When you read this account, you may perhaps be... - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

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.
Matthew 9:2

When you read this account, you may perhaps be astonished at the first words that the Lord Jesus spoke to the paralytic. Why did He forgive him his sins? Shouldn't He have cured him?

It was, after all, a paralytic that they brought before Him, even if he was a sinner. But the worst paralysis is not what we think! It is the kind that sin causes and that alters our personality and separates us from God.

For certain witnesses of this scene Jesus' words were blasphemy. Who did He consider Himself to be? Only God could forgive sins. If Jesus can forgive sins, it is, in fact, because He is God. He settled the question by giving a sign of His divine authority. "That you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins" He said to the paralytic, "Arise and walk." No sooner said than done. The man stood up, no longer a paralytic. God's forgiveness gives us a standing and makes us free.

The gospel tells us that we are sinners. We must accept the fact, even if it hurts. But the rest of the gospel message is wonderful: God forgives and wipes out the sin. Every man and woman can apply the words, "Your sins are forgiven," to themselves. They still apply today. Let us accept them. Jesus could also say to us, "Arise and walk." And we could joyfully go to others and testify what great things God has done for us.

Today's reading: 1 Chronicles 15:25-16:6 · Psalm 88:11-19