Matthew 9:1

 Matthew 9:1 says, And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.  Jesus got on another ship and went back to his home town.  Verse two states, And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.  People brought a man lying in a bed sick with the palsy to Jesus, and we are told that Jesus saw their faith.  When we come to Jesus with problems today, He should be be to see that we come with faith in Him.  Jesus told the man to be of good cheer because his sins were forgiven.  The man was not brought to Jesus for a spiritual reason, but for a physical one, but he received an even greater blessing.  Jesus said that the man's sins were forgiven because of his faith in Jesus.  People may come to Jesus for the wrong reasons today, but if they truly put their faith in Him, then they have the best reward, in that their sins are forgiven.  Verse three says, And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.  Certain scribes, some of the religious leaders, accused Jesus of blasphemy.  We had best hope that the religious leaders of today do not begin to accuse Jesus or the word of God to be blasphemous.  When we begin to hear things such as the fact that Jesus is not the only way to salvation then whoever is proclaiming this is guilty of blasphemy.  Verse four declares, And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?  Jesus didn't have to hear their words, because He knew their thoughts.  Our words may not question God, but He knows our very thoughts, and if our words do not reflect our true thoughts, then God is going to judge our thoughts.  Verse five asks, For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?  Jesus asked which was easier, to say that the man's sins were forgiven or to tell him to rise up and walk.  If Jesus had simply said rise up and walk, it would be easily verified that Jesus had the power to heal if the man did so, but when He said for the man to be of good cheer that his sins were forgiven, then it required the man to act in faith that Jesus could forgive his sins.  The only way that we can have our sins forgiven is by putting our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse six adds, 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.  Jesus said He did this so that the people would know that He had the power to forgive sins.  He then told the man to rise up, take his bed and go to his house.  Verse seven continues, And he arose, and departed to his house.  The man did as Jesus told him to do.  After we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, then we must do what He tells us to do if we are to be successful in our spiritual life.  Verse eight declares, But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.  The scribes may have questioned God, but the people marveled and glorified God.  No matter how the rest of the world may react, even religious leaders, we must marvel and glorify God when Jesus forgives our sins.  Verse nine states, And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.  Then, as Jesus was passing by, He called Matthew to come and follow Him.  Jesus calls us wherever He finds us and invites us to come and follow Him.  All we can do is put our faith in Him and follow wherever He leads us if we are to be forgiven of our sins and successful in our spiritual journey.