Matthew 9:1-8 “The Healing of the Paralytic”

Matthew 9:1-8 “The Healing of the Paralytic”

Literary Criticism

Time: Unknown

Place: Capharnaum

Situation: Jesus was just coming from the country of Gadarenes.

Persons: People, Paralytic man, Scribes and Jesus.

Relationship: Listeners and Teacher.

Literary Form: Healing Miracle Story

Need: Paralytic man needs to be cured

Deed: “Take heart my son, your sins are forgiven (V. 2b)

            “Rise, take up your bed, and go home” (V.6c)

Result: He rose and went home (V.7)

Reaction: The crowd saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God.

Significant Words Used: “Your sins are forgiven”.

Style: Jesus uses questions: Why do you think evil in your heart?

For which is easier to say, ‘your sins are forgiven, or to say, rise and walk?

Tradition History

1. The Evangelist used the Old Testament source. (Jer. 31: 34b)

“ All, from least to greatest, shall know me, says the lord, for I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sin no more.”

2. Old Testament Meaning: Only God forgives Sins.

New Testament Meaning: Jesus forgives Sins.

3. The Evangelist used the text to present his massage.

4. It gives to the readers the idea of repentance in the early Christian Community. It is the sacrament of reconciliation in our days.

Redaction Criticism

1. This passage fits in the discourse transmits the gift of authority to act.

2. Similarities: Jesus came to his own city (Mt. V.1)

                        He was at home (Mk.V. 1b)

 What we have in the Gospel of Matthew we have them in the other Gospels too. But Mark and Luke have illustrated the incident.

3. Difference: Behold they brought him a paralytic (Mt.V. 2b)

                       4 men carried a paralytic (Mk.V. 3)

                        Men were bringing on the bed a man who was paralyzed. (Lk.V. 18)   

This man is blaspheming (Mt.V.3b)

Why thus this man speaks thus? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone? (Mk.V.7)

Who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only?   

Rise, take up your bed and go home (Mt. V.6c)

I say to you rise, take up your pallet and go home (Mk.V. 11)

I say to you rise, take up your bed and go home (Lk. V. 24b)

4. This text shows why Jesus was rejected, misunderstood, suffered and died.

5. Jesus is the Son of God; He has the authority to forgive sins.                

This narrative is trying to tell the readers that they are to forgive one another. The idea of the Sacrament of Reconciliation is being focused in this narrative.