ACC ~ Matthew 9 v1 - 8

OVERVIEW:

Jesus’ own city was Nazareth (JEROME), yet even though he was Lord and Savior of the world, the people he was helping preferred that he go away (CHROMATIUS). The healing of the body points beyond itself to the healing of the soul (CHRYSOSTOM). It was the faith of the paralytic’s friends, not the paralytic, that Jesus recognized (JEROME). The physician does not waste time probing into the senseless wishes of one who is irrationally delirious; rather the physician urgently listens to the patient’s friends (PETER CHRYSOLOGUS). Jesus first granted remission of sins and then showed his ability to restore health; with the taking up of the pallet, he made it clear that bodies would be free from infirmity and suffering. Finally, with the paralytic’s return to his home, Jesus showed that believers must be given back the way to paradise (HILARY). Whether the sins of the paralytic were forgiven, only he who could forgive them would know for sure (JEROME). With the same majesty and power by which Jesus perceived the thoughts of the scribes, he is able to forgive people their sins (JEROME). Christ thereby shows here that he is truly God and equal to the One by whom he is begotten (CHRYSOSTOM, HILARY). The sins of Adam are forgiven in Christ (HILARY).

9:1 | Jesus Came to His Own City

HIS OWN CITY

JEROME: We should understand his town as none other than Nazareth, for he was called a Nazarean. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 1.9.2. [1]

[1] CCL 77:54.

WE PREFER HIM TO GO AWAY

CHROMATIUS: On seeing him, the Gerasenes entreated the Lord to depart from their district. Such people are also to be found among us. Out of faithlessness they compel the Lord and Savior of the world to depart from the district of their hearts. According to Scripture, “The Holy Spirit will not enter a perverse soul or dwell in a body enslaved to sin.” [1] TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 43.7. [2]

[1] Wis 1:4.

[2] CCL 9a:409-10.

9:2 | They Brought Him a Paralytic

THE FAITH OF THE PARALYTIC’S FRIENDS

JEROME: They brought to him, as we said before, a second paralytic lying on a pallet because he was unable to enter. “And Jesus, seeing” not the “faith” of him who was brought forward but of those who were bringing him forward, said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son, your sins are forgiven you.” O wonderful humility! He addresses as “son” this abject and infirm paralytic with disjointed members whom the priests did not stoop to touch. A son, indeed, because his sins are forgiven him. In line with the biblical metaphor, [1] a soul lying in its body with all the strength of its members gone is brought for healing to the perfect Doctor, the Lord. If the soul is healed through his mercy, it will receive strength enough to immediately take up its pallet. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 1.9.2. [2]

[1] The term tropologia originally meant an allegorical interpretation in general. From the late fourth century, however, it came to mean specifically a moral allegory, as in this example from Jerome.

[2] CCL 77:54.

JESUS SAW THEIR FAITH

PETER CHRYSOLOGUS: Note in this regard, my brothers, that God does not inquire into the wants of those who are deliriously ill. He does not wait to see the faith of the ignorant or probe the senseless wishes of the sick. Yet he does not refuse to help the faith of another, so that by grace alone he confers whatever is proper of the divine will. In fact, my brothers, when does a doctor ever inquire into or examine the wishes of those who are ailing, for a patient is prone to be of a contrary mind in his wishes and demands? SERMONS 50.4. [1]

[1] CCL 24:279-80.

YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN

HILARY: Now in the narrative of the paralytic a number of people are brought forward for healing. Jesus’ words of healing are worthy of reflection. The paralytic is not told, “Be healed.” He is not told, “Rise and walk.” But he is told, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven you.” The paralytic is a descendent of the original man, Adam. In one person, Christ, all the sins of Adam are forgiven. In this case the person to be healed is brought forward by ministering angels. In this case, too, he is called a son, because he is God’s first work. The sins of his soul are forgiven him, and pardon of the first transgression is granted. We do not believe the paralytic committed any sin [that resulted in his illness], especially since the Lord said elsewhere that blindness from birth had not been contracted from someone’s sin or that of his parents. [1] ON MATTHEW 8.5. [2]

[1] See Jn 9:1-3.

[2] SC 254:198-200.

9:3-4 | The Scribes Doubt Jesus

WHY DO YOU THINK EVIL IN YOUR HEARTS?

JEROME: We read in the prophet the words of God: “It is I who cleanse you from all your iniquities.” [1] Consequently the scribes, because they were judgmental in construing the words of God, accused him of blasphemy. But the Lord, reading their thoughts, shows himself to be God who knows the hidden things of the heart. He breaks his silence: “With the same majesty and power by which I perceive your thoughts, I am able to forgive their sins; see for yourselves what the paralytic has received.” COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 1.9.3. [2]

[1] Is 43:25.

[2] CCL 77:54.

KNOWING THEIR THOUGHTS

CHRYSOSTOM: Only God could know what is in another’s mind. That Jesus has this knowledge is attested from many evidences. Jesus shows here that he is truly God and equal to the One by whom he is begotten. He does this by revealing and making clear to them what they were thinking. Indeed, some were debating within themselves the very issue of whether Jesus is nothing less than God. But because they were afraid of the crowd, they did not dare to bring their opinion out into the open. He revealed their thoughts while showing great restraint when he said, “Why do you ponder evil thoughts in your hearts?”

And surely if there was any cause to be annoyed it would have been felt by the suffering paralytic, because it seemed that he had been almost completely bypassed. Imagine him complaining, as if he were thinking: “I came to receive healing, but now you are talking about my sins being forgiven. How do you know this? Why do you change the subject?” But in fact the paralytic now says nothing of the sort. Rather, he gives himself over to the authority of the One who heals.

But those who are malicious and all too full of themselves are always plotting against the good works of others. Therefore he chides them but does so in all fairness, as if to say, “For if you disbelieved in my first statement and thought that it was boasting, consider that I am adding something else to it: the revelation of your secrets.” THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 29.2. [1]

[1] PG 57:359-60; NPNF 1 10:196-97.

9:5 | Power to Forgive Sins

RISE AND WALK

JEROME: It is easier said than done. Whether the sins of the paralytic were forgiven, only he who forgave them knew for sure. “Arise and walk”: both he who arose and those who saw him arise were able to vouch for this. Hence there is a bodily sign in order to demonstrate a spiritual sign, though its impact is to curb the imperfections of body and soul. And we are given an understanding of sin and many bodily weaknesses to come. Perhaps, too, sins are forgiven first, so that with the causes of infirmity removed health may be restored. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 1.9.5. [1]

[1] CCL 77:54-55.

9:6 | Rise and Walk

TAKE YOUR PALLET AND GO HOME

HILARY: 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. ON MATTHEW 8.7. [1]

[1] SC 254:200-202.

9:7-8 | The Crowds Glorify God

THEY MARVELED AND GLORIFIED GOD

CHRYSOSTOM: Do you see how he is shown to be Creator of both souls and bodies? He heals the paralysis in both soul and body. The healing of the soul is made evident through the healing of the body, even while the body still remains a creature crawling on the ground. The crowds were slow to recognize who he was: “When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to humans.” … He proceeded by his daily actions to arouse them and lift up their thinking. It would have been no small thing for him to be thought greater than all others, as having come from God. If they had established this adequately in their own minds, they would have known in due order that he was indeed the Son of God. [1]

But they did not grasp these things clearly. Because of this they did not come close to recognizing who he was. For again they were saying, “This man is not from God! How can this man be from God?” Their minds churned over these statements continuously. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 29.2. [2]

[1] The healing of the paralytic brought the crowds to a better understanding of Jesus. Nevertheless they classified Jesus with “human beings” (9:8), leaving him still open to the charge of blasphemy (9:3).

[2] PG 57:360-61; NPNF 1 10:197*.

THEY WERE AFRAID

HILARY: Admiration and not fear had to accomplish this work, but even now the order of the mystery remains. To add a glimpse of the future to the truth of the present, the crowds fear the Lord’s words and actions. It is frightful to face death without having one’s sins forgiven by Christ, for no one returns to the eternal home unless forgiveness of sins has been granted. “And they honored God who had given so much power to humans.” Everything is concluded in proper order, and with the cessation of desperate fear, honor is rendered to God for giving so much power to humans. But this was due to Christ alone, to whom it was normal to share the Father’s very essence. No wonder then that he could do these things—for the power of God is not limited. Otherwise praise would have come from the man healed and not from the many. But the reason here for honor offered to God is this: Power was given through God’s Word to humanity for the remission of sins, the resurrection of bodies and the return to heaven. ON MATTHEW 8.8. [1]

[1] SC 254:202.