He entered a boat, made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Courage, child, your sins are forgiven." At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming." Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, "Why do you harbor evil thoughts? Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" — he then said to the paralytic, "Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home." He rose and went home. When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to human beings. (Mt 9:1-8)
Jesus saw their faith. But their actions were nothing very different. They brought a paralytic lying on a stretcher. One would wonder how these actions of theirs were expression of their faith. In fact they have a lot about Jesus and his healing ministry. They believed that God was in him living and working through him. Jesus exclaims about this faith: they saw God in Jesus present and active.
Some of the scribes said that he was blaspheming. They were harbouring evil thoughts. They were not ready to see God in Jesus active and effective. They saw Jesus as anyone of the people. Even though Jesus was preaching and teaching about the kingdom and even though he was doing the works of the kingdom yet they were ready to see God in him.
The sick person was healed and walked away carrion the stretcher in front of them. For the paralytic and his friends Jesus was Emmanuel (god with us). But for the others he was a blasphemer. Anyone who sees God’s presence in the other and in the world will receive the gifts of God. But anyone who refuses to see God and his presence in the world will be men of evil thoughts.
