Matthew 9:4-8 "And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. And he arose, and departed to his house. But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men."
Jesus had just spoken to a man sick with palsy and told him to be of good cheer because his sins were forgiven. The scribes (which were religious lawyers) were offended by this and reasoned among themselves that Jesus had blasphemed. They thought their thoughts were hidden from Jesus because they did not credit who He was. I imagine that His response to them added to their surprise.
The evil in their hearts was that they thought ill of Jesus with malice. Rather than considering what they had just heard and the authority with which it was spoken, they dismissed His work as unacceptable. Jesus posed a very simple question to the scribes. Was it easier to say, “Arise and walk” than to say, “Thy sins be forgiven thee?” The outcome would be the same; what Jesus spoke was sure.
Jesus chose His language deliberately. He had already proclaimed to this man that His sins were forgiven. He used this situation to prove to them that He had that power. For that reason, He told the man that was sick to get up, take his bed, and go to his house. It came to pass just as Jesus had commanded.
The multitude saw what Jesus had done. They were amazed at such power and gave God the glory. I am persuaded that what they were most amazed by was that Jesus had the power to forgive sins. That was the purpose behind this event, and He left them with tangible proof of His power.
Dear ones, we know that Jesus washed away the sins of His people with His blood on the cross. It is a great mercy and joy in our lives when the Holy Spirit reveals to us that He has done this great work in our lives. His promise is sure and steadfast. Because our sins are forgiven us, we can take up our life anew and live it to the glory of God.