Matthew Henry Commentary Mark 2:1-12

"And when he entered again into Capernaum after some days, it was noised that he was in the house. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room [for them], no, not even about the door: and he spake the word unto them. And they come, bringing unto him a man sick of the palsy, borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the crowd, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed whereon the sick of the palsy lay. And Jesus seeing their faith saith unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins are forgiven. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak? he blasphemeth: who can forgive sins but one, [even] God? And straightway Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, saith unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority on earth to forgive sins (he saith to the sick of the palsy), I say unto thee, Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thy house. And he arose, and straightway took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion." — Mark 2:1-12 (ASV)

It was this man's misery that he needed to be so carried, and this shows the suffering state of human life. It was kind of those who so carried him, and this teaches the compassion that people should have toward their fellow creatures in distress. True faith and strong faith may work in various ways; but it will be accepted and approved by Jesus Christ. Sin is the cause of all our pains and sicknesses.

The way to remove the effect is to take away the cause. Pardon of sin strikes at the root of all diseases. Christ proved his power to forgive sin by showing his power to cure the man sick of the palsy. And his curing diseases was a figure of his pardoning sin, for sin is the disease of the soul; when it is pardoned, it is healed.

When we see what Christ does in healing souls, we must acknowledge that we have never seen anything like it. Most people think themselves whole; they feel no need of a physician and therefore despise or neglect Christ and his gospel. But the convinced, humbled sinner, who despairs of all help except from the Saviour, will show his faith by applying to him without delay.