Luke 5:17–26, 29–32

Bible Studies for Life
Instructor of Church Music and Worship Leadership, School of the Arts, Samford University

Forgiveness Offered
Luke 5:17–26, 29–32
Our studies this month are focusing on Jesus Christ’s miracles, what they reveal about the promised Messiah and the hope they offer us in our pursuit of God’s Kingdom. Last week, we examined the wedding at Cana as a demonstration of the glory revealed in the promised Messiah. This week, our attention turns to Christ’s healing of the paralyzed man.  

Jesus Honors Faith (17–20)
The healing of the paralyzed man was the first in a series of five encounters Jesus had with the Pharisees. In these encounters, Jesus consistently met resistance from these religious authorities whose primary concern was teaching and observing the Law of Moses. Luke described a broad audience of critics throughout this story (17, 21) yet was careful to show that the critics’ negative accounts did not seem to phase Christ’s healing power (22–23). From the beginning of the story, Luke was careful to emphasize that power was with Christ to heal. Jesus was teaching in a house, surrounded by a crowd of people who made it impossible for the men carrying the paralyzed man to pass. Acting on their faith, the men went to the housetop, removed ceiling tiles on what must have been an affluent home and lowered the paralyzed man through the roof. Because they were persistent and believed deeply in Christ’s healing power, the men were able to get their sick friend to Him.

Though the men hoped for immediate healing, Christ granted forgiveness of sins based on their faith. The forgiveness Christ offered was likely a response to a prevailing cultural view of the time that held that physical pain was punishment for sin. However, Christ’s statement of forgiveness assured this was not so. Jesus did not treat sin as the cause of the man’s paralysis. Rather He used the moment to assert His authority to forgive sin, reminding us that the One who heals is also the One who forgives.

Jesus Forgives Sin (21–26)
The Pharisees, confounded by Christ’s assertion of power, immediately cast doubt and asked a series of questions (21). In their eyes, Christ had been blasphemous for claiming to have power they believed belonged to God. Christ perceived their thoughts and questioned them in return (22), highlighting the tension between the acts of forgiving sins and healing the sick (23). Christ emphasized that the higher of the two is forgiveness of sins (24) and subsequently commanded the paralyzed man to take his bed and go home (25). More importantly, Christ identified Himself as the Son of Man (24), a title He used frequently to identify both His humanity and His deity. The remainder of the story confirms the healing and shows the crowd’s response.

This story shows us that faith is not tied to a particular theological or denominational tradition but in the deep belief that Christ is the mediator of God’s power. Faith was not found in a group of religious officials but in four friends — unnamed neighbors. Hence we are reminded that Jesus came to free us from all that cripples, binds and enslaves and challenged to avoid obstacles that may hinder our sharing His work with our neighbors.

Jesus Seeks Sinners (29–32)
Following the healing and forgiving of the paralyzed man, Jesus called Levi to discipleship (27–28). Upon Levi’s invitation, Jesus dined with a crowd of tax collectors and sinners to the dismay of the Pharisees and their scribes. Once again, Christ responded to their concerns with the statement that the sick are in need of a physician and sinners in need of repentance. This story is significant for it describes Christ’s call upon every person — not just Levi. Here Jesus calls for a style of discipleship that is predicated on association with society’s outcasts and not separation from them. This startling truth forces all of us to examine our discipleship methods. Like Jesus, are we willing to associate with social and religious outcasts to reach all people for Christ? Are we willing to put our faith into action so that we, as well as others, can find freedom in Christ’s healing and forgiveness? These stories challenge us to do just this, and Christ’s work in our lives will give us the model and courage we need.