Questions
The authority to forgive sins (Mk 2:1-12; Mt 9:1-8; Lk 5:17-26)
(Questions for meditation)
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What kinds of people are mentioned in this passage?
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If you were the helpers of the paralyzed man, how would you cope with the problem?
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How did Jesus see their “faith” (v5)?
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How is Jesus’ response to the paralyzed man different from the general response he gives to the other sick people?
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Has the paralyzed man ever asked Jesus to forgive his sins? Why would Jesus respond to him that way? (v5)
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How did the scribes respond to Jesus’ word in their hearts? Why would they have such thinking?
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“Whether is it easier…?” (v9) What discrepancy does this question reflect between the thinking of Jesus and that of the scribes?
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Why did Jesus tell people that he has the power to forgive sins?
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Has the paralyzed man ever asked Jesus to heal his palsy? Why did Jesus heal him?
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How did the people respond to the matter? What made them so amazed? What does the "power" in Matt 9:8 refer to?
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If you were in the scene, how would you respond to the whole matter? Would you understand Jesus’ heart? Did the crowd understand his heart?
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What can we learn from this passage?