Reconizing Authority

In Matthew 9:1-8, I again noticed the word "authority" being used twice. This time Jesus is confronted with a paralytic that friends had brought to him for healing. These friends had faith. But in the crowd were some who were whispering and accusing Jesus of blasheming. To quiet this group, Jesus question them asking, What is easier forgiving sins or making a cripple walk? Jesus then said, so that you may "know that the Son of Man hs authority to forgive sins . . ." There's that word "authority." An individual only has authority if he has been authorized. Jesus was authorized by God. He then healed the paralytic. "When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men." There is that word again, "authority." The crowd recognized who had authorized Jesus - God! But they did not acknowledge Jesus to be the Son of God. Thy recognized him as a man - look at the phrase "authority to men." There was much for the people to still learn about Jesus. But one thing we can learn from Jesus is that whatever we do or say, it should bring attention to God and not to ourselves.