The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1906-02-23

l. Preaching the Gospel of Forglv-
ing Love.-Vs. 1, 2. The Missionary
Tour. The next morning after the
great Sabbath day of preaching and
healing, Jesus rose very early and
went out of the city to lonely place
and there prayed Mark 1850. The
work was growing rapidly, and Jesus
needed heavenly communion.
Return to Capernaum. after some
days." The length of time is indei-
mite, but not very long since it is
measured by days instead of weeks.
1T was noised." 1t is remarkable
how rapidly news spreads in the East,
without any of the newspapers or rail
roads or telegraphs of our day and
country.
The House where Jesus was Stay
ing. THAT he was in the house."
Either the house which he occupied
with his mother and his brethren
Matt. Alb or possibly that of st,
Peter" Cambridge Bible Tor
Schools.
The Audience. 2. MANY were gath
cred together" including Pharisees
and doctors of the law from all parts
of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem
duke SID. These were the most
influential and learned of the Jews.
The young teacher was creating
wide excitement.
The Preaching. HE preached
(spake) the word unto them" The
goodness of the kingdom of heaven,
the blessings which that Gospel
brought, the forgiveness of sins, and
repentance as the necessary condi-
ton of receiving the blessings.
II. The Coming of One who Need
ed Forgiveness.-V. 3. In another part
Of the city was a man sick Of the
palsy, who, having suffered long, had
heard of the new prophet with his
Gospel and his healing power.
III. The Beginnings and Growth of
Faith.-Vs. 3, 4. CD The first mark
of faith was the fact that the man de-
sired so earnestly to go to Jesus.
8. Borne of four One at each
corner of the stretcher on which the
bed was laid. This was the next proof
Of faith. The mans faith must have
inspired these others
Gould not come nigh unto him for
the press" The crowd which flied
the house, and the narrow street on
which the door opened "They IN
covered" literally, dug through, "the
roof" which was made Of branches
and twigs covered over with earth
and could be easily dug through and
as easily repaired. They let down
the bed" A mattress two or three
inches thick.
". An Example Of Sins Forgiven.
v. 5. The incident that seemed 70
be an interruption of Jesus discourse
was beautifully turned by him into an
Illustration and enforcement of his
teaching. when Jesus saw their
faith" The faith went far deeper
than a hope for bodily healing. This
may be one reason why Jesus took the
course that he did. He showed Cd
that redemption from sin was worth
more than redemption from. disease;
CD that only by being saved from sin
could the bodily cure be permanent or
most valuable; CD he held up before
them an object lesson of faith, so that
they could see what faith was, how it
saved and how it was manifested
There was always danger that the out
ward healing would absorb too much
attention. 1t was good indeed, but of
small value unless it led to better
lives and renewed souls. HE said
Son." Expressing sympathy
and a kindly feeling. Matthew adds.
"Be of good cheer" "Thy sins be
(are) forgiven thee" The past is
washed away. You are received back
again to your Heavenly Fathers favor
and love, as the prodigal son to his
fathers home. This forgiveness was
doubtless the very boon which above
all others the young man needed and
desired. Jesus was reading his heart.
V. The Test and Proof of Jesus
Power to Forgiveness.-Vs. 6-12.
There were certain of the scribes."
Men of letters, teachers of the law,
who had come down from Jerusalem
to investigate what Jesus was doing.
Reasoning" THE word dialogue is
derived from the original of this
word; and the meaning literally is
that they held a dialogue with them
selves. IN. r. Vincent. "In their
hearts" Not speaking it openly.
This man thus speak blasphem-
ies?" To blaspheme is to SANDER
God, to speak evil. lmpiously, of God.
In this case it was arrogating to him
self what belonged only to God, thus
making God like mere man. Bias
phemy is practically uttered treason
against God. who can forgive sins
but God only?" Sins are against God,
and therefore only God can forgive
them; for in the nature of things only
he against whom the offense has been
committed can forgive. l can for
give the evil done to myself, but
cannot forgive the evil done to my
neighbor. He only can forgive that.
So that the reasoning of the scribes
was right: only God can forgive
sins"