Mark 2:7-11 Why does this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?… No wonder Christ's words made the scribes reason in their hearts, and ask this question. They were astonishing words, and strangely spoken. I. THE SURPRISE OF THE SCRIBES WAS NATURAL. 1. Strange that Christ should speak to this man about his sins. He seemed to need bodily healing more than anything else, and it was for that he had been brought to Jesus. None but Christ could see that his need was deeper than this — that his moral powers were palsied, his soul in a state of guilt. 2. Christ's assumption of power to forgive sins appeared blasphemous. To pronounce another's sins forgiven, one must have access to his most secret thoughts. Such knowledge only God possesses, and he to whom God may reveal it. II. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MIRACLES. They signify the special presence of God, and are warranted only as a seal to a most important Divine message. In this case the miracle established before those present the authority of Jesus to forgive sins. The Divine control over nature which He actually exerted testified to the truth of His claim rightfully to exercise another Divine prerogative, the effect of which cannot be discerned by the bodily senses. III. THE EVIDENTIAL VALUE OF MIRACLES. Important to remember that Christ was always jealously watched by unfriendly critics, who would certainly have exposed Him had His pretensions to miraculous power failed. IV. EFFECT OF THE MIRACLE. The out. casts were encouraged to come to one so powerful, and yet so merciful and kind. V. THE OBJECT OF THE SAVIOUR'S MISSIONS. It is because our wants are so deep, that He has descended so low. (G. F. Wright.) Parallel Verses KJV: Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?WEB: "Why does this man speak blasphemies like that? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" |
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