Holes barred

After reading Matthew 9 for the two millionth time, I notice that my good buddy Matt does not even mention that the four friends of the paralytic ripped apart the roof and lowered their buddy onto center stage.

That’s such a unique part of the story, I always include that part! Clearly, Matthew is not nearly as good a story teller as your friend Marcos.

1. He’s got the part about seeing the faith of the four friends. I like that, Jesus could see their faith, just like Peter could see the wind in chapter fourteen.

2. He’s got the part about the folks there getting antsy in their undies when Jesus said, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” “Blasphemy!”, the know-it-alls said.

3. He’s got the part about “It’s easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven’ than ‘Rise up and walk’,” which always grabs my attention because Jesus never seems to do anything because it’s the easy way!

But no hole in the roof.

Go figure.

Matthew was writing primarily to a Jewish audience.

Maybe, for the Jews, roof-ripping was offensive.

I dunno.

Perhaps I need to go look in Leviticus to find the verse about that:

Say to the people of Israel, any one of the people of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel who rips open the roof shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones.