The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 374

HOMILETICS. Vere, 1-8.-The c-ui·e of the paralytic, I. THE SICK MA.N BROUGITT TO CIIRIST. 1. His own city. It had been Nazareth; now it was Capernaum. The Nazarenes had i-ejected him. He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief; he marvelled at their want of faith. Now he was in Capernaum; he was well known there, but not as he had been known at Nazareth. The Nazarenes had known him from childhood-all through those thirty years of quiet, humble holinees; he had lived among them like one of themselves, distinguished only by his goodness; he wrought no miracles then. But that quiet life was in one sense the greatest of miracles; it was stranger that the Son of God should live like ordinary men than that his path on earth should he surrounded with glory, marked by startling wondere. In Capernaum he was known as the gi-eat Preacher, the Wonder-worker, the loving, the compassionate Healer. All there believed in his power, not all had yielded their hearts to his love. It was now hie own city, blessed. with bis presence, the highest of all conceivable privileges, 2. The sick man. He wae paralyzed, quite helpless; apparently he had lost the power of speech. He could not come to Christ himself; he had to be carried. Four men brought him as he lay helpless on his bed. Probably be was still young : "child," the Lord calls him, It was a pitiable case, and he eeems to have brought it upon himself; it was, we gather from Christ's words, the punishment of sin. How often sin brings chastisement now I We suffer justly; we receive the due reward of our deeds. Happy they whom suffering brings to Christ I 3. The bearers. The poor man had kind friends; they brought him. They had great difficulties; they could not come nigh to Christ for the press. 'l'hey drew the sick man up to the roof; they uncovered it; they let him down into the midst before Jesus. It is a blessed task to tend the sick and suffering; it is a holy, Christ-like work. It is more blessed still to bring sinful souls to Jesus Christ, the great Physician. The Lord saw their faith. They must believe in Christ themselves who would bring others to him; we cannot help penitent sinners unless we ourselves have learned to hate sin, to overcome it by the power of faith, to live in the holy presence of Christ, breathing the atmosphere of his love. The Lord listens to intercessory prayer. Faith brings blessings n~t only on the believer, but on those for whom he praye. The centurion's faith brought healing to his servant; the faith of friends to the paralytic. But he too, it seems, believed. He eould not come ; he was willing, desirous, to be brought; he would not have been healed had he been brought by force. Jesus saw their faith-the faith of all, the sick man and his friends. Christians may help others; they may influence them by word, by holy example; but he that would be saved must himself believe. Each soul must know Christ itself; each soul must be brought into spiritual contact with the Saviour; each individual soul must have access unto God through him. 4. Th~ Saviour. The Lord rend the hearts of the bearers; he saw their faith. He rend the heart of the paralytic; he saw his trembling fearfulness, hie consciousness of sin, (1) "Child," he said, "be of good cheer." The poor man sadly needed encouragement; the Lord gave it at once; he had come to heal the broken-hearted. The poor man wae humbled to the very du~t; the Lord looked on him with a great pity, So he pities us in our sullerings now with IIAT!'IlEW. 2a  3,0 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [en. tt. 1--88,