Matthew 9:1-8

The Healing of the Paralytic (Mark 2:1 * Luke 5:17). Mt. here resumes Mk.'s order; Matthew 8:18 *. As usual he condenses the narrative, saying nothing of the dense crowd round the house or of the device employed by the sick man's friends. For faith winning blessings for others cf. Matthew 8:13, James 5:15. The beginnings of official opposition are seen in Matthew 9:3, they culminate in Matthew 12:14. The question in Matthew 9:5 implies that it is equally difficult to say effectually either thy sins are forgiven or arise and walk for suffering was universally held to be the sequence of sin (cf John 9:2), and the only possible proof of forgiveness would be a cure. It is quite permissible to take Son of Man in Matthew 9:6 as meaning man, but human ability to forgive sins is delegated authority (Matthew 9:8) rather than inherent power.