17 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. 18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. 19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? 22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? 23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? 24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. 25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. 26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day. (Luke 5:17-26 KJV)
Jesus Heals a Paralytic
Christ was teaching on a certain day—not on the Sabbath, otherwise that would have been mentioned—but on a weekday. The command to work six days applies not only to worldly labor but also to the care of our souls. Preaching and hearing God’s word are good works and should be welcomed on any day of the week. He was teaching in a private house, not a synagogue, showing that even our homes are appropriate places for sharing and receiving godly instruction.
While he taught, he healed, as before (Luke 5:15): “And the power of the Lord was present to heal them” (Luke 5:17). That power was active, healing those whom he taught—healing not only physical ailments but also spiritual sicknesses, giving them new life and nature. Those who receive Christ’s word in faith will experience the divine power that accompanies it, for he came to heal the brokenhearted (Luke 4:18). That power is available to all who pray for it and submit to it. It could also refer to his healing of physical diseases. Christ never lacked the power to heal; it was always present.
In this gathering were Pharisees and teachers of the law, more than usual. They were not sitting at his feet to learn but were present as spectators and critics. From what follows (Luke 5:21), we know they weren’t healed but instead found fault with Christ. They observed as if the word of Christ didn’t concern them. They sat by, ready to pick out anything they could use against him. Many today sit by rather than sit under the preaching of the gospel. These religious leaders had come from every town in Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem, likely planning to find faults in Christ’s words and deeds. Like the conspirators against Jeremiah (Jeremiah 18:18; 20:10), they came prepared to criticize. Yet Christ continued preaching and healing, undeterred by their presence, even though he knew they despised him and plotted against him.
We are then given a particular account of the healing of a man paralyzed, as also told in the previous Gospels. From this account, we learn important doctrines.
First, sin is the root of all sickness, and the forgiveness of sin is the only true foundation for comfort in recovery. When they brought the sick man to Christ, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven” (Luke 5:20). That is the greater blessing; for if your sins are forgiven, even if the sickness continues, it is in mercy; but if your sins are not forgiven, healing the body alone is judgment. Our sins are the cords that bind us to affliction.
Second, Jesus Christ has authority on earth to forgive sins, and his power to heal confirms this claim. This is the main truth demonstrated in this miracle (Luke 5:24). Christ, still in his humbled state on earth, asserts that he has power to forgive sins and offers healing as proof. “I will prove my authority by healing this man,” he says in effect. “If I don’t instantly heal this man with just a word—something nature and art cannot do—then reject my claim. But if I do, you must admit I have power to forgive sins.” He then says, “Arise, take up your bed,” and immediately the man is healed. There could be no deception. Those who brought him knew how paralyzed he was, and those who saw him now could see how completely well he had become—well enough to carry his bed home. We are greatly blessed to have such a powerful confirmation of this gospel truth: Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and Savior, has the authority to forgive sin.
Third, Jesus is God. He proved it, first, by knowing the thoughts of the Pharisees and scribes (Luke 5:22), something only God can do. These men were skilled at hiding their thoughts and expressions, and probably tried to do so then, since they were secretly lying in wait. Second, by doing what their own thoughts acknowledged only God could do (Luke 5:21): “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Christ’s ability to forgive sin proves his divinity. What a terrible offense it was to accuse him of blasphemy even when he was declaring such a gracious blessing: “Your sins are forgiven.”
This story also teaches us practical duties. When we come to Christ, we must do so with urgency and persistence. That kind of faith pleases Christ and prevails with him. The friends of the paralyzed man looked for a way to bring him before Christ (Luke 5:18). When the crowd blocked the door, they didn’t give up but opened the roof and lowered the man down in front of Jesus (Luke 5:19). Christ saw their faith (Luke 5:20). He did not criticize them for causing a disruption or for thinking he couldn’t heal at a distance. Instead, he graciously acknowledged their effort as faith. It is a comfort to know we serve a Master who gives us the benefit of the doubt.
When we are sick, we should be more concerned with having our sins forgiven than simply being healed. Christ’s words to this man teach us to first seek pardon when we pray for health. The blessings we receive from God must be followed by thanksgiving and praise. The healed man went home glorifying God (Luke 5:25). All escapes from death and affliction should be occasions for glorifying him.
Christ’s miracles were astonishing to those who witnessed them, and we must glorify God for them as well (Luke 5:26). They said, “We have seen strange things today”—things they had never seen before, nor had their ancestors. These miracles were new and wonderful. They praised God, recognizing the great blessing that had come to their land. They were filled with awe and reverence, perhaps also feeling concern that their nation might be rejecting the Messiah and bringing ruin upon itself. Some may have even felt a personal conviction.