Sins in the Book of Matthew

The words sin and sinner are consistently used throughout the Bible, but the gospel of Matthew finds the most variations in utilizing these words. In using both Biblegateway.com and Bibleontheweb.com, I discovered fourteen uses for the words sin and sinner. The first use of the word sin occurs in the Narratives of Jesus in Matthew 1:21; the purpose of stating "for He will save His people from their sins" exemplifies that Jesus truly is the son of God. Without transparently asserting that He is the son of God, Jesus was brought into this world with humble qualities, extraordinary grace, and remarkable faith.

Another prime example of the effect Jesus has on people is the story of healing the paralyzed man. In Matthew 9:2 Jesus displays that sin is the ailment that cripples us; it is by God's great healing power of forgiveness that we are saved. Jesus first cured the spiritually and physically crippled man of his sins and sorrows. Time and time again, Jesus has proven that it is by God's command alone that He has the ability to heal people in need of salvation. Without sin there is no salvation; without God there is no healing force of grace and forgiveness.

In using various meanings for sin and sinner, Matthew 12:31 displays that salvation is given to those who deserve it. "Wherefore I say unto you, all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men." In this passage, Matthew confirms that by disrespecting the Holy Spirit, you are undermining the respect that Jesus has for you. By rejecting the idea of forgiveness, you are committing an "unforgivable sin." What is blatantly ironic about this passage is that this disrespect can be seen in Jesus' own ministry; Jesus healed on the Sabbath, which was by nature morally wrong to the religious leaders of his day. The most significant message in chapter twelve is realizing that any human being can repent his or her sins; any person can turn to God at any point in life, and salvation is always achievable.

One of the most controversial acts in Jesus' ministry was his ability to eat with sinners; the Jewish community looked despondently upon his activities. "And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?" from Matthew 9:11 proves that Jesus incorporates all people from all walks of life. Unlike the Orthodox Jews of his time, Jesus socialized with people that were not received well by public opinion. Jesus was often asked why He ate with sinners and associated with criminals; this is primarily because His healing saw no boundaries and there was no person he could not assist. Whether they were mentally, spiritually, or physically ill, Jesus was a healer of all senses and diseases.

In another display of mercy, Jesus attests that forgiveness is unconditional and holds no limitations. In Matthew 18:21 Peter asks Jesus "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" In an attempt to prove Peter wrong, Jesus shows Peter that your debt with God is always greater than your transgression to a neighbor. If God can absolve each one of us for every sin we commit, then we must learn to pardon everyone that crosses us. We must want and learn to forgive others if we want the mercy of God.

Matthew also expresses the passion of Jesus in chapter 26 verse 45: "Then he came to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners." Jesus provides evidence that He truly saved us from our sins when He took up the cross; He could have taken the easy way out, but instead died for our salvation. The agony in the garden is a prime example of temptation; we cannot overcome temptation simply by human strength alone, but by the grace and strength that God bestows upon us.

Perhaps the deep rooted lesson that Matthew wished to accomplish was instilling in us that sin is a variable word that cannot simply be defined in a textbook. The Bible serves as a guideline for our thoughts and views on recurring themes that transpire not only in the Bible, but in our everyday activity. Such ideas as temptation, sin, and salvation are topics that arise quite frequently in the lives of everyday citizens whether religious or not. To understand Matthew's meanings behind words, one must first understand the context in which they are used, the relationship between these words and the way people view them today, and the critical intentions of these ideas.