When Jesus told a paralyzed man "your sins are forgiven," the religious leaders were scandalized. Only God can do that — so what does it mean that a man is speaking those words? And what does it mean when your pastor says them to you on a Sunday morning?

In this sermon on Matthew 9:1-8, Pastor Grant unpacks three reasons Christians can trust the absolution they hear in worship: the divine identity of the one who first spoke it, the visible proof he gave to back it up, and the authority he deliberately left behind in his church. Along the way, he makes a compelling case for the often-overlooked gift of private confession and absolution — and explains why the devil would rather you never try it.

Whether you've heard "your sins are forgiven" a thousand times or you've never been sure what to make of it, this sermon will give you fresh confidence in a word that does exactly what it says.

Key Takeaways

1. When Jesus forgave the paralytic, he wasn't just being compassionate — he was revealing that he is God in the flesh, the only one with authority to forgive sins against God.
2. Jesus healed the man's paralysis as visible, checkable proof that his invisible forgiveness was real — and his own resurrection from the dead is the ultimate proof that still stands today.
3. Thinking bigger thoughts about your sin than about God's grace isn't humility — Jesus actually called that kind of doubt "thinking evil in your hearts."
4. Private confession and absolution is a gift available in the Lutheran church where you can confess a specific sin by name and hear Christ forgive it by name — and pastors are bound never to reveal what they hear.
5. The authority to speak God's forgiveness isn't limited to pastors. Every Christian can tell a repentant brother or sister that God in Christ forgives them.

Scripture References

• Matthew 9:1-8 — The primary text: Jesus forgives and heals the paralytic at Capernaum, proving the Son of Man's authority to forgive sins on earth.
• 1 Kings 8:39 — Solomon's prayer at the temple dedication, affirming that God alone knows every human heart — applied to show Jesus' divine identity when he reads the scribes' thoughts.
• Psalm 103:3 — "He forgives all your iniquity and heals all your diseases" — used to connect forgiveness to bodily restoration, fully realized at the resurrection.
• Romans 4:25 — Jesus was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification — the resurrection as proof of forgiveness.
• John 20:22-23 — Jesus breathes on the apostles and gives them authority to forgive and retain sins, establishing the office of absolution in the church.
• 2 Corinthians 2:10-11 — Paul urges the church to forgive a repentant sinner so that Satan cannot outwit them through excessive guilt and sorrow.
• Ephesians 4:32 — "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you" — cited as the epistle lesson connecting divine and mutual forgiveness.
• Luther's Small Catechism, Confession — Referenced for the two parts of confession (confessing sins and receiving absolution "as from God himself, not doubting").

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Listen to sermons from St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, a country church six miles north of Gibbon, Minnesota. We belong to the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS).

Children worship beside their parents and grandparents here. We sing hymns, hear readings from the Bible, and pray together. Our preaching centers on Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and rose again. Through His Word, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper, He gives forgiveness and eternal life. Whether you’ve grown up in church or are just beginning to learn about the Christian faith, you’re welcome to visit.

Visit us: 63924 240th St, Gibbon, MN 55335 | (507) 834-6676 | splcgibbon.org

Join us Sundays:

• September–May: Sunday School at 8:30 a.m. | Adult Bible Study at 9:00 a.m. | Worship at 10:00 a.m.
• June–August: Worship at 9:00 a.m.

Plan your visit for directions and what to expect.

#GibbonMN #LutheranChurchMN #LCMSWorship

A lawyer tests Jesus with a question about the greatest commandment. Jesus answers, then asks a question of His own: How can the Christ be both David's Son and David's Lord? In Matthew 22:34-46, these two interactions interpret each other. God requires wholehearted love, and only the Christ—David's Son and David's Lord—has kept that commandment perfectly for us.

What about the Christian who leaves church with the same grudge as before? Pastor Karl Grant speaks to the guilty conscience with Christ's obedience, death, and resurrection. He then follows the promise of a new heart through Baptism and the Lord's Supper, where Christ gives and strengthens the life His commandments require.

Preached on October 4, 2026, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Gibbon, Minnesota, this LWML Sunday sermon brings that new life into ordinary congregational life: supporting mission work, defending a neighbor's reputation, forgiving from the heart, and speaking charitably when a church meeting brings disagreement. Christ remains the One who sustains His people to the end.

Key Takeaways

1. God commands wholehearted love for Him and for our neighbors. Knowing the commandment or appearing polite does not fulfill it.
2. Jesus is David's Son and David's Lord. His perfect obedience counts for us, and His death deals with our sin.
3. God gives the new heart He requires. Through Baptism and the Lord's Supper, Christ gives and strengthens our life in Him.
4. Love acts for a neighbor's good: defend their reputation, consider what you may not understand, and explain their words and actions kindly.
5. Forgiven children of God are free to practice love in mission support and everyday disagreements. Our confidence rests in Christ, who sustains us when we fail.

Selected Scripture References

• Matthew 22:34-46: Jesus teaches wholehearted love for God and neighbor, then asks how the Christ can be both David's Son and David's Lord.
• Leviticus 19:17-18: Love for a neighbor reaches the heart, where hatred and grudges begin.
• Romans 5:19: Through Christ's obedience, the many are made righteous.
• Deuteronomy 30:6: God promises to give His people hearts that love Him.
• Colossians 2:11-12: In Baptism, believers are joined to Christ's burial and resurrection.
• 1 Corinthians 1:8-9: God is faithful and sustains His people to the day of Jesus Christ.

Question for Reflection

Whose words or actions could you explain more kindly this week, remembering how Christ has forgiven you?

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At St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Gibbon, Minnesota, God has gathered a congregation where all ages are present, from newborns to grandparents. We are united in Christ through the historic liturgy. Children are a visible and joyful part of our life together, with active Sunday School and youth ministries woven into the fabric of our community. Here, every generation receives the saving benefits of Christ through His Word and Sacraments. Whether you’re listening nearby or far away, you’re welcome to join us in person or online.

Visit us: 63924 240th St, Gibbon, MN 55335 | (507) 834-6676 | splcgibbon.org

Join us Sundays:

• September–May
  • 8:30am Sunday School | 9am Bible Study | 10am Worship
• June–August
  • 9am Worship

#GibbonMN #LutheranChurchMN #LCMSWorship

At a Sabbath dinner, Jesus takes hold of a sick man and heals him while everyone watches. Then He notices guests choosing the best seats. What do these two moments have to do with each other? In Luke 14:1-11, they answer the same question: What is the Sabbath for?

Pastor Karl Grant considers the difference between leisure and the rest Christ gives through His Word. He speaks to the choices that fill a Sunday, including necessary work on a farm, travel, and the ordinary pressure to keep doing one more task. Jesus frees His people from the old Sabbath regulations without taking away their need to hear Him.

At the dinner table, the question becomes where we belong. Family history and faithful attendance can each become reasons to look down on someone else. Christ, who took the lowest place to serve us, gives His people a place at His table. That promise also belongs to the parent wrestling a toddler through worship and the person who comes tired, grieving, or distracted.

Scripture References

• Luke 14:1-11: The sermon text. Jesus heals the man with dropsy, asks about rescuing a son or ox from a well, and tells guests to take the lower place.
• Exodus 20:8-11: The Sabbath commandment and God's rest after creation.
• Colossians 2:16-17: The Sabbath as a shadow whose substance belongs to Christ.
• Romans 10:2: Paul's words about zeal for God without knowledge.
• Luke 22:27: Jesus says He is among His disciples as One who serves.
• Philippians 2:5-11: Christ's humiliation, death on a cross, and exaltation.
• Luke 1:52-53: Mary's song about God exalting the humble and filling the hungry.

Question for Reflection
When you plan a Sunday, where do you seek rest, and where has Christ promised to give it?

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At St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Gibbon, Minnesota, God has gathered a congregation where all ages are present, from newborns to grandparents. We are united in Christ through the historic liturgy. Children are a visible and joyful part of our life together, with active Sunday School and youth ministries woven into the fabric of our community. Here, every generation receives the saving benefits of Christ through His Word and Sacraments. Whether you’re listening nearby or far away, you’re welcome to join us in person or online.

Visit us: 63924 240th St, Gibbon, MN 55335 | (507) 834-6676 | splcgibbon.org

Join us Sundays:

• September–May
  • 8:30am Sunday School | 9am Bible Study | 10am Worship
• June–August
  • 9am Worship

#GibbonMN #LutheranChurchMN #LCMSWorship