Like the leper, this paralytic had lost all hope of recovery. His disease was the result of a life of sin, and his sufferings were embittered by remorse. He had long before appealed to the Pharisees and doctors, hoping for relief from mental suffering and physical pain. But they coldly pronounced him incurable, and abandoned him to the wrath of God. The Pharisees regarded affliction as an evidence of divine displeasure, and they held themselves aloof from the sick and the needy. Yet often these very ones who exalted themselves as holy were more guilty than the sufferers they condemned.

Denne lamme mand havde ligesom den spedalske mistet alt håb om helbredelse. Hans sygdom var en følge af et liv i synd, og hans lidelser var bitrere på grund af samvittighedsnag. Han havde for længe siden henvendt sig til farisæerne og de lovkyndige i håb om at blive befriet for sjælelig lidelse og legemlige smerter; men de havde blot koldt erklæret ham for uhelbredelig og overladt ham til Guds vrede. Farisæerne anså sygdom for at være vidnesbyrd om Guds mishag, og de følte sig hævet over de syge og trængende. Og dog var disse mennesker, som roste sig af at være hellige, mere skyldige end de lidende, som de fordømte.