BURKITT : | Lu 5:1-3 | Lu 5:4-11 | Lu 5:12-15 | Lu 5:16 | Lu 5:17-26 | Lu 5:27-32 | Lu 5:33-39 |
Reference
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)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
As the great end of our Saviour’s miracles was to confirm his doctrine, so commonly after his preaching he wrought his miracles. The scribes and Pharisees, though they had no love for our Saviour’s person, nor value for his ministry, yet they frequently accompanied him wherever he went, partly to cavil at his doctrine, and partly out of curiosity to see his miracles: but observe the gracious condescension of our Saviour; although he well knew that the Pharisees at this time attended upon him with no good intention, yet he puts forth his divine power in working miracles before them: The power of the Lord was present to heal. Not that Christ’s power was at any time absent but it is said now to be present because it was now exerted and put forth at his will and pleasure.
And accordingly at this time, before the Pharisee’s eyes, he miraculously cures a person sick of palsy, as the paragraph before us does inform us.
Wherein observe, 1. The diseased and distressed person, one sick of the palsy, which, being a resolution and weakness of the nerves, enfeebles the joints and confines a person to his bed or couch. As a demonstration of Christ’s divine power, he was pleased to single out palsy and leprosy, incurable diseases, to work a cure upon. Now this person was so great a cripple, by reason of the palsy, that he could not go, nor be led, but was carried in his bed or couch.
Observe, 2. As the grievousness of the disease, so the greatness of the people’s faith. The man and his friends had a firm and full persuasion, that Christ was clothed with divine power, and able to help him; and they hope in his goodness, that he was willing as well as able.
And accordingly, the roof of the Jewish houses being flat, they uncover some part of it, let the bed down with the sick man in it, and lay him at the foot of Christ, in hopes of help and healing.
Observe, 3. That no sooner did they exercise their faith in believing, but Christ exerts his divine power in healing: yet the object of their faith probably was not Christ’s divine power as God, but they looked upon him as an extraordinary prophet, to whom God had communicated such a divine power as Elijah and Elisha had before him. Yet, see the marvelous efficacy even of this faith, which obtained not only what was desired, but more than was expected. They desired only the healing of the body, but Christ heals body and soul too, saying, Son, be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee. Thereby our Saviour signifies to them, that sin is the meritorious cause of sickness, and consequently, that in sickness the best way to find ease and deliverance from pain, is first to seek for pardon; for the sins of pardon will in some degree take away the sense of pain.
Observe, 4. The exception which the Pharisees take against our Saviour for pronouncing that this man’s sins were forgiven him: they charge him with blasphemy, urging, that it is God’s peculiar prerogative to pardon sin. Indeed their proposition was true, but their application was false. Nothing more true, than that it is the highest blasphemy for any mere man to arrogate and assume to himself the incommunicable property of God, absolutely and authoritatively to forgive sin. But then their denying this power to Christ of forgiving sins, which he had as God from all eternity, and as a mediator, God and man in one person, when here on earth; this was blasphemy in them; but the assuming and challenging in it, none in him.
Observe, 5. To cure, if possible, the obstinacy and blindness of the Pharisees, our Saviour gives them a twofold demonstration of his Godhead;
1. By letting them understand that he knew their thoughts, Jesus perceived their thoughts, Lu 5:22 To know the thoughts, to search the hearts, and understand the reasonings of men, is not in the power of angels or men, but the prerogative of God only.
2. By assuming to himself a power to forgive sins: for our Saviour here, by taking upon him to forgive sins in his own name and by his own authority, does give the world undeniable proof, and convincing evidence, of his Godhead: for who can forgive sins but God only?
Observe, 6. The effect which this miracle had upon the minds of the people: they marvelled and were amazed, were filled with fear, but not with faith; astonished, but did not believe.
Learn hence, that the sight of Christ’s own miracles is not sufficient to work faith in the soul, without the efficacious grace of God; the one may make us marvel, the other must make us believe.