Day 19

Luke 5:17–26 (NIV)

¹⁷ One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there. And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick.

¹⁸ Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. ¹⁹ When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. ²⁰ When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

²¹ The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” ²² Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? ²³ Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? ²⁴ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins….” He said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” ²⁵ Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. ²⁶ Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

Pray for God to show you something to use from the passage

Read the Passage

Who is in the passage?

What action verbs do you see?

What other words stick out in your mind

vs 21 -The Pharisees were one of four major religious groups in first-century Judaism—Sadducees, Essenes, and Zealots being the others.²³ The Pharisees were a nonpriestly or lay separatist movement whose goal was to keep the nation faithful to Mosaic faith. In order to do this, they had a very developed tradition that gave rulings on how the law applied to a variety of possible situations not addressed directly by Scripture

The teachers of the law were religious lawyers who supported the development of this extrabiblical tradition. Their motive was to preserve and contextualize the biblical teaching into new settings. Usually called scribes they are often linked with the Pharisees (5:21, 30; 6:7; 11:53; 15:2) or the chief priests (9:22; 19:47; 20:1, 19; 22:2, 66; 23:10). They could rule on the religious legality of an issue from a pharisaic point of view, although, as the Mishnah attests, the opinions on any given issue were hardly unanimous.

vs 21 Blasphemy is a serious charge, one that will eventually become the basis of Jesus’ conviction. It involves an overt defilement of the divine name, that is, abusive speech or action directed against God.

Bock, D. L. (1994). Luke Volume 1: 1:1-9:50. Baker exegetical commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books.

Vs 23- Son of Man - used different ways in OT. Sometimes referred to humans (Ps 144:3.) But seems that by this time Son of Man has come to be taken for what Daniel prophesied in Dan 7:13-14. This passage references what the Christ will be. Son of Man given authority, glory, and sovereign power by God. Everlasting ruler over all people.

Questions

What amazes Jesus about the men’s faith? Are people amazed at the faith we have in God?

Why were the Pharisees upset by Jesus forgiving the man’s sins?

How did the miracle prove Jesus’ ability to forgive sins? What does Jesus’ ability to forgive sins say about who He is?

Notes

Story a turning point in Luke- see the beginning of the spiritual battle for what God's salvation is to look like. Group of religious leaders vs Jesus.

Vs 17 - Jesus work and words had attracted the attention of many. The Pharisee are now evaluating of Jesus and his ministry to see if it meets their standards for being from God.

Power of the Lord. Idea of God presence (possible meaning Spirit) involved in Jesus comes out again. God is in Jesus is proven in this story.

vs 18-20a Faith of men including paralytic is noted. Why? the work involved in getting him to Jesus was no small matter. (I wonder what the guy whose house it was thought of their tearing up his roof) The spiritual idea that we should not keep anything from keeping us from getting to Jesus comes out. That is faith.

20 b - Your sins are forgiven.- These words set off the debate about who Jesus is. So far he has just been a teacher and healer (that's amazing enough!) but now he adds forgiveness of sins. this causes major issues in Pharisees because they believe, and rightly so, that Only the offended party (i.e. God) can forgive the wrong of a sin. Therefore Jesus is at least declaring himself a spokesman for God. This is blasphemy! Why because from their point of view Jesus cannot be God.

To make claim to a God act is wrong and eventually will be used to kill Jesus.

vs 22 -There is a sense of knowledge based on more than discernment. In their hearts- truly felt it. Heart is who you are

vs 23 -24 Which is easier to say- Anybody can say your sins are forgiven but you couldn't prove it had happened. Yet to tell a paralytic to get up and walk can demonstrate power of God and that Jesus has the authority to forgive sins. (inference to being God) . The man gets up thus proving it is God's work in Jesus. Son of Man title also implies God given authority (see Dan 7:13-14)

vs 26 -causes everyone(including Pharisees?) to marvel and praise God. Interesting praise correctly directed to God( John 13:31-32) Fulfills Luke 4:43

While amazed still uncertain what to do with Jesus, who is he?

No one can deny what happened but what does it mean?