378-379 : The Pharisees Question Jesus
IT came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching,
that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by,who had come out of every town of Galilee,
and Judea, and Jerusalem.
And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
Some men brought in a bed a man who was taken with a paralysis.
They sought means to bring him in and lay him before Jesus,
but they could not find a way because of the multitude.
So they went upon a housetop and let him down through the roof with the bed into the presence of Jesus.
And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."
Then the scribes and the Pharisees began questioning, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies?
Who can forgive sins, but God alone?"
But when Jesus sensed what they were thinking, he answered them, and said:
"Why do you question in your hearts, asking whether it is easier to say,
'Your sins are forgiven you,' or 'Rise up and walk'?
"In order that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins,"
(he said to the paralysed man), "I say to you: Arise, and take up your bed and go into your house."
And immediately he rose up before them, and took up the bed on which he lay,
and departed to his own house, glorifying God. And they were all amazed, and they glorified God,
and were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen strange things today."
As Jesus went on his way, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and he said to him,
"Follow me." And Matthew arose and followed him.
( Link to free online Bible to view where this event takes place in the Bible )
