Luke 5:20-26

17 On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal.

18 And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus,

19 but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus.

20 And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

22 When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts?

23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?

24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.”

25 And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God.

26 And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”

Pray

(4 minutes)

Last week we saw that Jesus’ fame had spread to the extent that...

…the Jewish ecclesiastical authorities from all over Palestine...

…had sent trained and trusted delegates to Capernaum...

…in order to evaluate...

Jesus, himself, and...

The message that he was proclaiming.

-We also saw that as those men sat to make their evaluations...

…the Power of God was with Jesus to heal...

…and in that, The Father himself was testifying to the truthfulness of Jesus’ proclamations.

-But then, as a paralytic with great faith...

(evidenced by the actions of his friends)

…was lowered before Him...

…Jesus did something rather unexpected.

And in so doing, he took the proclamation of His:

Power

Authority...

…to a whole new level!

He told the man...

NOT that he was released from the burden of his paralysis...

But, that he had released him from the burden of HIS SIN!

In other words, that He had “lifted away” the guilt of his offenses...

…AGAINST GOD!

-Verse 21 tells us how those authoritative Jewish evaluators...

…responded to such a bold assertion...

…being made by a flesh-and-blood man:

Luke 5:21 (ESV)

21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

The nature of their questioning isn’t specified in verse 21...

i.e., “Public,” or “private”

But, Mark’s account (along with verse 22) shows us...

…that it was happening internally.

Mark 2:6–7 (ESV)

6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts,

7 “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming!...

-Now, why do they say that?

Well, we need to understand:

Uttering blasphemies meant to say something that dishonored God.

To claim divine prerogatives or claim to speak for God when one really does not would be such an act of offense. - NET Bible Notes

And brethren, forgiveness of sin...

...is a uniquely divine prerogative!

The principle is very simple:

Irenaeus : “How can sin be rightly remitted unless the very One against whom one has sinned grants the pardon?” (Against Heresies 5.17).

-If you sin against someone who’s NOT ME...

…I CAN’T FORGIVE you!

You’re not indebted to me!

I have no grounds to forgive you of your transgression against another!

They have to forgive you

You’re indebted to them.

The logic goes like this:

All sin is ultimately against God

Therefore, only God can forgive it

King David, after sinning against:

Uriah

Bathsheba

His own wives

The whole Nation, said...

Psalm 51:4 (ESV)

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight...

Ultimately:

It’s God’s Law that’s being broken

It’s God’s Nature that’s being profaned

It’s God’s Person that’s being insulted

It’s God’s perfect will that’s being denied.

We see instances of this throughout Scripture:

The Lord told King Abimelech...

…after he had taken Abraham’s wife into his harem:

Genesis 20:6 (ESV)

6 ...“Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her.

Joseph told Potiphar’s wife:

Genesis 39:9 (ESV)

9 ...he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?”

David made the same confession to Nathan (God’s Prophet) in:

2 Samuel 12:13 (ESV)

13 David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.

Understand:

Nathan is NOT granting forgiveness to David

The LORD is doing that.

Nathan is just relaying the message.

Psalm 32:5 makes that clear:

Psalm 32:5 (ESV)

5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

-Now, Forgiveness as an exclusively divine prerogative (explain)...

…is seen elsewhere in the O.T. as well

Micah 7:18 (ESV)

18 Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance?...

Isaiah 43:25 (ESV)

25 “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.

Psalm 130:3–4 (ESV)

3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?

4 But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.

Sproul summarizes:

This was an axiom of Jewish theology that only God had the authority to forgive sins. You can see the outrage of the theologians when Jesus made this statement.

They accused him instantly of blasphemy, for if only God can pronounce the forgiveness of sins, and Jesus is pronouncing the forgiveness of sins, this means that Jesus is claiming an authority and a power that belong only to God. - Sproul

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-Now Brethren, if this was just a misunderstanding...

-If Jesus was just “relaying the message” like Nathan...

-Then he would have had an obligation to clear things up.

He doesn’t.

(9 minutes, 13 total)

And, if this alone wasn’t enough to...

...”beg the question” of Christ’s deity...

Luke tells us:

Luke 5:22 (ESV)

22 When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts?

Again, this brings to mind a litany of O.T. passages:

Psalm 139:23 (ESV)

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!

Jeremiah 17:10 (ESV)

10 “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”

1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV)

7 ...the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

1 Chronicles 28:9 (ESV)

9...the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought...

-This is (at the very least) an exclusively divine ability.

One might could argue that this was simply...

...insight being given through the Holy Spirit.

(definitely an orthodox possibility)

But, notice the way John describes his ability:

John 2:24–25 (ESV)

24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people

25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

Luke also points out, elsewhere:

Luke 6:8 (ESV)

8 But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here”...

Luke 7:39–40 (ESV)

39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”

40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”...

Luke 9:46–47 (ESV)

46 An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest.

47 But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side

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(4 minutes, 17 total)

We see a similar thing in our text.

Let’s read it again

Luke 5:22–23 (ESV)

22 When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts?

23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?

Philip Ryken explains this complicated question for us:

...there is a sense in which it is easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” because no one can tell if the person who says it is bluffing.

Forgiveness is something that comes from God’s throne, so who knows whether it really has been granted? The claim cannot be falsified.

But when someone says, “Rise and walk,” everyone knows right away whether the person who says it has the power to heal.

Either the paralytic will get up and walk or he won’t, and if he doesn’t, the person who told him to stand up will be exposed as a complete fraud.

So it is harder to say, “Rise and walk.” If someone says that, he has to prove it. - Philip Ryken

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-And this is exactly what the incarnate Son of God does!

He proves it!

(2 minutes, 19 total)

Look at verse 24:

Luke 5:24 (ESV)

24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.”

Now, this is the first time that Luke has...

...invoked (what appears to be)...

…Jesus’ most preferred self-designation:

“The Son of Man”

And, in doing so here...

…he brings our awareness of Jesus’ authority...

…to new heights!

-The “Son of Man” isn’t merely a reference to Jesus’ real humanity.

Rather, it’s a reference to a real, human figure in the O.T...

…who possessed unlimited divine authority.

Remember the tension of Daniel 7.

Daniel 7:2–3 (ESV)

2 ...“I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea.

3 And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another.

Later on he was told:

Daniel 7:17 (ESV)

17 ‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth.

These Kings/Nations would:

“Make war against the saints of the Most High”...

And prevail over them...

(at least, initially)

-But after these terrifying visions of oppressive authority...

…Daniel sees something else:

…He sees who’s really in charge!

Daniel 7:9–14 (ESV)

9 “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire.

10 A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.

11 “I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire.

12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.

14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

-This is the “Son of Man!”

Sproul says:

Every rabbi there would have caught the inference. This is a radical statement of ultimate authority… - R.C. Sproul

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This is what the “Son of Man” represents:

Absolute

Total

Complete

Authority!

Authority so replete, that he can even forgive sin!

-This was no ordinary man

This was/is the God-Man!

Fully Human

Fully Divine

This is the:

Heaven-Borne...

Messianic-King!

And he means to prove it in verse 24.

Let’s read it again:

Luke 5:24 (ESV)

24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.”

(7 minutes, 26 total)

And here is the moment of truth.

He’s just asserted things about himself, which...

…if NOT true...

…are utter and rank blasphemy...

…and deserving of death!

But if they are true...

If he’s able to prove it to be so...

Then that means that:

Bowing the knee before this Sovereign Lord...

Is the only way to be a part of:

God’s Kingdom

God’s People

-I’ll bet they were holding their breaths!

-Here’s their answer...

-Here’s YOUR answer!

Verse 25

Luke 5:25 (ESV)

25 And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God.

Mike McKinley notes here:

When the man stood up and went home (v 25), the truth was inescapable: Jesus has the authority that only God has—the authority to forgive people’s sins. - Mike McKinley

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Verse 26 Tells us how the crowds (at least) respond:

Luke 5:26 (ESV)

26 And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”

Matthew reports it like this:

Matthew 9:8 (ESV)

8 When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

-Brethren, this should affect us the same way!

-We should stand in awe of this sure and certain truth.

-We have no reason to doubt it.

It is proclaimed and proven throughout the N.T.

John 17:2 (ESV)

2 ...you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.

Matthew 28:18 (ESV)

18... “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Acts 5:30–31 (ESV)

30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree.

31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

Acts 10:42–43 (ESV)

42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.

43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Acts 13:38–39 (ESV)

38 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,

39 and by him everyone who believes is freed (justified) from everything from which you could not be freed (justified) by the law of Moses.

Why?

Because Jesus Paid it All

Because He satisfied its just demands

Because he bore its righteous penalty...

On behalf of his people!

Here’s the consequential result:

John 5:24–29 (ESV)

24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.

27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.

28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice

29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

The question is:

“Will you obey him today?’

By:

Coming to Him in repentance

Believing on Him in faith

Bowing the knee before Him in humble submission

By Honoring and serving Him NOW...

Or:

“Will you obey Him on THAT day?”

When He commands you to come forth...

…unto the resurrection of judgment?

One way or another...

...You WILL obey His voice!

I implore you, to Obey him today.

Let’s Pray

(10 minutes, 36 total)

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