The Son of Man (4)—Forgiving Sins - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2025

Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you … But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
Matthew 9:1, 6

The Son of Man (4)—Forgiving Sins
How wonderful to bring others to the Lord Jesus, whether in prayer, or for salvation. May we imitate these four men who brought their friend to the Lord!

The Lord Jesus saw the physical disability of the man; but even more He saw the heart and the spiritual need of this man brought before Him. Jehovah looks not only on the outward appearance, but upon the heart (1 Sam. 16:7). Jehovah was now Himself present before them as a Man, the Son of Man.

And so the Lord announced to this paralytic that His sins were forgiven. Elsewhere, we find the basis of forgiveness is the blood that Christ shed for us (Eph. 1:7). Here, however, the point is that the Son of Man on earth had all authority to forgive sins. This implied that He was not just a Man, but God Himself! The scribes were correct that only God can forgive sins (Mk. 2:7), but before them was God manifest in the flesh!

Notice verse 4 of Matthew’s account: it tells us, “Jesus, knowing their thoughts.” As Son of Man, the Lord not only knew the heart of the paralytic, but He knew the thoughts of the scribes as well. Truly, He is Jehovah, who searches us and knows us, and who understands our thoughts afar off (Ps. 139:1–4).

Then, in order to demonstrate that He truly had this power to forgive sins as Son of Man, the Lord Jesus also healed the man’s paralysis and told him to rise up and walk. As the Lord made this man to walk, He is able as Son of Man to forgive sins.

Kevin Quartell