When Jesus said ‘Thy sins are forgiven thee’ the young man did not immediately rise (see Matthew 9:7). Instantly the Scribes thought with a sneer ‘this fellow blasphemes,’ i.e. pretends to a divine power which he does not possess. They said in their hearts it is easy to say, ‘Thy sins are forgiven,’ let him say, ‘Arise, and walk,’ then we shall discover his blasphemy. Jesus answers their thoughts. His words are not ‘whether’ as in A.V., but ‘why is it easier to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee, than to say, Arise, and walk?’ In truth it was not easier to say, ‘Thy sins are forgiven’ as Jesus says those words, for to say them implied the cure of soul and of body too; but in order to convince the Scribes of His power He adds the words, ‘Arise, and walk;’ and implicitly bids them infer that the inner work of forgiveness had as surely followed the first words as the outward and visible result followed the command to rise and walk.

Continues after advertising
Continues after advertising

Old Testament