Matthew 9:6 But that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins, (then said he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise… The Rev. H. Wilkins, Cheltenham, in " Good Cause for Good Cheer," writes: "It is no general statement, but a personal assurance of the forgiveness of sins. Looking with His own keen glance of love into the sick man's eyes, He says: 'Thy sins be forgiven thee.' The general truth of the pardon of sins is not enough for us, we want a personal forgiveness. One day when Martin Luther was almost overwhelmed with despair in his cell at Erfurth, an old monk tried to comfort him by repeating the article of the Apostles' Creed, 'I believe in the forgiveness of sins.' Luther often repeated the same words. 'Ah!' said the good old monk, 'it is not enough to believe in the forgiveness of David's sins or Peter's sins; this the devils believe. God's command is to believe that our own sins are forgiven.' This was the assurance that Jesus gave here. He knew this man's life-history; He knew, probably, that there was a close connection between his suffering and his sin; but whatever his sins were, they were frankly forgiven." Parallel Verses KJV: But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. |
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