them, just like our Lord and Savior.

Without the forgiveness of sins we are enemies of God and each other. ... We are separated from God and each other. ... We are lost in the darkness of sin ... blind to our own self-righteousness ... deaf to proclamation of the Gospel ... paralyzed by fear that we will show weakness or vulnerability when we forgive others and enable others to receive it.

We always need the forgiveness of sins. And today ... after being brought to God’s house, carried here first as infants to this font ... (or one just like it) ... Jesus not only has declared your sins are BEING forgiven ... BEING sent away, removed, remitted, canceled, paid for ... but that this is already a done deal. Jesus has united himself with you.

First, he took all of your sin ... yesterday’s, today’s, and tomorrow’s ... from you. Our Lord and Savior was born for this reason. He lived his life without sin so that his death on a cross would atone for not only your sin but the sin of the entire world. He fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, taking our weaknesses and bearing our diseases. The Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all. By his stripes we are healed (Is 53:4-5).

Because Jesus shed his blood on a cross ... forgiveness is now freely given to you and me ... at the altar with his body and blood. He alone gives us what we need the most. Without his blood there is no forgiveness of sins (Hb 9:22). So as we heard last week, come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden, I will give you rest (Mt 11:25). Jesus will take care of your most pressing need. Then together we can give glory to God that he has given such a gift to men (v 8). 

V.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, may God awaken in all of us an awareness of this most pressing need so that we never despise his gifts. Without the forgiveness of sins, we will have no life and salvation. This is why he encourages us to take heart ... that is, be of good courage ... trusting in our Lord who longs to fulfill that need. As we receive the forgiveness of sins, we learn to believe that Christ, out of his great love, died and rose again. As we give the forgiveness of sins, we learn to love God and our neighbor. We learn the Gospel gives us joy and chases away our anxiety.

So which is easier to say? 

The Son of Man holds authority upon the earth to forgive sins, and he has done so. So do this. Then having been raised, you who were once paralyzed, will be free ... thanks be to God. It is now much easier to go and do those things that are pleasing to him so that others will see your good deeds and glorify the giver of all good things. Let it always be done ... in Jesus’ name.