October 14, 2026
Be of Good Cheer - Part 3
Matthew 9:2-6
10/14/2026
2 And behold, some people brought to him a
paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw
their faith, he said to the paralytic, ``Take
heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.''
3 And behold, some of the scribes said to
themselves, ``This man is blaspheming.''
4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, ``Why do
you think evil in your hearts?
5 For which is easier, to say, `Your sins are
forgiven,' or to say, `Rise and walk?'
6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has
authority on earth to forgive sins'' -- he then
said to the paralytic -- ``Rise, pick up your bed
and go home.'' (ESV)
And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic,
lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said
to the paralytic, ``Take heart, my son; your sins are
forgiven.'' And behold, some of the scribes said to
themselves, ``This man is blaspheming.'' But Jesus,
knowing their thoughts, said, ``Why do you think evil
in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, `Your
sins are forgiven,' or to say, `Rise and walk?' But
that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on
earth to forgive sins'' -- he then said to the
paralytic -- ``Rise, pick up your bed and go home.''
Only God can forgive sins, for only God is holy. Certainly,
you can forgive the person who sins against you, but neither you
nor I have the power, on our own, to speak for someone else. The
scribes were correct. Only if Jesus was God could He forgive the
sins of the paralytic.
However, Jesus' actions showed that He does have God's
creative power. He healed the man's paralysis with just a word,
thus showing He has the right and power to forgive sins.
God has entrusted that right to the Church. Therefore, when
you confess your sins to the pastor, they have the authority to
forgive your sins given to them by God as they act as the agent
of Christ, Himself.
Therefore we pray:
Almighty and merciful God, of Your bountiful goodness
keep from us all things that may hurt us that we, being
ready in both body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish
whatever You would have us to do.
Grant this, Lord, for Jesus' sake. Amen.