Mark 2:1-5, Jesus forgives the paralyzed man

Mark 2:1-5, And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

This passage from Mark (also seen in Luke 5) has been loved by millions of Christians.  You’ve probably heard more than one sermon preached about this event.  Yet even though this passage has been read and preached countless times, I think the most important lesson we can learn from it is often overlooked.

Some Bibles have little headings inserted above each section that describe that section.  This passage is usually described as “Jesus heals the paralyzed man” or something very similar.  Am I right?  In every list of miracles, in various Bible commentaries, or any time this event is being discussed, it is nearly always described as Jesus heals the paralyzed man.  I admit I’ve described it that way too so I have done my part in adding to the confusion.  Lord, forgive me!

I have included the passage above without commentary.  Read it again and ask yourself, “What is the first thing that Jesus says to paralyzed man?”  Is it, “Rise up and walk?”  Is it, “Be healed?”  No it isn’t.  The first thing Jesus says is, “Your sins are forgiven!”

Now, of course I know that Jesus later healed the man.  I’ve included the rest of the event here.  As you read it, pay close attention to why Jesus heals the man:

Mark 2:6-12, But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

You can’t look at someone and see their sins.  Anyone can say to another, “your sins are forgiven,” but how can we know if their sins are truly forgiven?  Jesus understood the doubt of the Pharisees.  In order to show that He had the authority to forgive sins, He gave them a physical sign that they could see.  So the healing was done to demonstrate that Jesus does not speak these words in vain.  

When Jesus forgives our sins, they are forgiven!  There is no, “wait and see.”  There is no, “I hope He’s right.”  It’s a certainty.  The One who can make lame men walk and blind men see is the same one who can forgive my sins!  Praise God!!

The Bible says that at the house, Jesus preached the word and people came to Him.  It almost sounds like an invitation.  Those listening were pricked in their hearts at His teaching and came forward, repenting.  We know that Jesus preached the message of repentance (Matthew 4:17, et al) so I assume people often came forward in response to His message.  So, when this man came to Jesus, being carried by his friends, was it to ask for healing?  Maybe it was to ask for forgiveness!

We often define ourselves and others by our circumstances.  We have needs and struggles and sometimes they overwhelm us.  I am unemployed.  I am poor. I am divorced.  I am sick.  I am an addict. I am crippled.  I am… whatever.  It’s as though we become the thing we struggle with.  When this man was brought to Jesus, we might have looked at him and said, “He needs healing because he’s crippled.”  But Jesus looked at him and knew his greatest need; the man needed to be forgiven!

Our hearts should be Jesus’ heart.  Certainly we should help people in their struggles.  Jesus commanded the church to help the poor, take care of the widowed, visit the sick, and be the salt of the earth.  In every circumstance, though, we should not let the person’s temporary condition blind us to their spiritual condition.  Our first priority should always be to share the good news - Jesus forgives sins!!

What is the will of the Father? Matthew 7:21-23

Matthew 7:21-23:  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Some have described this passage as the scariest passage in the Bible.  It tells of a time when people who thought they were Christians will stand before Christ in judgment and realize they will not enter into the Kingdom.  I agree.  That would be a frightening realization - especially knowing that they found out too late!

So, who are these people?  Who are the ones that thought they were saved but weren’t?  Jesus explains that only the one who does the Father’s will enter heaven so the question hangs on the correct understanding of that phrase.  What is the Father’s will?  Many people interpret the passage in the light of their preconceived notions of salvation and so they usually get the meaning wrong.

In this post I wanted to examine what the Bible says is the Father’s will.

SALVATION IS BY WORKS

A few people cite this passage as evidence that salvation is earned by doing good works.  They will say that a simple profession of faith isn’t enough to be saved but, rather, it is by both faith and bearing fruit (works) that we are saved. They are claiming that the people who are condemned in this passage are people who have prayed for mercy but did not live out the Father's will by doing good works.

This idea is contradicted but the very passage that is being examined.  The people being discussed had done many works: they had prophesied, cast out demons, and had done “many wonderful works” in Jesus name.  Yet it is clear that they had still not done the will of the Father.  Indeed, Jesus calls them workers of iniquity.  

Besides this passage, other Scriptures argue against salvation being earned by works.  Consider Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”  

All of this considered, this passage from Matthew cannot be used to justify salvation by works.

SALVATION IS KEPT BY WORKS

There are still other people who will agree that salvation is by grace through faith but we could still lose our salvation if we do not bear fruit.  From this perspective, these people have made a profession of faith - that is, they said to Jesus, “Lord, Lord” - but did not continue in their faith by doing the will of the Father.  Again, this idea is rebutted by a clear reading of the text.  Jesus tells them He never knew them.  

The word translated as never in v. 23 is the Greek word oudepote (οὐδέποτε, Strong’s Word 3763).  It is a compound word made up of 2 Greek words: oude (οὐδέ, Strong’s Word 3761), meaning “not even,” plus pote (ποτε, Strong’s Word 4218), meaning “at some point, at any time, once, or ever.”  The use of this word in this verse creates an unambiguous denial that Jesus ever knew them - “not even once” or “not at any time.” In other words, Jesus is saying that these are people who had never put their faith in Him.

The idea that we could lose our salvation is contrary to many other passages in the Scriptures.  For one example, I direct your attention to Romans 8:38-39, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

To say that there is something we can do (or something we don’t do) that would cost us our salvation is to deny the clear words of Paul to the Romans and believe that God’s love isn’t sufficient to keep us!

To believe that salvation is somehow kept by works cannot be the correct understanding of this passage from Matthew.

WHAT JESUS TOLD US

Fortunately, we do not have to grope about for the correct meaning of the Father’s will in this passage.  Jesus Himself has already made clear what the will of the Father is.

John 6:38-40, “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Wow, it’s so simple!  No mental gymnastics are necessary.  There is no need to read between the lines.  There is no mention of works.  There is no mention of conditions.  It is the will of the Father that everyone who believes in the Son would have eternal life and that Jesus would raise him on the last day.  The Bible cannot be any more clear than that!