Ver. 1. And he entered into a ship] He called not for fire from heaven upon those brutish Gadarenes that were so glad to be rid of him. Some wicked ones Christ punisheth here, lest his providence, but not all, lest his patience and promise of coming again to judgment, should be called into question, saith Augustine. Came into his own city] Capernaum, a colony of the Romans, where our Saviour hired a house, and wore a stole or long garment, as a citizen. Happy town in such an inhabitant, and in this respect lifted up to heaven, Matthew 11:23. Indeed, heaven came down to Capernaum; for the Lord so delighteth in his servants (how much more, then, in his Son) that their walls are ever in his sight, and he loveth to look upon the houses where they dwell, Isaiah 49:16.
Ver. 2. They brought unto him a man sick, &c.] Show we like mercy to our sin sick friends, bring them to the ordinances, present them to that Sun of righteousness that hath healing under his wings. To an Almighty physician no disease can be incurable. He is as able and as ready still to heal those that are brought unto him. He hath lost nothing by heaven, be sure. But as Aaron, though he might not lament over his dead sons, because as high priest he entered into the holy place, yet he still retained the affections and bowels of a father; so the Lord Christ, though in heaven, is no less loving and large hearted to his than when he was in the flesh. Bring therefore all your brethren for an offering to the Lord; and if they cannot or will not come otherwise, bring them as the prophet bids, “upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters,” Isaiah 66:20: q.d. though sick, weakly, and unfit for travel, yet rather in litters than not at all. Son, be of good cheer] And well he might, when his sins were forgiven. This mercy is enough to make a man everlastingly merry. Viscount Lisle, in Henry VIII’s time, died for joy of an unexpected pardon from his prince. How great then is the comfort of pardon from God! Such are bidden to be glad, rejoice, and shout for joy, Psalms 32:1,11. And all others flatly forbidden to take any comfort, Hosea 9:1. Etiamsi tibi laeta obveniant omnia, non est tamen quod laeteris. (Ribera.) Thy sins are forgiven thee] And yet his disease remained upon him for some while after. Behold, “he whom thou lovest is sick,” said they of Lazarus, John 11:3. We must make a new Bible, ere we can necessarily conclude that God is heavily offended because we are heavily afflicted. He that escapes affliction may suspect his adoption, Proverbs 3:12.
Ver. 3. This man blasphemeth] True, had he been but a man, and had taken upon him to forgive sins by his own authority, as Popish priests do, to the subverting of some men’s souls. I have known one, saith a reverend divine, who neither by education nor affection was disposed to Popery; who having the ill hap, when his conscience was perplexed, to fall into the hands of a Popish priest, became a Papist upon this reason, because, as the priest suggested, that religion afforded more comfort for the conscience than ours; and therefore more comfort, because it had and exercised a power to pardon sin, which our ministers neither did nor dare to assume unto themselves.
Ver. 4. Wherefore think ye evil, &c.] Christ confutes their calumny, and proves himself to be God, and to have power to pardon sin, by discerning and condemning their evil thoughts. “I the Lord search the heart,” Jeremiah 17:10. Satan may give a shrewd guess; and so may men too; as Bartollus writes of Doctor Gabriel Nele, that by the only motion of the lips, without any utterance, he understood all men, perceived and read in every man’s countenance what he meant, &c. But none can certainly know the thoughts of man, but God alone. It is his royalty to “know what is in man,” John 2:25.
Ver. 5. For whether is it easier, &c.] q.d. It is a work of one and the same Almighty power to pardon sin, and with a bare word only to heal the sick, such as are counted past cure especially. Think the same of the soul’s sicknesses, and say with that ancient, Ego admisi, Domine, unde tu damnare potes me, sed tu non amisisti, unde tu salvare potes me.
Ver. 6. That the Son of man hath power, &c.] And therefore is more than a man. The Rhemists tell us of one man that could remove mountains. But none but the man Christ Jesus could ever remit sins. He only it is that blots out the cloud, and the thick cloud too, enormities as well as infirmities, Isaiah 44:22, for this is a true axiom, Peccata non minuunt iustificationem, though sins be different, justification is not. Take heed ye add not words to God’s covenant.
Ver. 7. And he arose and departed] He did as he was bidden; for he was healed on both sides. Mallem obedire quam miracula facere, said Luther.
Ver. 8. They marvelled and glorified God] When the proud Pharisees blasphemed and were hardened; and so voided the counsel of God against themselves, Luke 7:30, or to their own singular disadvantage, Suo maximo damno. (Beza.)