Jesus heals a paralyzed man brought to him by four friends. When Jesus sees their faith, he tells the man his sins are forgiven. Religious leaders object, but Jesus emphasizes that forgiving sins is most important. Jesus then heals the man's paralysis to prove he has authority to forgive sins. The crowds are amazed at God's power through Jesus to heal both spiritually and physically.

2. ThePowerThePower
oftheKing:oftheKing:oftheKing:oftheKing:
GraceforOutcastsGraceforOutcasts––
PeaceforthePeaceforthe
ConscienceConscienceConscienceConscience
Matthew 9:1Matthew 9:1--88

3. Healing the Conscience?Healing the Conscience?
••This same story is given in moreThis same story is given in more
detail in Mark 2 and in Luke 5detail in Mark 2 and in Luke 5detail in Mark 2 and in Luke 5detail in Mark 2 and in Luke 5
••Four friends lower this man thruFour friends lower this man thru
a roof to reach Jesusa roof to reach Jesus
••How is this account about the “conscience”?How is this account about the “conscience”?How is this account about the “conscience”?How is this account about the “conscience”?
••We’ll learn from the passage today that theWe’ll learn from the passage today that the
most important miracle Jesus did this day wasmost important miracle Jesus did this day was
NOTNOT healing this man’s paralysishealing this man’s paralysis

4. Healing the Conscience?Healing the Conscience?
••Jesus does 3 miracles in thisJesus does 3 miracles in this
passage of Scripture affectingpassage of Scripture affecting
heart, mind, and bodyheart, mind, and body
passage of Scripture affectingpassage of Scripture affecting
heart, mind, and bodyheart, mind, and body
••You may have noticed only twoYou may have noticed only two
in previous readings, but this day gives us ain previous readings, but this day gives us a
picture of Jesus’ work in everyone He savespicture of Jesus’ work in everyone He savespicture of Jesus’ work in everyone He savespicture of Jesus’ work in everyone He saves
••Remember that in John, Jesus made clear thatRemember that in John, Jesus made clear that
sickness is not necessarily sin related…sickness is not necessarily sin related…

5. 11Getting into a boat, Jesus crossed overGetting into a boat, Jesus crossed over
the seathe sea and came to His own city.and came to His own city.
22 And they brought to Him a paralyticAnd they brought to Him a paralytic
lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesuslying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesuslying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesuslying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus
said to the paralytic, “Take courage,said to the paralytic, “Take courage,
son; your sins are forgiven.”son; your sins are forgiven.” 33 AndAnd
some of the scribes said to themselves,some of the scribes said to themselves,some of the scribes said to themselves,some of the scribes said to themselves,
“This“This fellowfellow blasphemes.”blasphemes.” 44 And JesusAnd Jesus
knowing their thoughts said, “Why areknowing their thoughts said, “Why are
you thinking evil in your hearts?you thinking evil in your hearts?

6. ‘Get up, and walk’?‘Get up, and walk’? 66 But so that youBut so that you
may know that the Son of Man hasmay know that the Son of Man has
authority on earth to forgive sins”authority on earth to forgive sins”——authority on earth to forgive sins”authority on earth to forgive sins”——
then He *said to the paralytic, “Get up,then He *said to the paralytic, “Get up,
pick up your bed and go home.”pick up your bed and go home.” 77 AndAnd
he got up and went home.he got up and went home. 88 But whenBut when
the crowds sawthe crowds saw thisthis, they were, they werethe crowds sawthe crowds saw thisthis, they were, they were
awestruck, and glorified God, who hadawestruck, and glorified God, who had
given such authority to men.given such authority to men.

7. A.True friendship…A.True friendship…
••Vs 1, Jesus gets back into theVs 1, Jesus gets back into the
boat after the demoniacs…boat after the demoniacs…

8. 11 Getting into a boat, Jesus crossedGetting into a boat, Jesus crossed
overover the seathe sea and came to His ownand came to His own
city.city.
Matthew 9:1, NASBMatthew 9:1, NASB

9. A.True friendship…A.True friendship…
••Vs 1, Jesus gets back into theVs 1, Jesus gets back into the
boat after the demoniacs…boat after the demoniacs…
We know from the other passagesWe know from the other passages••We know from the other passagesWe know from the other passages
that this probably happened inthat this probably happened in
Capernaum, Jesus’ home baseCapernaum, Jesus’ home base
••So it was probably Mary, Martha, and Lazarus’So it was probably Mary, Martha, and Lazarus’••So it was probably Mary, Martha, and Lazarus’So it was probably Mary, Martha, and Lazarus’
home that he was teaching inhome that he was teaching in
••Scribes + from Jerusalem and Judaea presentScribes + from Jerusalem and Judaea present

10. A.True friendship…A.True friendship…
••Four friends brought the manFour friends brought the man
••Here’s where their true friendshipHere’s where their true friendship
became evidentbecame evident
••Here’s where their true friendshipHere’s where their true friendship
became evidentbecame evident
••Unable to get through the crowds,Unable to get through the crowds,
they lowered him thru the roofthey lowered him thru the roof
••Think of all they went through to get the manThink of all they went through to get the man••Think of all they went through to get the manThink of all they went through to get the man
to Jesusto Jesus
••Have you done the same?Have you done the same?

11. B.The biggest miracle…B.The biggest miracle…
••VvVv 22--5, Jesus speaks and the5, Jesus speaks and the
Religious grumble…Religious grumble…

12. 22 And they brought to Him a paralyticAnd they brought to Him a paralytic
lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesuslying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus
said to the paralytic, “Take courage,said to the paralytic, “Take courage,
son; your sins are forgiven.”son; your sins are forgiven.” 33 AndAndson; your sins are forgiven.”son; your sins are forgiven.” 33 AndAnd
some of the scribes said to themselves,some of the scribes said to themselves,
“This“This fellowfellow blasphemes.”blasphemes.” 44 And JesusAnd Jesus
knowing their thoughts said, “Why areknowing their thoughts said, “Why areknowing their thoughts said, “Why areknowing their thoughts said, “Why are
you thinking evil in your hearts?you thinking evil in your hearts?
55 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins areWhich is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are
forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk’?forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk’?

13. B.The biggest miracle…B.The biggest miracle…
••VvVv 22--5, Jesus speaks and the5, Jesus speaks and the
Religious grumble…Religious grumble…
••Here’s the more important of theHere’s the more important of the••Here’s the more important of theHere’s the more important of the
miracles that I mentioned beforemiracles that I mentioned before
••Jesus gives “heart peace” to himJesus gives “heart peace” to him
••Then the religious griping beginsThen the religious griping begins••Then the religious griping beginsThen the religious griping begins

14. 22 And they brought to Him a paralyticAnd they brought to Him a paralytic
lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesuslying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus
said to the paralytic, “Take courage,said to the paralytic, “Take courage,
son; your sins are forgiven.”son; your sins are forgiven.” 33 AndAndson; your sins are forgiven.”son; your sins are forgiven.” 33 AndAnd
some of the scribes said to themselves,some of the scribes said to themselves,
“This“This fellowfellow blasphemes.”blasphemes.” 44 And JesusAnd Jesus
knowing their thoughts said, “Why areknowing their thoughts said, “Why areknowing their thoughts said, “Why areknowing their thoughts said, “Why are
you thinking evil in your hearts?you thinking evil in your hearts?
55 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins areWhich is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are
forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk’?forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk’?

15. 22 And they brought to Him a paralyticAnd they brought to Him a paralytic
lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesuslying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus
said to the paralytic, “Take courage,said to the paralytic, “Take courage,
son; your sins are forgiven.”son; your sins are forgiven.” 33 AndAndson; your sins are forgiven.”son; your sins are forgiven.” 33 AndAnd
some of the scribes said to themselves,some of the scribes said to themselves,
“This“This fellowfellow blasphemes.”blasphemes.” 44 And JesusAnd Jesus
knowing their thoughts said, “Why areknowing their thoughts said, “Why areknowing their thoughts said, “Why areknowing their thoughts said, “Why are
you thinking evil in your hearts?you thinking evil in your hearts?
55 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins areWhich is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are
forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk’?forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk’?

16. B.The biggest miracle…B.The biggest miracle…
••VvVv 22--5, Jesus speaks and the5, Jesus speaks and the
Religious grumble…Religious grumble…
••Here’s the more important of theHere’s the more important of the••Here’s the more important of theHere’s the more important of the
miracles that I mentioned beforemiracles that I mentioned before
••Jesus gives “heart peace” to himJesus gives “heart peace” to him
••Then the religious griping beginsThen the religious griping begins••Then the religious griping beginsThen the religious griping begins
••After that, He does miracle number 2, He readAfter that, He does miracle number 2, He read
the minds of the Scribesthe minds of the Scribes

17. C.The big finish…C.The big finish…
••VvVv 66--8, the paralyzed man8, the paralyzed man
walks…walks…

18. 66 But so that you may know that theBut so that you may know that the
Son of Man has authority on earth toSon of Man has authority on earth to
forgive sins”forgive sins”——then He *said to thethen He *said to theforgive sins”forgive sins”——then He *said to thethen He *said to the
paralytic, “Get up, pick up your bedparalytic, “Get up, pick up your bed
and go home.”and go home.” 77 And he got up andAnd he got up and
went home.went home. 88 But when the crowds sawBut when the crowds saw
thisthis, they were awestruck, and, they were awestruck, andthisthis, they were awestruck, and, they were awestruck, and
glorified God, who had given suchglorified God, who had given such
authority to men.authority to men.

19. C.The big finish…C.The big finish…
••VvVv 66--8, the paralyzed man8, the paralyzed man
walks…walks…
••The third miracle of the day,The third miracle of the day,••The third miracle of the day,The third miracle of the day,
the man gets up and walks homethe man gets up and walks home
••Though the most visible, it’s the least of theThough the most visible, it’s the least of the
miracles that daymiracles that daymiracles that daymiracles that day
••For the takeFor the take--home today, I want you to askhome today, I want you to ask
yourself about true friendshipyourself about true friendship

20. Take Home!Take Home!
••When Jesus heals, its alwaysWhen Jesus heals, its always
HeartHeart,, MindMind, and, and BodyBody----HeartHeart,, MindMind, and, and BodyBody----
though physical healing maythough physical healing may
not be manifest in this lifenot be manifest in this life
••Sometimes even “church folks” miss whatSometimes even “church folks” miss what
God is doing in a given situation and assumeGod is doing in a given situation and assume
Sometimes even “church folks” miss whatSometimes even “church folks” miss what
God is doing in a given situation and assumeGod is doing in a given situation and assume
••True friends bring people to Jesus, no matterTrue friends bring people to Jesus, no matter
what stands in their waywhat stands in their way