Forgive
Are you willing to accept something new? The Jewish leaders did not agree with Jesus on His method to forgive people of their sins. He was bringing something new to the world.
This is a Bible Study. Have your own Bible handy to look up the references mentioned.
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1. “Jesus left the country of the Gadarenes, who did not want Him, and returned to Capernaum.” (McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume IV. [Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983], 52)
2. “We are given details in Mark’s account concerning this event. Mark tells us how this man was let down through the roof of a house, and the Lord both healed him and forgave him his sins.” (McGee, 22)
Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26
Friends brought a paralyzed man to Jesus. “Was the man’s physical condition the result of sin? We do not know. But we do know that Jesus dealt with the sin problem first, for this is always the greatest need.” (Wiersbe, Warren W, The Bible Exposition Commentary New Testament Volume 1 Matthew-Galatians. [Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2004], 34)
3. “These Jewish leaders interpret Jesus’ declaration of forgiveness as a blasphemous usurping of divine prerogative (Isaiah 43:25).” (Blomberg, Craig L., The New American Commentary, Volume 22, Matthew. [Nashville: Broadman Press], 153)
Forgive Sins
4. “Jesus was justified in declaring the scribes’ thoughts evil. To conclude that Jesus was blaspheming ignored the significance of his authenticating miracles. They had hardened their hearts against God’s truth.” [Max Anders and Stuart K. Weber (2012). HNTC Vol. 01: Matthew. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]
5. “Spiritual healing occurs in the invisible spirit realm. If Jesus could prove he had authority to heal physically, he could also prove that he had authority to heal spiritually—to forgive sins.” [Max Anders and Stuart K. Weber (2012). HNTC Vol. 01: Matthew. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]
6-7. “When this palsied man got up and walked, it meant that the One who could make him walk was the One who could forgive his sins.” (McGee, 52)
“At once Jesus commands the paralytic to walk and carry his mat back home, and the man does so. Jesus’ claim is thus vindicated.” (Blomberg, 154)
8. “The crowd’s reaction was awe and praise to God. There was no mistake that Jesus’ authority came from God. What they praised God for was that he had given such authority to men (italics added) “[Max Anders and Stuart K. Weber (2012). HNTC Vol. 01: Matthew. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]
Follow Me
9. “Jesus leaves the site of his last healing, somewhere in Capernaum, and heads for the toll booths on the edge of town.” (Blomberg, 155)
“Mark and Luke call this disciple Levi. It was common for first-century Jews to have two or three names.” (Blomberg, 155)
10. “On some later occasion, Matthew throws a party for Jesus.” (Blomberg, 155)
11. “The Pharisees did not believe in eating with publicans and sinners. It doesn’t hurt to invite sinners to dinner because they are the ones who need to be reached for Christ. We need to have some contact with sinners.” (McGee, 53)
12. “Jesus is the Great Physician. He has come to heal mankind of their basic problem, which is sin.” (McGee, 53)
13. This is a quote from Hosea 6:6.
“This Old Testament passage does not belittle sacrifice, but it elevates right treatment of the poor above it.” [Max Anders and Stuart K. Weber (2012). HNTC Vol. 01: Matthew. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]
“Many of us, like the Pharisees, at best ignore the outcast of our society and at worst continue to discriminate against them.” (Blomberg, 157)
Fasting
14. “The disciples of John had been observing the Lord Jesus.” (McGee, 53)
Some of the “disciples of John said, ‘Look, here is something happening which is a little different from the way we do it, and we wonder why.’” (McGee, 53)
15. “Jesus’ response to John’s disciples was that fasting while he—the bridegroom, the guest of honor—was present would be inappropriate.” [Max Anders and Stuart K. Weber (2012). HNTC Vol. 01: Matthew. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]
“Jesus’ statement about being taken from them is an early indication in Matthew that the king would not reign in this first coming.” [Max Anders and Stuart K. Weber (2012). HNTC Vol. 01: Matthew. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]
16. Jesus “had come to provide a new garment, and that new garment was the robe of righteousness which He gives to those who do nothing more than to trust Him.” (McGee, 54)
17. “Our Lord is saying this, ‘I haven’t come to sew patches on an old garment. I have come to present a new garment, which is altogether new.’” (McGee, 54)
“Jesus did not come to renovate Moses or even mix law and grace. He came with new life!” (Wiersbe, 35)
References
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
In this article Scripture quotations taken from KJV.
Blomberg, Craig L., The New American Commentary, Volume 22, Matthew. Nashville: Broadman Press
McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume IV. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983
Robertson, A. T., A Harmony of the Gospels. New York, HarperCollins Publishers
Wiersbe, Warren W, The Bible Exposition Commentary New Testament Volume 1 Matthew-Galatians. Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2004
