Needs That Jesus Meets

GOLDEN TEXT: “And, behold, they brought to Him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed; and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of palsy: Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.” —Matthew 9:2

MATTHEW 9:1-13

IN TODAY’S lesson we find Jesus being opposed by “certain of the scribes,” who said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.” (vs. 3) Evidently they had heard Jesus say to the man “sick of the palsy: Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.” To the scribes it was blasphemy for any man to claim the authority to forgive sin.

Jesus read their thoughts, and said, “Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven; or to say; Arise and walk?” But Jesus did not let the matter rest with asking the question. He said to the sick man, “Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. And he arose, and departed to his house.” The “multitude,” seeing this miracle, “glorified God, which had given such power unto man.”

This account emphasizes the close relationship which exists between sin and sickness. Sickness is an evidence of the outworking of the death penalty, and “the wages of sin is death.” (Rom. 6:23) It is not necessary to suppose that this man who was “‘sick of the palsy” had committed some special sin which had brought this malady upon him. He was a member of the sin-cursed and dying race. Under this “curse” some suffer in one way and some in another, and this man became afflicted with palsy.

Nor is it necessary to suppose that in this case the death penalty was set aside completely so that the man never again became ill, and did not die as “all in Adam” do die. It was simply that he was partially, and temporarily, released from the ravages, or the poisonous sting of death as a demonstration of the glory and power of God as manifested through the ministry of Jesus. It was a proof that Jesus could forgive sin and heal the sinner.

In this as in all the mighty miracles performed by Jesus, we have a wonderful illustration of what is to be accomplished during the “times of restitution of all things.” (Acts 3:19-21) Then the sins of those who believe will be completely eradicated, and they will be permanently healed of all their diseases. Even the dead will be awakened and given an opportunity to participate in the blessings of that glad day.

The scribes and Pharisees were ever seeking opportunities to find fault with Jesus. He called Matthew, a tax collector, to be one of his followers; and then he sat down to eat with publicans and sinners. The Pharisees noted this and asked Jesus’ disciples about it. Jesus heard this, and replied, “They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.” Jesus added, “Go ye and learn what that meaneth.”

Here Jesus spoke symbolically, and left it to his enemies to interpret. Actually, of course, there is none righteous in the sense of being free from sin and from con condemnation to death. But the scribes and Pharisees claimed to be righteous, and held themselves aloof from the publicans and sinners of their day. True, to the extent that anyone at that time conformed his life to the righteous principles of the Law, and at heart was loyal to God, he was less a sinner than others, but still in need of the redeeming blood of Christ which was shortly to be shed on behalf of the whole world.

The fact that Jesus mingled with and ministered to those who made no special pretenses of righteousness, emphasized the real purpose of his coming, which was that the entire sinful world might eventually be called out of darkness and sin into light and life. Or, as Jesus stated it, he had come “to call sinners to repentance.” Anyone who was actually righteous would have no sins for which to repent.

Beginning with the first advent of Christ the whole world has been called to repentance. Paul said that now “God commandeth all men everywhere to repent.” (Acts 17:30) This means that the call to repentance has been general. However, after more than nineteen centuries it has reached no more than a comparatively few in a manner in which it could be understood and appreciated. Not until the kingdom age will this call to repentance effectively reach all mankind.

Those who, during the present age, hear and heed the call to repentance, are invited to take up their cross and follow Jesus. If faithful in this, they will be with him in his kingdom, and share his glory. Those in the next age who repent will be invited to “partake of the water of life,” and walk up the “way of holiness” to perfection and to life eternal on the earth. We are happy to realize that divine mercy and love are much broader than the narrow concepts of the scribes and Pharisees.—Isa. 35:8; Rev. 22:17

QUESTIONS

What is the relationship between sin and sickness?

In what sense did the man afflicted with palsy have his sin forgiven?

What was illustrated by this miracle of healing?

When, in the divine plan, did the call to repentance first go out to sinners?

When will alb hear that call?

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