October 15, 2026
Be of Good Cheer - Part 4
Matthew 9:5-7
10/15/2026
5 [Jesus said:] ``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.''
7 And he rose and went home. (ESV)
[Jesus said:] ``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.'' And he rose
and went home.
The scribes who watched Jesus heal the paralytic had a
problem. Only God can forgive sins. Only God can heal with His
voice. They saw Jesus do both things. What should they do?
Should they admit that Jesus is the Son of God, God who took on
our human flesh? Should they deny the truth?
Too often we deny the truth because the truth is difficult
to believe. We don't like the idea that God became man, lived
among us, died for us, and rose again from the dead. If Jesus
paid the price of our sin, that means that we do not have the
power to save ourselves. That does not fit well with our human
nature.
By faith, however, we understand that God so loved the world
that He gave His only-begotten Son to die for us, to pay the
price of our sin, and to give us eternal life. Because we
believe this, we are bold to 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.
May our Lord grant us faith to receive this gift of
salvation. Amen.