June 22, 2014 God Says

God Says

Matthew 9:5-8 “Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. . . .’ “Then he said to the paralytic, ‘“Get up, take your mat and go home.’” 7 And the man got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.

A phrase we often read in the Bible is, “the commands and decrees” of God. The question then arises, “What is the difference?” Essentially the difference is that a command demands obedience and a decree causes something to happen.

     Here is a human king’s decree in Luke 2:1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.

     Augustus ruled the land, and he needed a census done. So he decreed it. It was easy for the Roman Emperor to speak it, and it was accomplished through his authority as emperor.

     The same thing happened in this “double healing”. Jesus decreed, “Your sins are forgiven. Get up and walk.” This was not a prayer from the Son of God to the Father; this was the voice of the Almighty God issuing a decree to this man to accomplish two things: forgiveness and healing.

     There is no answer to Jesus’ question, “Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?” because both are equally easy for the King of Kings. “The One who heals by decree forgives by decree, and no one but God can do such things” (Spiros Zohiartes, Exegetical Commentary on Matthew)

      

LIFE Link: God invites you to pursue his healing, saving decrees.