Matthew 9:1-6: a reflection

1He entered into a boat and crossed over, and came into his own city. 2Behold, they brought to him a man who was paralyzed, lying on a bed. Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, cheer up! Your sins are forgiven you.” 3Behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man blasphemes.” 4Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk’? 6But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins—” (then he said to the paralytic), “Get up, and take up your mat, and go to your house.”

When a paralyzed man is brought to Jesus, carried by his friends, Jesus does something that surprises everyone. Before healing his body, he addresses a deeper need: Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven. The scribes are scandalized, thinking Jesus is claiming an authority that belongs to God alone. But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, demonstrates that authority: Which is easier, to say your sins are forgiven, or to say rise and walk? To show that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, he then heals the man, who gets up and walks.

Notice what Jesus treats as the man's deepest need. The man came, or was brought, for physical healing; his paralysis was the obvious problem. But Jesus addresses first the deeper need: forgiveness. Before the body, he heals the soul; before the paralysis, he forgives the sins. And he heals the body partly to prove his authority to forgive, the greater and less visible gift. In Jesus' eyes, the man's deepest need was not to walk but to be forgiven.

That reorders our sense of what we most need. We come to God, often, with our obvious problems, our bodies, our circumstances, our felt needs, and these are real. But Jesus points to a deeper need beneath them all: forgiveness, the healing of the soul, being made right with God. And he has authority to give it. Whatever else you bring to Jesus, do not neglect your deepest need. He has authority on earth to forgive sins, and that forgiveness, more than any healing of circumstance, is the deepest gift. Come to him not only with your obvious needs but with your need for forgiveness, which he alone can give.

Lord Jesus, when the paralyzed man was brought to you, you addressed his deepest need first, forgiving his sins before healing his body, and proved your authority on earth to forgive. Reorder my sense of what I most need. I come to you often with my obvious problems, my circumstances, my felt needs, and these are real. But help me not neglect my deepest need: forgiveness, the healing of my soul, being made right with you. Thank you that you have authority to forgive, and that forgiveness is the greatest gift. Forgive me, and heal my soul.