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This IMPERFECT CHIASM presents the story of how a paralytic′s sins were forgiven so that he could walk. The chiasm is imperfect because there is no matching B element for B′.
1) In the FIRST/LAST elements, A informs us that the man was paralyzed whereas A′ stuns the reader: he picked up his pallet and left. In this, the emphatic power of God is revealed.
2) The EXTRA B′ element points to the importance of the crowd knowing the authority of Christ. The three IMPERATIVE verbs in verse 11 command the paralytic to get up, pick up his pallet, and go home.
3) The two C CORRESPONDING ELEMENTS, your sins are forgiven and the question about the sins versus healing, seem highly related.
4) The two D elements comprise the CENTER POINT where Jesus knew what they were thinking in His spirit. The surprise is not what the scribes were thinking, but rather Jesus knew what they were thinking and/or stating. The INTENSIFICATION seems to build to this center point.
5) There are three QUESTIONS in this structure. In each question, we are being asked by the Holy Spirit to answer them ourselves:
- Who can forgive sins but God alone? (verse 7)
- How did He know what they were reasoning? (verse 8)
- Which is easier: forgive sins or command healing? (verse 9)
6) The CLOSING SUMMARY stresses how the crowd was amazed and glorified God. Show More Rhetoric Show Less Rhetoric
CHIASM (IMPERFECT):
... Jesus forgave the sins of a paralytic who left walking ...
a change of location
BEGINNING MARKER: When He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home. (v1)
no available room
PRELIMINARY: And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. (v2)
paralytic was carried and then dropped from the roof
A
And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. (v3,4)
no text
B
Jesus forgave their sins
C
And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” (v5)
QUESTION: scribes stated only God can forgive sins
D
But some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?” (v6,7)
QUESTION: Jesus knew their thoughts about God′s forgiveness
D′
Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, “Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? (v8)
QUESTION: forgiveness or walk?
C′
“Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk’? (v9)
EXTRA: with authority: get up, pick up, go home
B′
“But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.” (v10,11)
paralytic walked away on his own
A′
And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, (v12A)
CLOSING SUMMARY: amazed, they glorified God
SUM
so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.” (v12B)