Bible Study - Miracle - Forgiveness Offered - Luke 5:17-26,29-32 - October 9, 2011

Bible Study – Miracle – Forgiveness Offered – October 9, 2011

This is lesson two (2) in our series entitled “It’s a Miracle.”

Our scripture is Luke 5:17-26, 29-32.

Forgiveness is easy to say but hard to do. In the model prayer JESUS spoke of forgiveness in Matthew 6:12 - 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. A debt is something we owe to someone. In the model prayer, commonly referred to as the LORD’S Prayer, debt refers to areas in our lives where we don’t measure up to GOD’S standard. We want HIM to forgive us in the areas where we do not measure up to HIS standard but forgiveness is a two-way street. Our attitude toward GOD must extend to our attitude toward our fellow human being – “As we forgive others.” GOD’S message to a world of people lost who are lost in sin is forgiveness, through the love of CHRIST. The word for forgiveness in our scripture carries the idea of letting go of sin, confessing it and GOD sending it away. First John 1:9 - 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Our lesson deals with forgiveness as a means for healing Spiritually and physically. Forgiving can heal broken relationships and repair broken hearts. In last week’s lesson JESUS revealed HIS authority over physical matter by changing water into wine. This lesson reveals HIS authority over sin and disease.

Luke, who wrote the book of Luke, was a physician. He was commissioned by Theophilus to give an accurate account of the life of JESUS. Theophilus wanted truth – Luke 1:1-5:

The Dedication to Theophilus
1 Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled[1] among us, 2 just as the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us. 3 It also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.[2]

I am sure Dr. Luke, being a physician, found investigating the miracles of JESUS exciting and inspiring.

Let’s read Luke 5:17-20:
The Son of Man Forgives and Heals
17 On one of those days while He was teaching, • Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea, and also from Jerusalem. And the Lord’s power to heal was in Him. 18 Just then some men came, carrying on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed. They tried to bring him in and set him down before Him. 19 Since they could not find a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the roof tiles into the middle of the crowd before Jesus. 20 Seeing their faith He said, “Friend,[9]your sins are forgiven you.”

JESUS was teaching in a house in Capernaum. It was likely Peter’s house. People had come from the surrounding area to come hear HIM teach and to seek HIS help and healing. The need for healing can be physical, Spiritual or both. But the focus in this scripture seems to be upon a special group of skeptics who came to evaluate HIM and a small group of faithful believers on a mission. GOD always does HIS part in revealing truth to the faithful and to the skeptics.

There was a special group of religious leaders in the audience listening to JESUS teach. It was none other than the Pharisees and doctors of the law, the scribes. They were seeking truth as revealed in the scriptures. They knew the scriptures but would reality coming from a person they were trying to discredit penetrate their prejudice? GOD provided an excellent opportunity to penetrate their hard hearts. Are you a skeptic? What has GOD done to reveal truth to you?

The setting for this scripture was that a paralyzed man had a group of friends who had apparently heard of JESUS and HIS ability to heal. They had picked up their paralyzed friend and his bed and carried him to the house where HE was teaching. The crowd was so large that they could not get to JESUS who was inside the house teaching. Notice that the crowd would not move out of the way of those carrying the paralyzed man. Some people trying to help the paralyzed person might say, “Well, we just could not get our friend to JESUS,” but not these determined friends. Their determination revealed their faith in JESUS’ ability to heal their friend.

Houses were constructed with an outside stairs which led to the roof. The roof was made of tree branches, mud which would dry and some houses had tile on top of the dried mud. The man’s friends took him up the outside stairs and began tearing away the roof to form a hole large enough to lower their friend down to JESUS.

Can you imagine, JESUS was teaching and all of a sudden HE hears a noise above HIM and stuff begins to fall around HIM from the ceiling? I think HE knew that something HIS FATHER had planned was taking place. When the hole was large enough, they lowered their paralyzed friend down to JESUS. JESUS was impressed with their faith and determination.

Notice “their” faith in verse 20. “Their” referred to both the paralyzed man’s friends’ faith and the paralyzed man’s faith. JESUS went to the heart of the paralyzed man’s problem by saying “Friend your sins are forgiven.”

The word “forgiven” carries the idea of the sinner letting go of his/her sin and GOD sending it away. We must keep in mind that JESUS knows our hearts and HE knew the heart of the paralyzed man. The man wanted to come to JESUS. He came in faith. He came as a repentant sinner. The most important healing of a person is the healing of his/her heart. When JESUS uttered the words “your sins are forgiven – gone – taken away,” a burden was lifted from him and Spiritual healing came before physical healing. Physical healing to follow was the assurance of Spiritual healing. I must quickly say that because someone has an illness, disease or infirmity does not necessarily mean that he/she has sinned. When Adam and Eve sinned it resulted in an imperfect world, which results in death and decay.

When we ask JESUS into our hearts and receive salvation, we receive Spiritual healing. All of our sins are washed away and we are made whiter than snow. Joy usually fills our hearts and a great burden is lifted. Often, it also results in physical healing and produces a new lifestyle empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

What a day of rejoicing when salvation and healing come to a person. When the paralyzed man was healed, was it a day of rejoicing to all who witnessed this miracle? Let’s explore.

Let’s read Luke 5: 21-26:
21 Then the • scribes and the Pharisees began to reason: “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 But perceiving their thoughts, Jesus replied to them, “Why are you reasoning this in your hearts?[10] 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But so you may know that the • Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He told the paralyzed man, “I tell you: get up, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” 25 Immediately he got up before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God. 26 Then everyone was astounded, and they were giving glory to God. And they were filled with awe and said, “We have seen incredible things today!”

The religious leaders, who knew the scripture like the back of their hands, leaned unto their own understanding. Their flesh took over and blocked the Holy Spirit from revealing truth. The Old Testament is clear that rebellion and stubbornness – 1 Samuel 15:23a - 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Their evaluation was this man JESUS speaks blasphemies.

What is blasphemy? It is speaking evil against someone. In this case, they accused JESUS for speaking as if HE was GOD.

They knew that only GOD could forgive sins and how dare JESUS speak as if HE was GOD. The trap was set. Truth was about to meet reality.

JESUS knew what they were pondering in their hearts. So HE posed a question. “Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But so you may know that the • Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He told the paralyzed man, “I tell you: get up, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” Three (3) commands – get up - pick up – go - were followed immediately by three (3) actions - He jumped up, picked up his bed and went home praising GOD. The man praised GOD as he went home. He had good news to tell. I imagine that his friends were following along just as excited and praising GOD. Their hearts were open to the truth and found truth. CHRIST always magnified the FATHER.

This event ministered to all whose eyes and hearts were open to receive truth and they praised GOD. Those blinded to truth went away more determined to discredit CHRIST. Satan blinds people to the truth every day. Has Satan blinded you to the truth? If so, confess it and ask CHRIST to open your Spiritual eyes to truth and to place your feet upon the solid rock of CHRIST. CHRIST is the SON of GOD, the promised Messiah.

Gee, what just happened? JESUS healed a paralyzed man by saying “Your sins are forgiven.” To prove that HE had the authority over sin and that HE was the SON of GOD, HE healed the man. It never registered with these scholarly religious leaders that just maybe this JESUS was the promised Messiah.

Often, when our minds are already made up, we disregard the facts and miss truth.

Let’s read Luke 5:29-32:
Dining with Sinners
29 Then Levi hosted a grand banquet for Him at his house. Now there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others who were guests[11] with them. 30 But the Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to His disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 Jesus replied to them, “The healthy don’t need a doctor, but the sick do. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

JESUS had already called Levi, the tax collector, to follow HIM. Levi is also called Matthew, the writer of the Gospel of Matthew. When JESUS called Levi, he dropped what he was doing and followed HIM. Levi was wealthy, despised tax collector. JESUS called him and he responded. He wanted to share JESUS with his friends and business associates. When we discover truth, we want to share it with others. So he hosted this grand banquet to introduce HIM to his friends who happened to be notorious tax collectors and other questionable people. The religious leaders had dubbed them sinners.

Shadowing JESUS were the Pharisees and their scribes. They complained to JESUS’ disciples about JESUS socializing with these horrible people. JESUS responded with a stinging statement, “The healthy don’t need a doctor, but the sick do. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Many of us know people who are self-righteous and don’t need salvation. Some people are morally straight and refuse to acknowledge their need for CHRIST. They contend that they live more morally pure lives than so-and-so who is a certain person in the local church. They believe their goodness will earn them a place in heaven.

Here we see two (2) approaches for reaching the lost for CHRIST. Levi invited his sinner friends to meet JESUS. The Pharisees believed that those needing salvation had to come to them on their terms and jump through religious hoops to be acceptable to GOD. JESUS went to those in need of salvation. Repentance and faith in HIM equals salvation.

We can and should reach out to all who need CHRIST but we need to keep a watchful eye on ourselves. Never place yourself in a compromising situation. Always reach out in pairs or teams. Never leave someone behind in a questionable area. Always pray before, during and after witnessing to others.

I have a friend that is an alcoholic and he cannot even get around the smell of alcohol. He had to do some work at a bar when the bar was closed. He thought that would be safe but the odor brought back the desire. He disappeared and was located in a distant city drunk and had spent a lot of money they did not have to spend. So be very careful.

The title of our lesson is “Forgiveness Offered.” CHRIST offers forgiveness today. JESUS spoke those words to the paralyzed man. The paralytic heard the words “Friend, your sins are forgiven” but it took an act of faith for him to believe. He took that step of faith by responding to the words of JESUS – get up – take up - walk home. When he responded, he put his faith in JESUS into action. His salvation and healing were complete when he took that step of faith.

If you are reading this, it is not by accident but by GOD’S providence. Are you in need for forgiveness? CHRIST offers you forgiveness for all your sins. Do you believe that HE is the SON of GOD and that HE gave HIS life on the cross for your sins? If so, ask CHRIST to forgive you of your sins and to come into your life right now. If you asked HIM to forgive you and to come into your life, thank HIM. Welcome to the family of GOD my brother or sister in CHRIST. Tell someone that you have asked CHRIST into your life. He or she might want to join you in this decision.