Matthew 9:1-8
Healing and Forgiving a Paralytic
9:1 After getting into a boat he crossed to the other side and came to his own town.
9:2 Just then some people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Have courage, son! Your sins are forgiven.”
9:3 Then some of the experts in the law said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming!”
9:4 When Jesus saw their reaction he said, “Why do you respond with evil in your hearts?
9:5 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’?
9:6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” – then he said to the paralytic – “Stand up, take your stretcher, and go home.”
9:7 And he stood up and went home.
9:8 When the crowd saw this, they were afraid and honored God who had given such authority to men.
Luke 5:18-26
5:18 Just then
some men showed up, carrying a paralyzed man
on a stretcher.
They
were trying to bring him in and place him before Jesus.
5:19 But
since they found
no way to carry him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof
and let him down on the stretcher
through the roof tiles
right
in front of Jesus.
5:20 When
Jesus
saw their
faith he said, “Friend,
your sins are forgiven.”
5:21 Then
the experts in the law
and the Pharisees began to think
to themselves,
“Who is this man
who is uttering blasphemies?
Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
5:22 When Jesus perceived
their hostile thoughts,
he said to them,
“Why are you raising objections
within yourselves?
5:23 Which is easier,
to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’?
5:24 But so that you may know
that the Son of Man
has authority on earth to forgive sins” – he said to the paralyzed man
– “I tell you, stand up, take your stretcher
and go home.”
5:25 Immediately
he stood up before them, picked
up the stretcher
he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying
God.
5:26 Then
astonishment
seized them all, and they glorified
God. They were filled with awe,
saying, “We have seen incredible
things
today.”