Is There a Connection Between Sin and Sickness?

Jesus makes an unexpected statement when some friends of a man who was a paralytic carried him to Jesus. They brought him for healing, but Jesus said, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.” (Matthew 9:2 NKJV)

But, Jesus said this because He knew the bystanders’ hearts were full of unbelief and evil. They immediately questioned if Jesus had authority to forgive sins. To make His point He said, “But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, ‘Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.’” (Matthew 9:6)

In this case Jesus was not saying the man was sick because of sin, but He wasn’t saying that he wasn’t. When Jesus heals, He heals the spirit, soul and body, if we ask for the whole package.

Sometimes when people forgive, and let go of a long time grudge, they experience instant physical healing. But Jesus also uses healing to bring Him honor and glory; and increase faith. For example: in John 9:3, when Jesus healed the blind man, “Jesus answered, ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.’”

The bottom line: Jesus wants us healed in every way. He does not want to heal us from heart disease so that we can eat French fries every meal. He wants to change our inner being as well so that we can realize our bodies were designed to be the temple of the Holy Spirit and we need to take care of our temple.