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A lot happens between the lines in this passage. The four men don’t say a word to Jesus, but they go to great lengths to get their paralyzed friend into the room. They neither ask for forgiveness nor healing, but their actions help to bring it about. Not many of us would go to such great lengths to help another. Because they refuse to be hindered, the paralytic is forgiven and healed. The paralytic asks for nothing, and says nothing in reply, but his actions of getting up, picking up his mat and walking out demonstrate great faith.

The scribes do nothing. They cast judgments on what they witness, and their thoughts are apparent to Jesus. While the four men demonstrate faith without words, the scribes wordlessly demonstrate condemnation. Jesus reads the words in their hearts. Rather than marveling at the sight of a paralytic being lowered down through the roof, rather than hoping for his healing and believing in forgiveness, they fret about their own judicial authority.

Jesus answers the scribes’ unvoiced questions with two questions of his own. They calculate the why, what and who of the situation, and come up with fear and doubt. Jesus reverses the variables to help them see the truth. With a few simple words Jesus demonstrates the compassion and mercy that heals. The paralytic is able to walk again, but the scribes remain spiritually paralyzed.

Gracious God we thank you for the power of forgiveness through which you heal all who come to you in faith and trust. Help us to move beyond our self-doubt and worry so that we too can demonstrate compassion mercy in our actions throughout the day. May our preaching motivate those who are paralyzed physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually to believe and be healed. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

In those days houses in Capernaum were typically built of stone with flat roofs made of straw and mud. When the friends of the paralytic saw that the throng of people made it impossible to get through the door to the house where Jesus was preaching, they decided to hoist the man up onto the roof, pull apart the straw roof and lower him down on his mat. The composition of the roof made this less preposterous than it seems to us today. Still, it took a good deal of effort and determination.

The scribes in the crowd were men of prominence in the synagogue. They would have front row seats in any gathering. They were the professional interpreters of the law who placed a high value on the importance of observing the law and respecting the traditions of the Jewish faith. They were committed to strict observance of the law and pass judgment on those who failed to adhere. They denied Jesus the authority to interpret the law. They believed in the resurrection of the dead, but they did not accept Jesus as Messiah because he associated with those they considered outside the law.

To the scribes when Jesus said, “Child, your sins are forgiven,” he committed blasphemy, a crime that was punishable by death (Leviticus 24:15, 16). By granting forgiveness Jesus was claiming authority that only belonged to God. By his divine nature as Son of God, Jesus rightfully claims to the power to forgive and to heal. However, note that Jesus does not claim the power to forgive and heal by means of his nature as Son of God. He identifies himself as Son of Man. By his human nature Jesus forgives and heals. It is through his humanity that Jesus identifies with the needs and sufferings of the people. Through his human nature, Jesus responds with compassion and mercy, and this is what he calls his disciples to do.

The scribes do not speak to Jesus, but he reads the thoughts in their hearts and challenges them to reassess what they have witnessed. They think only God can forgive because it is too difficult for mere humans. He points out how easy it is to say you forgive someone. But reversing a case of paralysis? Not so easy. People can be paralyzed in many ways. The paralytic is not the only one paralyzed in this passage. Jesus challenges the scribes to be freed of their spiritual paralysis. He frees humanity to practice forgiveness and healing, rather than wait for a court of law or God to bring it about.