But when the multitude saw it, they marveled, and glorified God, who had given such power unto men.
All Commentaries on Matthew 9:8 Go To Matthew 9
Jerome
AD 420
Or; This city may be no other than Nazareth, whence He was called a Nazarene.
“On a bed,” because he could not walk.
not the sick man’s, but theirs that bare him.
O wonderful humility! This man feeble and despised, crippled in every limb, Headdresses as “son.” The Jewish Priests did not deign to touch him. Even therefore His “son,” because his sins were forgiven him. Hence we may learn that diseases are often the punishment of sin; and therefore perhaps his sins are forgiven him, that when the cause of his disease has been first removed, health may be restored.
We read in prophecy, “I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions;” so the Scribes regarding Him as a man, and not understanding the words of God, charged Him with blasphemy. But He seeing their thoughts thus shewedHimself to be God, Who alone knoweth the heart; and thus, as it were, said, Bythe same power and prerogative by which I see your thoughts, I can forgive men their sins. Learn from your own experience what the paralytic has obtained. "When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he said, Why think ye evil in your hearts?”.
Whether or no his sins were forgiven He alone could know who forgave; but whether he could rise and walk, not only himself but they that looked on could judge of; but the power that heals, whether soul or body, is the same. And as there is a great difference between saying and doing, the outward sign is given that the spiritual effect may be proved; “But that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins.”.
Figuratively, the soul sick in the body, its powers palsied, is brought by the perfect doctor to the Lord to be healed. For every one when sick, ought to engage some to pray for his recovery, through whom the halting footsteps of our acts may be reformed by the healing power of the heavenly word. These are mental monitors, who raise the soul of the hearer to higher things, although sick and weak in the outward body.
