Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man
November 8, 2019
Commentary
Some days afterward Jesus again comes to Capernaum, possibly at Peter’s house and the crowd gathered to hear Him preach and to see Him heal. So many came that the crowd filled the house and began to crowd around the house. In fact some of these were official religious leaders who had come from as far away as Jerusalem, some eighty miles in distance (v. 17). These scribes and Pharisees had picked a good time to attend one of our Lord’s meetings, because God’s power was present in a special way and Jesus was about to heal a man (v. 17). Some friends of a palsied man brought him to Jesus but found it impossible to get through the crowd (v. 18). So they found the outside staircase to the flat roof top, removed some of the tiles, and lowered the man right into the presence of Jesus (v. 19).
Jesus could have simply healed the man and sent him home, but instead, He used this opportunity to teach a lesson on sin and forgiveness. First of all He dealt with the man’s sins by saying “thy sins are forgiven thee” (v. 20). The Scribes and Pharisees could not deny the miracles of healing but they immediately began to question His claim to forgive sins. They said it was blasphemy, for only God could forgive sins (v. 21). Jesus understood their thoughts and began to question them about their motives (v. 22). He asked them if it was easier to say “thy sins are forgiven thee or to rise up and walk” (v. 23). Then He proceeded to tell them that the “Son of Man” has authority to forgive sin (24). They were correct in the fact that God alone can forgive sin but they were wrong in calling Him a blasphemer, because He truly is God. Immediately the man picked up his bed and went home to the amazement of those watching (vv, 25-26).
Application
Who am I the most like in this story: the paralyzed man who could not help himself, his friends who had compassion, the crowd who were just interested in themselves or the religious leaders who questioned everything?
Luke 5:17– 26 (NET)
17 Now on one of those days, while he was teaching, there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting nearby (who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem), and the power of the Lord was with him to heal. 18 Just then some men showed up, carrying a paralyzed man on a stretcher. They were trying to bring him in and place him before Jesus. 19 But since they found no way to carry him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down on the stretcher through the roof tiles right in front of Jesus. 20 When Jesus saw their faith he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” 21 Then the experts in the law and the Pharisees began to think to themselves, “Who is this man who is uttering blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 When Jesus perceived their hostile thoughts, he said to them, “Why are you raising objections within yourselves? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’? 24 But so 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, stand up, take your stretcher and go home.” 25 Immediately he stood up before them, picked up the stretcher he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God. 26 Then astonishment seized them all, and they glorified God. They were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen incredible things today.”