The Authority of Christ (II)

Matthew 9:1-8

March 23, 2003

 

Many people remain in the misery of their sins because they fail to believe the authority of Jesus Christ. It is not that they doubt that Christ is worthy as a Savior or that He gives evidence of being God. Rather the condition of their hearts so overwhelms them that they cannot believe that even Jesus Christ can forgiven them of their sins. They do not deny His mighty power to create the world or sustain its molecular structure but they refuse to believe His authority to forgive sins.

 

John MacArthur correctly states, "The most distinctive message of Christianity is the reality that sin can be forgiven." We can forgive someone for a wrong done to us personally but we have no authority to declare a person forgiven from all of his sins. That authority belongs to Christ alone. And yet it is just at this point that some struggle over their own forgiveness and salvation. 

 

The stories in the Gospels help us to understand the reach of Christ's authority over the burden of unforgiven sin. He claimed the power to forgive sin. But He went further in being the instrument of forgiveness through His death and resurrection. Christ alone has the authority to forgive us. Have you trusted His authority as Sin-bearer and Redeemer?

 

I. The claim of authority

 

Authority is an important term. It is a word that conveys more than power or strength. It implies a derived ability over some area of life to which others must submit. If your neighbor happens to be a policeman he has no more authority than you to enforce the laws of our community except when he wears his badge. Then he is delegated with authority in the realm of civil laws. He has no authority over your family or over your church. Those areas are beyond the extent of his authority. His authority is limited by the scope of the laws he has sworn to enforce. But he does have the ability to command and enforce in relationship to civil law. Such authority gives him the ability to legally stop traffic on the interstate or to arrest a criminal, and those whom he commands must yield to his authority or else they will be in contempt of civilly mandated authority. Criminals and anarchists reject the authority of civil law and its delegated representatives by their actions of resistance to authority.

 

Christ's authority is a derived ability that comes from the perfections of His nature as God and from the completion of His work as the God-Man. The ability to declare forgiveness rests with Him. The ability to rule your life in the pleasure of God and abide with you for eternity rests with Him. No one else has such authority or derived ability. To pursue forgiveness outside the authority of Christ is to look in vain.

 

Matthew addresses this critical issue of Christ's authority in his Gospel. He shows the extent of this authority over the physiological realm, the realm of nature, and the realm of the spiritual (8:1-34). Now he drives home the very crux of his message by declaring that Jesus Christ alone has authority to forgive sins. Just as Christ exercised His authority by healing the centurion's servant, raising up Peter's mother-in-law, calming the stormy Sea of Galilee, and casting out the demons from the two demoniacs, Christ has authority to forgive our sins.

 

1. Declaration by Christ - forgiven

 

The Synoptic Gospels all record this story of the healing of the paralytic. Matthew's sketch - as was his custom - remains shorter than Mark or Luke's. When the details are pieced together, we find that Jesus had returned to Capernaum, "His own city," and was met with a crowd seeking Him. Sometime before the start of His public ministry our Lord moved to Capernaum, and it remained His home base for His ministry. News about him probably spread, especially word about his healing diseases and casting out demons. The crowds were always eager to improve their pitiful lot in life. We certainly cannot fault them for this but we must not fall prey to the notion that as long as everything is going well temporally then life is fine. The paralytic helps to bring us back to reality.

 

Matthew does not give the details that the paralytic was carried on a cot by four friends who could not squeeze into the home where Christ taught, so they climbed onto the second floor and made their own way into the room. The construction of the homes often provided an outer staircase that led to an upper room where families could gather for meals or discussions or use as spare lodging. These could have been open to the elements or covered. The baked clay construction provided access through the roof as something akin to roofing tiles were removed or dug into by the four friends so that the paralytic could be lowered to Christ below.

 

What amazes me is that none of the five men evidently said anything to Jesus Christ. It was not their words or pleas that brought about the exercise of divine authority; it was their faith. "Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, 'Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven'." Jesus Christ sees the heart and knows the motives that can often be masked by words. The four friends just brought their paralytic friend to Christ, and our Lord saw their faith. Often the idea of "seeing" implies knowing. Matthew could have said, "Knowing their faith." But "seeing," conveys the fact of earnestness on the part of the men, the evidence that they were not flippant about coming to Christ but altogether serious. They were even willing to face ridicule or scorn for their actions as long as they could get to Christ. The parallel speaks clearly. When we are more concerned about what everyone else thinks we probably will not move in heart-faith to Christ.

 

We would think it obvious that the man needed to be healed. Yet Jesus does the most surprising thing by declaring that the paralytic's sins are forgiven. But he wanted to be healed, we might retort, so why did Christ provide forgiveness instead? As we have noticed in previous studies in this Gospel, the Jewish and even ancient concept of illness and misfortune was interwoven with the guilt of sin. Certainly, all illnesses have their roots in the Fall though not in specific sins by the individual as we saw in our study of Matthew 8:17. He that has conquered sin has also conquered all the effects of sin (though all the benefits of Christ's atoning work will not be fully experienced until we stand before Him, e.g., resurrected body, complete deliverance from the presence of sin). That includes the paralysis that had reduced this man to being thrown upon his makeshift bed. So in the paralytic's mind, to be forgiven of his sins would be ultimate deliverance. He probably did not understand all of the theological ramifications of healing and the atonement but he did know that he was in desperate need beyond the physical realm. He knew that his sins had laid him low, and whether healed of paralysis or not he still needed forgiveness of sins. We certainly find no complaint on his part. As a matter of conjecture, I think that he was probably more overwhelmed to know that he was truly forgiven of his sins even without the healing having taken place.

 

The paralytic received more than he could have imagined when he came to Christ. "Take courage, son," Jesus told him, implying that he felt in his own bosom the deep anxiety of unforgiven sin. He certainly was not fearful of being made worse physically. He had already suffered the complete disability that was looked down upon by his fellow citizens. He lived with the shameful perception of having received divine judgment for his sin as marked by his paralysis. But to come to Christ is to find encouragement for the most desperate soul! That is why He can tell us, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (11:28-29).

 

"Your sins are forgiven," staggered the paralytic - and those that listened. Here was a declaration that this man that had broken the laws of God, that had rebelled against the divine commands, and that was corrupted in his own moral nature was now and forever forgiven. The language suggests forgiveness being the ongoing state of his life. It further makes clear that the forgiveness came from outside the man (shown by the passive voice of the verb) for he had nothing to contribute to his forgiveness. Here and now, by the declaration of Jesus Christ, he was forgiven. There is no sweeter news to the burdened soul than the declaration of forgiveness by the One that has authority to forgive sins. Have you known that declaration being witnessed by the Holy Spirit in your own soul?

 

2. Charge by scribes - blasphemy

 

But there was a distinguished group of critics that stood scowling in the crowded room, waiting for Jesus Christ to do something objectionable. "And some of the scribes said to themselves, 'This fellow blasphemes'." Blasphemy was a serious charge of one speaking or acting against God. To charge blasphemy indicates evil speech or violation of God of the most reprehensible type. And why did they consider this blasphemy? They had obviously connected the dots - the authority to forgive sins belongs only to the God who is offended. So for Christ to declare the paralytic forgiven was tantamount to claiming to be God! Mark adds that they muttered (2:7), "Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?"

 

In spite of their comments we can at least see that they clearly understood the claim that Christ made regarding authority. For a mere man to declare one's sins forgiven would be preposterous. It was impossible. That prerogative belonged to God alone. So they charged Christ - at least in their breathless muttering - with blasphemy for claiming to have authority to forgive sins.

 

We know the rest of the story. But pause for a moment upon this whole idea. Only God can forgive sins. No man has authority within his nature to pronounce you forgiven. The scribes failed to recognize the authority of Jesus Christ by virtue of His nature as God and man, as well as by the work that He shortly accomplished at the cross. But what if you know that forgiveness belongs to the Lord, that it is His to give as an act of grace. And you know that you need to be forgiven - you feel something of the desperation of your sins weighing you down under the grim prospects of judgment. And yet, like the scribes, you will not believe that Jesus Christ has the authority to forgive you! Maybe you think that some of your sins are unforgivable - that Christ has not satisfied the divine justice at the cross for all of your sins. Or maybe you think that Christ's authority to forgive extends almost to you but not quite. Others He has forgiven but not you. Listen to what Jesus tells the scribes.

 

"Why are you thinking evil in your hearts?"

 

Let that sink in for a moment. To think less of Christ than is true of Him is to think evil in your heart. How often have we sinned at this point! What great sin we commit by attributing less to Christ concerning His authority or nature or perfections or completion of His saving work! The scribes failed to believe the revelation of Jesus Christ that was clear as day before their eyes. They charged Him with blasphemy. Yet if you dare to think that His authority is not sufficient to declare you forgiven on the basis of His God-satisfying death and resurrection, then the charge of your heart is no less than that of the scribes. Jesus Christ claims the authority to forgive sins. Do you believe Him?

 

II. The test of authority

 

Sometime religious leaders tested our Lord but here He tests their own understanding of Him.

 

1. Impossible or easy

 

After questioning the evil thoughts of their hearts by thinking less of Christ than is true of Him, Jesus asks, "Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, and walk'?" Well, that is quite simple, we might say, 'Your sins are forgiven.' That took nothing but a bit of air running across our vocal cords to make such a statement. But to command a paralytic to get up and walk, well that would be impossible! Yet to really look at this, both of these things are impossible for us to declare. Who among us can heal a paralytic or actually forgive sins? Christ was not mouthing empty words but making a divine declaration that freed the paralytic man from the burden of his sins. He scribes had to admit that neither of these acts were easy for them!

 

And so Jesus uses a comparative to make His point. "Which is easier," to remove the dark stain of sin that separates a man from God for all eternity, or to give strength to the paralyzed limbs so that a man might move and walk for a few years and then die? The spiritual quest, forgiving sins, was actually the harder of the two for to forgive sins requires authority that stands for eternity. By the miraculous work of modern medicine we have all witnessed people with debilitating conditions being relieved and even restored to normalcy. But even with such restoration, as wonderful as it might be, those restored eventually die. And then what do they do? The forgiveness of sins extends to eternity. Unless one's enmity with God is removed, and that mighty chasm between God and man bridged, then even restoration from paralysis loses its appeal. So which is easier, to forgive sins or to heal a paralytic? While both are impossible with us, the latter is much easier in comparison. To forgive sins requires divine authority.

 

Jesus told His disciples, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." With great astonishment they felt this perplexing reality. "Then who can be saved?" If we but pause and consider God's infinite holiness and our desperate sinfulness and rebellion against Him, we'll ask the same question. No man has authority to forgive us. No man can take away our sins or absolve us. "With people it is impossible," said our Lord, "but not with God; for all things are possible with God" (Mark 10:23-27).

 

2. Drawing the right conclusion

 

The challenge for the scribes was to evaluate what was taking place before them and draw a correct conclusion - that Jesus Christ has the authority to forgive sins. Jesus sets the stage. "But so that you may know that the Son of Man [note the Messianic title so common in Matthew's Gospel] has authority on earth to forgive sins" - then He said to the paralytic, "Get up, pick up your bed and go home." And he got up and went home." For the scribes, the authority to forgive sins was in heaven with God. But the point that Christ makes is that God had drawn near to them - He was right in their midst! The miracle became tangible evidence of what the crowd could not see by Christ's declaration of forgiveness of sins. The paralytic, long held fast to his little cot, obeyed the command of Christ to get up and go home. Staggered by the miracle of healing, it seems that the crowd and the scribes would have all drawn the right conclusion. Yet the stubbornness of men's hearts do all they can to resist the truth of God. The gospel with its message of forgiveness through the bloody death of Christ is offensive to modern ears (and ancient ears for that matter), and yet the authority to forgive resides in the One that has satisfied the divine requirements for forgiveness.

 

'Connect the dots,' we want to cry out to the scribes! But they would not as far as we know. So steeped in their traditions and so stuck in their man-centered way of thinking, the scribes could not comprehend that God had drawn near. All of the promises given to Abraham of his "seed" being the source of blessing to the earth, and David confessing loyalty to his kingly heir, and Isaiah's prophecies of Emmanuel - God with us fell upon deaf ears. The real paralysis was in their minds and hearts as the scribes saw the testimony of Christ's authority but would not believe it because it did not fit into their concept of God or concept of forgiveness. Like so many in our own day, and maybe even some among us, they had constructed their own theological box and expected God to operate within it. But the Lord of heaven and earth will not be boxed in by our puny thoughts and imaginations.

 

It is Jesus Christ that "has authority on earth to forgive sins." While the Jews had grown accustomed to offering their sacrifices at the Temple and appealing to God in heaven for forgiveness, now God had come near in the Incarnation. Now divine authority was exercised before their eyes. Now forgiveness was granted by One of the human race that would bear their sins before the divine judgment and satisfy eternal righteousness at the cross.

 

What kind of conclusions have you drawn from studying and reading the life of Jesus Christ? Have you believed His authority to forgive you - an authority that is based on His nature as the God-Man and His redemptive work? Have you bowed head, heart, and life to His authority as Lord of all in your life?

 

III. The response to authority

 

What does it look like when people begin to grasp the authority of Jesus Christ to forgive sins and reign as Lord over one's life? We can claim all day long that we believe in the Lord, and many people do that. But to know the reality of His authority in forgiving us of our sins has been exercised through the outpouring of His grace in our lives, then we cannot remain the same.

 

The paralytic demonstrated his faith in Christ and His authority to forgive sins by obeying. Jesus did not call upon the man to do tricks or jump in the air to dazzle the crowd. He gave him a very simple command, "Get up, pick up your bed and go home." How long had it been since he had done that? Oh what joy he felt to know that he was no longer dependent upon friends to cart him around or bound to his little moveable cot. On his own two feet he could walk home carrying his bed. That was remarkable in itself but the greater reality was that he walked home as a new man. He was forgiven! Don't you know that he had a jump in his step all the way home!

 

My friend, when we respond in faith to Christ's authority to forgive we find delight in obeying Him in the little things. All of life becomes an altar upon which the forgiven person lays his glad sacrifice of obedience. That is why Jesus explained, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" (John 14:15). And it is why John reiterated, "By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments" (I John 2:3).

 

The crowds that witnessed this authority of Christ also responded. "But when the crowds saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men." More literally, when they recognized the authority of Jesus Christ they were afraid. They had a reverential fear of Him that gripped their hearts and minds. They could not be frivolous or pass this off as another circus sideshow. They understood that God had done something among them.

 

Throughout the Scripture we are told to fear God. The writer of Hebrews reminds us, "It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God...for our God is a consuming fire" (Heb 10:31; 12:29). But it seems that there is very little fear of God in our day. Could it be that at the root of it is man's rejection of divine authority? So many think that they deserve forgiveness or that they have merited it by good deeds. Recently, Ted Turner told an interviewer that because of his "gigantic philanthropy" he would be in heaven [Baptist Press, 3/04/03], and yet it seems that Mr. Turner has no fear of God before his eyes. Multitudes scoff at the idea of submission to Christ's authority over their lives demonstrated by a rejection of virtually any authority that God has ordained over them. To believe the authority of Christ is to fear Him.

 

Fearing Christ leads to worship. The awestruck crowds "glorified God, who had given such authority to men." We realize that they did not fully understand the Incarnation. But they did recognize the humanity of Christ and the uniqueness of this One endowed by God with authority. And as weak and pitiful as they were in understanding we still find them worshiping. That's what happens when Christ's authority to forgive sins grips us - we worship Him. We begin to ascribe the worth, glory, and blessing due to His name unto Him.

 

Conclusion

 

The paralytic discovered that Jesus Christ has authority to forgive sins. Have you been declared forgiven by Christ through faith in Him? Look for the evidence of forgiveness in a heart of obedience, fearfulness of the Lord, and worship.

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