But that you may know that the Son of man
has power on earth to forgive sins,
(then said he to the paralytic)
Arise, take up your bed, and go unto your house.
Read Chapter 9
Cornelius a Lapide
AD 1637
But that ye may know, &c. Observe the expression, Son of Prayer of Manasseh , for Christ forgave sins, not only as He was God, but in that He was Prayer of Manasseh , authoritatively and meritoriously. Because His Humanity was hypostatically united to His Divinity, and subsisted in the Divine Person of the Son of God, therefore He was able to make full satisfaction for the sins of the whole world.
Wherefore this primary power and authority of forgiving sins was given unto Him, next unto God, which power He is able to grant unto others likewise, such as priests, who are instituted by Him, as His ministers, that they too should forgive sins. Whence S. Thomas says (3part. quæst63 , art3), "The power of the excellence of Christ standeth in four things1. Because His merit, and the virtue of His Passion, operate in the sacraments2. Because by His Name the sacraments are sanctified3. Because He Himself, who gives virtue to the sacraments, had power to institute them4. Because the effect of t...
But that you may know. This may be understood differently, either as spoken by Christ to the Jews present, or by the evangelist to the people to whom he wrote his gospel. (St. Thomas Aquinas)
Thus Christ proves that he had the power of remitting sins; as a falsity cannot be confirmed by a miracle, since in this case God would bear testimony to a falsity. (Menochius)
Take thy bed This doubtless was commanded him, to convince the whole world that this was no phantom, and to add still greater credibility to the fact, and he rose
He who was pleased to become man, is truly the Son of God; and, in this quality, he possesses all power. This he proves by the double exercise of his power over both soul and body. (Haydock)
Surge, tolle, and vade, Christ added these words for the greater evidence of the cure. (Maldonatus)
Furthermore, so it could be understood that he was in a body and that he could forgive sins and restore health to bodies, Jesus said, “That you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins,” then he said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your pallet.” He could have simply said “Arise,” but since the reason for doing every work had to be explained, he added, “Take up your pallet and go home.” First he granted remission of sins; next he showed his ability to restore health. Then, with the taking up of the pallet, he made it clear that bodies would be free from infirmity and suffering; lastly, with the paralytic’s return to his home, he showed that believers are being given back the way to paradise from which Adam, the parent of all, who became profligate from the stain of sin, had proceeded.
Do you see how He indicates Him to be Creator both of souls and bodies? He heals therefore the palsy in each of the two substances, and makes the invisible evident by that which is in sight. But nevertheless they still creep upon the earth.
Jesus commanded him to carry his bed so that the event would not appear to have been imaginary, and also, so that the multitudes would see the miracle. For they thought that Jesus—Who is greater than all—was only a man.
