What connections exist between Matthew 9:2 and Old Testament teachings on forgiveness? Matthew 9:2—A Snapshot of Grace “Just then some men brought to Him a paralytic lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.’” (Matthew 9:2) Old Testament Bedrock: Forgiveness Belongs to the LORD • Exodus 34:6-7—God proclaims Himself “forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin.” • Psalm 103:2-3—He “forgives all your iniquities and heals all your diseases.” • Isaiah 43:25—The Almighty alone “blots out your transgressions … and remembers your sins no more.” → In Matthew 9:2 Jesus speaks with that same divine authority, demonstrating that what only God could do in the Old Covenant He now does in person. Sacrifice and Substitution Fulfilled • Leviticus 4:20; 16:30—A priest pronounced forgiveness after a sin offering. • Isaiah 53:5—Messiah would be “pierced for our transgressions … and by His stripes we are healed.” → Jesus bypasses the temple altar and pronounces forgiveness directly, signaling that He Himself is the coming sacrifice those rituals foreshadowed. Faith as the Access Point • Genesis 15:6—“Abram believed the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness.” • Habakkuk 2:4—“The righteous will live by his faith.” • 2 Chronicles 7:14—Repentant faith leads God to “forgive their sin and heal their land.” → “When Jesus saw their faith…” (Matthew 9:2) mirrors the OT principle that trusting God invites His forgiving mercy. Healing and Forgiveness Intertwined • Psalm 103:3 connects forgiveness and healing. • Isaiah 53:5 links atonement (“transgressions”) to physical restoration (“healed”). → In Matthew 9 Jesus couples remission of sin with the paralytic’s bodily cure (vv. 6-7), embodying the holistic salvation anticipated in Scripture. Priestly Pronouncement—Now Spoken by the Son • Numbers 6:22-27—Priests spoke blessing on behalf of God. • Leviticus 19:22—A priest “shall make atonement … and he will be forgiven.” → Jesus, standing outside the temple, functions as the greater Priest, declaring forgiveness without intermediary sacrifice. Foreshadowing the New Covenant Promise • Jeremiah 31:34—“I will forgive their iniquity and will remember their sins no more.” → Christ’s words, “Your sins are forgiven,” preview the full New-Covenant reality ratified at the cross and sealed in His blood (Matthew 26:28). Key Connections Summarized • Same Author: OT and NT agree—only God forgives; Jesus acts with that authority. • Same Means: Faith, not works, opens the door to pardon in both Testaments. • Same Goal: Restoration of the whole person—spirit and body. • Same Promise: A coming, once-for-all sacrifice; Jesus’ pronouncement in Matthew 9:2 is the down-payment on that promise, fulfilled at Calvary. |
    |