Matthew 9:1-8 - What Kind of Man is this?

Matthew 9:1-8

Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”

At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”

Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Then the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.

The Set Up

Jesus and the disciples stepped back into a boat, most likely the same boat

Jesus, after calming a storm and casting out a legion of demons, returns to "his own city," Capernaum, based on Mark 2:1, A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 

This city served as His base of operations for much of His Galilean ministry. It's here that He encounters a situation that challenges the religious leaders and reveals once again, what kind of man is this?