The Great Commentary (Mossman/Cobb English)

And again He entered into Capernaum after some days. A few MSS. read, after eight days

And many came together, so that there was no room , &G. See what is said in the Introduction to this Gospel

Son, thy sins are forgiven thee. Hear Bede, ,f When He is about to heal, He first forgives the man his sins, to show that he was suffering for his faults.” For men are afflicted with bodily ills, either for the increase of merit, as Job and the martyrs; or for the preservation of humility, as Paul ; or for the correction of sin, as the sister of Moses, and this paralytic; or for the glory of God, as the man who was born blind ; or for a beginning of damnation, as Herod. Bede adds that this paralytic was carried by four bearers, to signify that a man in the faith of his soul is lifted up by four virtues to deserve soundness, namely, by prudence, fortitude, justice, and temperance

He saw Levi (the son) of Alphaus, i.e., He saw Matthew, who by another name is called Levi before he was called by Christ, for after his vocation he is always called Matthew. Of Aiphaus, i.e., the son, as the Syriac expresses it This Alphaeus is a different person from the Alphaeus who was the husband of Mary of Cleopas, who was the father of James the Less and Jude CHRIST THE LORD OF THE SABBATH. 377 (Matt. x. 3). Luke and Mark call Matthew Levi, out of regard for his good name, because this name of Levi was known but to few. But he calls himself Matthew, to humiliate himself and to profess openly that he was a sinner and a publican. And rising up , &c, leaving everything. Wherefore Bede saith, 11 He left his own possessions who was wont to seize those of others. He left also the accounts of his taxes imperfect, and not cast up, because the Lord had so inflamed him that he straightway followed Him who called him.”