Matthew 9:6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power of earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
If God Can Save, What Can’t He Do?
Matthew 8 and 9 are written so that we can see that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the Messiah long foretold. Matthew does this by recounting a number of miracles that Jesus performed, showing that, indeed, He is the Christ. Matthew 8:17 says, “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bear our sicknesses.” That can be taken quite literally in this passage because of all the miracles that Jesus performed.
The clearest example demonstrating this purpose is the story of the man who was sick of the palsy. He was bed ridden, and had friends who brought him to Jesus. Oftentimes we think they brought him to Jesus in order that he might be healed, but if you look at the story closely, it becomes evident that they brought him to Jesus that he might be saved. The Bible says, “Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.”
It was only after some of the scribes thought to themselves, “This man blasphemeth,” that Jesus, who knew their thoughts, said to the man sick of the palsy, “Arise, take up thy bed, and unto thine house.” It should be clear that this Jesus, who saw the friends’ faith, knew the hearts and thoughts of the scribes, and could heal a man sick of the palsy, would also have the power to forgive sins as well.
Like Matthew’s gospel, Jesus is arguing from the lesser to the greater. One Who can heal the lame, give sight to the blind, restore hearing to the deaf, and raise the dead would probably be able to save a person from sin as well.
Sometimes we think that because saving souls is something that we cannot see and healing the sick is something we can see, that the real miracle is healing the sick. That is a mistake. Just because you can’t see the actual saving work of God in a person’s heart doesn’t mean it is less of a miracle. It is the greatest miracle that a Holy God would save sinful men by the power of His Son, the Lord Jesus!
Jesus is arguing from lesser to greater, but on the other side of the cross and salvation, it is good to remember that God’s people can argue from greater to lesser. In other words, if Jesus Christ could save me from the power of sin, then what is there that our powerful and generous God could not do?
Does God always will to heal or do some other thing that we may want? No, but God’s heart is nothing but good and God’s power is nothing but infinite. If God would save your soul, then God would hear your prayer, and, of course, that is exactly what He does.