Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/512



ESUS returned  to  Capharnaum,  and,  as  He  was  teaching  in a private  house,  a great  multitude  of  people,  coming  to  hear Him, filled  the  house  and  crowded  round  it. But behold,  four  men brought a paralytic on  a bed,  and  as  they  could  not  get  near  to Jesus  on  account  of  the  throng,  they  went  up  on  the  roof  of  the house, and  making  an  opening,  let  down  the  paralytic  in  his  bed.

Jesus, seeing  their  faith,  said:  “Son,  be  of  good  heart,  thy sins are  forgiven  thee.”

Now there  were  among  the  crowd  some  Scribes  and  Pharisees, who,  hearing  these  words,  thought  within  themselves:  “He blasphemeth. Who can  forgive  sins  but  God  alone?”  Jesus,  seeing their thoughts,  said  to  them:  “Why  do  you  think  evil  in  your hearts? Which is  easier,  to  say:  ‘Thy  sins  are  forgiven  thee?’  or to  say:  ‘Rise  up,  take  thy  bed  and  walk?’  But  that  you  may know that  the  Son  of  Man  hath  power  on  earth  to  forgive  sins, I say to  thee:  ‘Arise,  take  up  thy  bed,  and  go  into  thy  house.’”