Bible Study series: Luke 5:17-26. Jesus had authority on earth to forgive sins. He backed up his claim with a healing.
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I also translate to learn. The translations are mine, unless otherwise noted. If you would like to see many others, please click here:
In the next link to the original chapter, I comment more and offer the Greek text. At the bottom you will find a “Summary and Conclusion” section geared toward discipleship. Check it out!
In this post, links are provided for further study.
Let’s begin.
Scripture: Luke 5:17-26
17 And it happened during the days of periods that he was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law who had come from every village in Galilee and Judea, and Jerusalem were sitting (to listen). The power of the Lord was present for him to heal.
18 Look! Men were carrying a man on a cot, who had been paralyzed, and they were seeking to carry him in and place him right in front of him. 19 When they did not find a way to carry him in, because of the crowd, they went up to the roof and lowered him down through the tiles with the stretcher in the middle of them, in front of Jesus. 20 When he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven for you.” 21 And the teachers of the law and Pharisees were reasoning, saying, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who is able to forgive sins except God alone?”
22 Jesus knew their reasoning and in reply said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? 23 Which is easier to say? ‘Your sins are forgiven for you’? Or to say, ‘get up and walk’? 24 So that you know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins” —he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, ‘Get up and pick up your bedding and go to your home. 25 And instantly he arose in front of them and picked up what he was lying on, and left for his home, glorifying God.
26 And amazement grabbed hold of everyone, and they began glorifying God, and they were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen remarkable things today!” (Luke 5:17-26)
Comments:
17:
“Pharisees”: This is the first mention of Pharisees in the Gospel of Luke.
“Teachers of the law”: It is the noun nomodidaskolos (pronounced no-moh-dee-dahs-kah-loss). Some translations call the “legal experts.”
Please see this link for more information:
Quick Reference to Jewish Groups in Gospels and Acts
It is not clear from v. 17 alone whether these pious religious leaders were sitting and listening to Jesus, or whether there was a crowd. Then v. 19 says a “crowd” was there, and this refers to the people. It is not likely that the religious leaders by themselves could make up a huge crowd, so let’s imagine a crowd of “regular” folk were also sitting and listening.
“The power of the Lord was present for him to heal”; Or it could be translated “the power of the Lord existed for him to heal.” Usually translations have: “the power of the Lord was present for him to heal.” The latter one is best.
This is one of the favorite verses of Renewalists who go for healing. God’s presence, they say, can come in a special way and manifest healing power. It is difficult to argue with them from their point of view, two thousand years later. Jesus, however, was God in the flesh, so he was able to heal in special atmospheres or in ordinary atmospheres, as he cooperated with the Father and the Spirit. Yet, I still wonder whether the crowds of people did not have a certain level of their own faith, such that the presence for him to heal filled the atmosphere. In other words, something was in the “spiritual air,” and the expectation of the crowd contributed to the healing presence, even calling it down from heaven. After all, the clause introduces the men carrying the paralyzed man on his cot or stretcher, and now a great healing—spirit, soul and body—were about to happen. However, today, healing evangelists take this idea of “the power for him to heal was present” too far. They have super-intense worship and wait and wait until something “clicks” or “pops.” The evangelist is usually up front guiding the audience with flash and showiness. Message: “I’m the anointed one! The power flows through me!” In contrast, we need to calm down the intensity and dial down the volume, for God is always there, eager to bless his people with healing and forgiveness of sins. We don’t need to go through intense magical rituals to drag a reluctant God down from heaven. He is our loving Father, not an erratic genie or mean butler.
“power”: it is the noun dunamis (or dynamis) (pronounced doo-na-mees or dee-na-mis, but most teachers prefer the first one). It is often translated as “power,” but also “miracle” or “miraculous power.” It means power in action, not static, but kinetic. It moves. Yes, we get our word dynamite from it, but God is never out of control, like dynamite is. Its purpose is to usher in the kingdom of God and repair and restore broken humanity, both in body and soul. For nearly all the references of that word and a developed theology, please click on:
What Are Signs and Wonders and Miracles?
18:
They were carrying him on a cot or stretcher, and that is what the Greek “lexicon guys” teach us. The paralytic’s friends or relatives (or both) intended to place him right in front of Jesus. These were fine friends or relatives of the paralytic! However, something blocked their way. But how could they lower a stretcher down? They probably just put him in the bedding, so he was bundled up in a big cloth sack, but v. 24 says “pick up your stretcher.” But let’s not quibble.
“look!” see my comments at v. 12. In this case the men and paralyzed man take first spot after the verb “look!” The attention goes to them.
19:
I don’t know why the crowds would not let them through. All they had to do was step aside. It is probable, to judge from the previous section (v. 15) and the flow of the story, that countless numbers of people had their own illnesses or friends and relatives who also needed healing, and in no way would they allow these newcomers to cut in line! Anyone who has attended a large healing rally knows about some unspoken competition.
“tiles”: made of clay, the men must have removed them, calculating where Jesus was sitting—probably at the door. They intended to lower their friend right in front of Jesus. He heard the noise. Clay dust may have landed on him or by him. He looked up. He smiled. He admired how they pushed in to get their miracle.
20:
Renewalists like this verse too, because Jesus “saw” their faith. There is nothing out of the ordinary about the word “saw.” It is the standard one. But sometimes the showier healing evangelists take intense joy in announcing they can perceive a rise of faith in the crowd. “I feel something happen right then! Faith has arisen!” That may be okay, because it is true, but I just don’t picture Jesus shouting such things. He always seemed to calm and nonshowy.
“faith”: the noun is pistis (pronounced peace-teace or piss-tiss), and it is used 243 times. Its basic meaning is the “belief, trust, confidence,” and it can also mean “faithfulness” and “trustworthy” (Mounce p. 232). It is directional, and the best direction is faith in God (Mark 11:22; 1 Thess. 1:8; 1 Pet. 1:21; Heb. 6:1) and faith in Jesus (Acts 3:16; 20:21; 24:24; Gal. 3:26; Eph. 1:15; Col. 1:4; 1 Tim. 3:13). Believing (verb) and faith (noun) is very important to God. It is the language of heaven. We live on earth and by faith see the invisible world where God is. We must believe he exists; then we must exercise our faith to believe he loves us and intends to save us. We must have saving faith by trusting in Jesus and his finished work on the cross.
True acronym:
F-A-I-T-H
=
Forsaking All, I Trust Him
Let’s discuss the verb believe and the noun faith more deeply. It is the language of the kingdom of God. It is how God expects us to relate to him. It is the opposite of doubt, which is manifested in whining and complaining and fear. Instead, faith is, first, a gift that God has distributed to everyone (Rom. 12:3). Second, it is directional (Rom. 10:9-11; Acts 20:21). We cannot rightly have faith in faith. It must be faith in God through Christ. Third, faith in Christ is different from faith in one’s ability to follow God on one’s own. It is different from keeping hundreds of religious laws and rules. This is one of Luke’s main themes in Acts, culminating in the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) and Paul’s ministry for the rest of Acts. Faith in Jesus over faith in law keeping. Fourth, there is faith as a set of beliefs and doctrines, which are built on Scripture (Acts 6:7). Fifth, there is also a surge of faith that is poured out and transmitted through the Spirit when people need it most (1 Cor. 12:9). It is one of the nine charismata or manifestations of grace (1 Cor 12:7-11). Sixth, one can build faith and starve doubt by feasting on Scripture and the words about Christ (Rom. 10:17).
In this verse they had faith for their friend to be healed. They directed their faith towards Jesus the healer. They acted before the paralytic was healed. They had such confidence in the healing power of Jesus that they broke through the barriers—now that’s the faith that God likes!
Word Study on Faith and Faithfulness
“man”: that is a literal translation, and by today’s standards the word makes Jesus seem unfriendly or standoffish, but here it is just a personal address to someone he did not know. The term signaled to the crowd that even unknown faces in the multitudes can draw the attention of God and the Lord Jesus. Some translations, however, go with “friend,” to make things less formal for modern American (and western) readers. “Jesus addressed only the ailing man. The vocative [“man”] is not derogatory as it is in American English … It is like saying ‘friend’” (Bock, p. 481).
“sins”: it comes from the noun hamartia (pronounced hah-mar-tee-ah). A deep study reveals that it means a “departure from either human or divine standards of uprightness” (BDAG, p. 50). It can also mean a “destructive evil power” (ibid., p. 51). In other words, sin has a life of its own. Be careful! In the older Greek of the classical world, it originally meant to “miss the mark” or target. Sin destroys, and that’s why God hates it, and so should we. The good news: God promises us forgiveness when we repent.
Bible Basics about Sin: Word Studies
Human Sin: Original and Our Committed Sin
“forgiven”: it comes from the verb aphiēmi (pronounced ah-fee-ay-mee), and BDAG defines it with the basic meaning of letting go: (1) “dismiss or release someone or something from a place or one’s presence, let go, send away”; (2) “to release from legal or moral obligations or consequence, cancel, remit, pardon”; (3) “to move away with implication of causing a separation, leave, depart”; (4) “to leave something continue or remain in its place … let someone have something” (Matt. 4:20; 5:24; 22:22; Mark 1:18; Luke 10:30; John 14:18); (5) “leave it to someone to do something, let, let go, allow, tolerate.” The Shorter Lexicon adds “forgive.” In sum, God lets go, dismisses, releases, sends away, cancels, pardons, and forgives our sins. His work is full and final. Don’t go backwards or dwell on it. Clearly the most significant definition in this context is the second one. It means to forgive.
Please read these verses for how forgiving God is:
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us. (Ps. 103:10-12, ESV)
And these great verses are from Micah:
18 Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity
and passing over transgression
for the remnant of his inheritance?
He does not retain his anger forever,
because he delights in steadfast love.
19 He will again have compassion on us;
he will tread our iniquities underfoot.
You will cast all our sins
into the depths of the sea. (Mic. 7:18-19, ESV)
“your sins are forgiven for you”: two pronouns for “your” and “you.” So I translate the first one as possessive (it was his sins) and latter one as “for you” (the forgiveness was also his).
Please see this post for a deeper commentary:
The Son of Man Claims God’s Authority to Forgive Sins on Earth
Next, please don’t over-generalize that all illnesses and paralyses are caused by individual, single sins. As noted at v. 13, disease and disability are part of the natural world. In this man’s case, however, sin was somehow connected to his paralysis, but since the text is silent on the details, we should also remain silent. It is more probable that Jesus intended to prove a bigger point—the Son of Man has the authority to forgive sins. But if you pray for the sick, ask God to give you a word of knowledge to find out if the man has unconfessed sin in his life. Or you could just ask him, but too often the sin is buried so deeply that the sick person doesn’t link sin and sickness. It is better to get a word of knowledge.
2. Gifts of the Spirit: Word of Knowledge
21:
“teachers of the law”: Some translations call them scribes. You can learn more about them at this post:
Quick Reference to Jewish Groups in Gospels and Acts
In the OT, the way to obtain forgiveness of sins was through animal sacrifices. Sin was transferred from the human to the animal on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16). Here Jesus is introducing a new way. He has the authority to do this.
The Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16 from a NT Perspective
“reasoning”: It can be an interior debate in your mind, like a tennis match, or a discussion with others, as here. Luke uses this verb three times in vv. 21-22. It seems to be the opposite of faith and authority and power. They launched into a dispute—a never-ending discussion, round and round they went, grinding words into powder, not power.
Blasphemy is a serious charge that brought death (Lev. 24:15-16) and an Israelite was actually stoned to death for doing so (Lev. 24:23). It is abusive and defiling speech about God. That was the crime Jesus will be accused of, which triggered his death (Mark 14:62-64).
Today, too many people get into their reasoning power and over-analyze things, and then the miracle never comes. “Is he part of the Word of Faith message? If so, then their teaching is heretical!” “Does he understand God’s sovereignty? Maybe he doesn’t want to heal me!” “Does he tag on ‘if it be thy will’? If not, then he is presumptuous!” These Pharisees and teachers of the law had no faith to receive a blessing, nor had they any authority or power coming down from God, certainly none that resulted in forgiveness of sins or healing.
Ancient Israel was an honor-and-shame society. See v. 22 for more information.
If he was honored, then his opponents were shamed, and he was honored before the crowd (and vice-versa). (Please note that this shame is not related to the psychological state coming from abuse.) That is why in his tussles with Pharisees and those like them, he never gave an inch. Jesus is about to show them up, a public humbling they so richly deserved.
Teachers today say that that followers of Jesus should just remain quiet when they are criticized or verbally attacked. That may be true in a few isolated cases. Let God fight your battles. However, all throughout the four Gospels, Jesus explained and defended himself. Lives were at stake. If he remained silent, people might be deceived with defective and erroneous teachings. They might interpret his silence as agreement with the error. But don’t be rude or stubborn or arrogant about nonessential issues (or nay issue), particularly when your pastor is a good man who knows the Word. This context is talking about not giving an inch to religious bullies.
Recall that Simeon prophesied that Jesus would reveal the hearts of many (Luke 2:35 and see 4:23). And here it was happening again—reasoning in their hearts. They reasoned that only God had the power to forgive sins when a man sins against him. True, and God in the flesh is about to do that!
“Jesus’ claim to perform God’s role and have authority over God’s prerogative forces Jesus’s (and Luke’s) audience to a decision. A healing would be seen as an act of forgiveness by God, but it is another thing to claim to give that forgiveness directly. Jesus will commit this ‘crime’ [of blasphemy] in Luke 7:48-49. Even the use of the passive voice, which lays forgiveness at God’s feet, does not prevent the sense that Jesus is too direct here” (Bock, p. 484).
22:
“knew”: it is the verb epiginōskō (pronounced eh-pea-gee-noh-skoh, and the “g” is hard as in “get,” and it is used 44 times in the NT). In any case here are the basic meanings, depending on the context: (1) “know exactly, completely”; “know again, recognize”; “acknowledge’; (2) “know, learn, find out, ascertain; notice; perceive, learn of; understand, know, learn to know.” The first set of definitions is the best one here. Jesus knew exactly and completely what they were reasoning.
He was using the gift of the word of knowledge; that is, by the Spirit he got access to their thoughts. However, some Bible teachers say that he got access to their thoughts because he was God incarnate, and God is omniscient. So Jesus’s omniscience “flashed out” from behind his humanity by the Father’s will. Remember, Jesus did not lose or lay aside or give up or divine attributes or have them “lopped off” when he was incarnated. Instead, his humanity was added to his divinity. And then his divine attributes were hidden behind his humanity and surrendered to his Father. I prefer the theology that says that the Spirit revealed their thoughts to him. But you can choose the other explanation, if you wish. All of the ministry came by the Father’s will.
Once again: 2. Gifts of the Spirit: Word of Knowledge
4. Do I Really Know Jesus? He Took the Form of a Servant
“hearts”: See my post about this topic of our inner life:
Word Study on Spirit, Soul, and Body
You can decide, but I suggest we not rigidly compartmentalize the human, for even the inner and outer are connected, because our bodies will be restored and transformed and glorified on the last day. God sees us right now as a whole and united person. Word of Faith teachers make too much of the disunity of humanity.
23:
Some interpreters argue that it is easier to heal the man than to say his sins are forgiven, because Jesus will die on the cross for them, which is much more difficult than to heal the man’s broken body. However, Jesus was not dying on the cross then and there. Instead, the straightforward interpretation is that it is easier to say the man’s sins are forgiven because people cannot see with their own eyes the effects of this pronouncement. The healing was visually substantiated. In contrast, they are about to see with their own eyes the physical healing of paralysis. The forgiveness in the soul before is not—cannot be—visually substantiated. By analogy you or I can say an inner work in the soul is done, but it is more difficult to say a leg is lengthened because viewers can measure the leg. It is more difficult to say, “Get up and walk!” than it is to say “your interior sins are forgiven.”
24:
“know”: this verb is oida (pronounced oi-dah and used 318 times).
How would they understand this? He backs up his words with healing a paralytic. So the words are demonstrated with power. Paul said the same thing. He did not come with high and mighty words of human wisdom, but with a demonstration of signs and wonders and God’s power (Rom. 15:18-19; 1 Cor. 2:4-5).
Renewalists love this idea. They too are tired of just words. They want to see signs and wonders. Yes, bad people can work signs and wonders (Matt. 7:15-23; 2 Thess. 2:9), but God also works them, as here and in Paul’s life. Do we have to let the bad people dictate terms? In any case, Renewalists want something more than just words. They ask, “I wonder where the signs went!” They are right.
“Son of Man”: it both means the powerful, divine Son of man (Dan. 7:13-14) and the human son of man—Ezekiel himself—in the book of Ezekiel (numerous references). Jesus was and still is in heaven both divine and human. It could also be translated as Son of Humanity.
4. Titles of Jesus: The Son of Man
“authority”: it is the noun exousia (pronounced ex-oo-see-ah), and it means, depending on the context: “right to act,” “freedom of choice,” “power, capability, might, power, authority, absolute power”; “power or authority exercised by rulers by virtue of their offices; official power; domain or jurisdiction, spiritual powers.”
The difference between authority and power is parallel to a policeman’s badge and his gun. The badge symbolizes his right to exercise his power through his gun, if necessary. The gun backs up his authority with power. But the distinction should not be pressed too hard, because exousia can also mean “power.” In any case, God through Jesus can distribute authority to his followers (Matt. 10:1; Luke 10:19; John 1:12). Jesus will give us authority even over the nations, if we overcome trials and persecution (Rev. 2:26). And he is about to distribute his power in Acts 2.
Never forget that you have his authority and power to live a victorious life over your personal flaws and sins and Satan. They no longer have power and authority over you; you have power and authority over them.
For nearly all the references of that word and a developed theology, please click o:
What Are Signs and Wonders and Miracles?
Let’s discuss Jesus’s fearless confrontation with these religious leaders.
As I noted in other chapters and here in this chapter, first-century Israel was an honor-and-shame society. See v. 21 for more information.
When Jesus Used Harsh Language
25:
The healing was instant, and Luke makes a point of it. No gradual healing for this man in this circumstance, with this skeptical audience. (Sometimes healings are gradual.) Jesus needed to demonstrate that the Son of man could forgive sins. Did the paralytic convulse a little as strength and feeling surged through his body? Or did he just get up smoothly without adjustments to his body? Probably the latter thing happened. He just got up and picked up his bedding.
He glorified or praised God on the way home. His friends or relatives had to scurry down from the roof and catch up to him. Did the men look triumphantly at the crowd as they passed by, when the people had refused to let the stretcher go through? No word on their offer to repair the roof! The text is silent, but it is fun to speculate about small things like this.
26:
“amazement”: Sometimes things can be so amazing that it feels unreal or surreal. We are beside ourselves with shock and awe.
“grabbed hold”: Amazement did the gripping of their minds, hearts, spirits, souls.
“remarkable things”: What was so strange, wonderful, remarkable?
First, a paralytic got his complete, instant healing.
Second, the ex-paralytic’s sins were forgiven, after all.
Third, the Son of Man—the Messiah—was standing right in front of them.
Fourth, this was an honor-and-shame society, and the people saw the Pharisees and teachers of the law get their comeuppance, and some of the less pious in the crowd must have snickered at their expense. The powerful were shamed, while the paralytic was honored. It also includes the Great Reversal in Luke 1:51-53, where Mary said that Jesus and his kingdom were to bring to the world. The powerful and people of high status are to be brought low, while the humble and those of low status are to be raised up. It also fulfills the reversal in 2:34, where Simeon prophesied that Jesus was appointed for the rising and falling of many. It is the right-side-up kingdom, but upside-down from a worldly perspective. Jesus would cause the fall of the mighty and the rise of the needy, and the rich would be lowered, and the poor raised up. It is the down elevator and up elevator. Those at the top will take the down elevator, and those at the bottom will take the up elevator.
Fifth, quarreling and quibbling over matters of the law and traditions was cut apart like the Gordian knot was cut through. It is God breaking in and crushing these empty discussions, demonstrating his love and power. Sixth, the Pharisees had strong political views, and Jesus lifted their sights to the kingdom of God. Politics about Israel doesn’t matter, standing in contrast to the soon-to-be global kingdom (Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8).
GrowApp for Luke 5:17-26
1. Jesus forgave the paralytic’s sins. What happened to you when your sins were forgiven?
2. Is faith and reasoning (or inner debating) opposites? How has over-analyzing hindered your walk with God, if it has?
RELATED
11. Eyewitness Testimony in Luke’s Gospel
3. Church Fathers and Luke’s Gospel
2. Archaeology and the Synoptic Gospels
1. The Historical Reliability of the Gospels: Introduction to Series
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