Jesus Forgives a Paralytic’s Sins and Then Heals Him
Matthew 9:1–8
1 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
2 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 the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
7 And he arose, and departed to his house.
8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote:
“. . . [W]hen Jesus both performed miracles and said He was the Son of God, who could deny the fact? . . .
“. . . He forgave sins (which none but God can do), and then to prove He had the power so to act, He healed the same person from his palsy. ‘Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee,’ He said [Matthew 9:2]. Those who heard this reasoned: ‘Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?’ (Mark 2:7). Thereupon Jesus said: ‘Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. And he arose, and departed to his house’ [Matthew 9:4–7].”
(The Promised Messiah: The First Coming of Christ [1978], 160.)
