LUKE LESSON 13
We will begin this lesson in Luke 5:17 "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."
We see, here, that the Pharisees and doctors of law had heard of
Jesus' fame, and they came to see if they could trap Him. They were
all here to see if they could find anything wrong with what He said to
see if they could accuse Him. This power of the Lord is Jesus' healing
power.
Luke 5:18 "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."
These are very good friends who will bring this helpless man to
Jesus to be healed. Palsy is a disease of the nervous system. Shaking
of hands and legs is a symptom.
Luke 5:19 "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."
This is determination. They could not get in for the crowd. so
they let him down through the roof right in front of Jesus.
Luke 5:20 "And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy
sins are forgiven thee."
In Matthew, Mark, and Luke this happening is told. this is a very
important message then. Some illness is brought on by sin. Faith is a
very important factor in getting healed and in getting forgiveness of
sin, as well. NO man has the power to forgive sin. Jesus lets His
Godhood show when He forgives this man's sins.
Luke 5:21 "And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason,
saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins,
but God alone?"
They make a true statement, here, in that only God can forgive
sin. Their error is in the fact that they do not recognize Jesus as
God the Son. Messiah. They accuse Jesus unjustly of blasphemies. These
scribes, Pharisees. and lawyers are the educated people of their day.
They know the letter of the law, but do not understand the things of
the spirit.
Luke 5:22 "But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering
said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?"
You see. Jesus didn't have to be told what they were saying. He
understood their hearts. He knew the evil they were thinking. even
before they said it. He looks into the intents of the heart. In other
words, their evil hearts were planning evil.
Luke 5:23 "Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee;
or to say, Rise up and walk?"
Now Jesus is about to show these skeptics that not only will He
forgive this man's sins. but He will cause him to walk, as well. they
will be even more alarmed as the man is healed before their very eyes.
Luke 5:24 "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."
Jesus is speaking to these scribes. lawyers, and Pharisees and
says I will show you that what I said is not blasphemy. I will show
you I am the Son of God by healing this man. Then He says to the sick
of the palsy, take up thy couch and go into thine house. Not only does
He say the man is healed, but total strength is suddenly restored in
that he cannot only walk, but carry a couch, as well.
Luke 5:25 "And immediately he rose up before them, and took up
that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God."
We see here an instant healing and restoration.
Luke 5:26 "And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and
were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day."
This "all" surely includes the scribes and Pharisees. It seems
this miracle left them speechless. The scribes and Pharisees could
have said no more for fear of being mobbed by the people. Give God the
glory for it all. Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. there was no
way to explain away what had happened.
Luke 5:27 "And after these things he went forth, and saw a
publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said
unto him, Follow me."
A publican was a collector of the Roman taxes. Publicans were a
hated group, especially by the Hebrews. Levi is the same as Matthew.
Jesus called him from the seat of customs to follow Him.
Luke 5:28 "And he left all, rose up, and followed him."
This "Levi", or Matthew, was to be one of the twelve disciples. He
never hesitated. He came immediately.
Luke 5:29 "And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and
there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down
with them."
As I said, these publicans were hated by; the Hebrews. It was felt
that their job was not one to be proud of. Matthew gave a big dinner
in honor of the Lord. It was thought to be a sin for the Hebrews to
eat with publicans and sinners.
Luke 5:30 "But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his
disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and
sinners?"
These scribes and Pharisees Jump on the disciples. They figure
they might could win an argument with the disciples.
Luke 5:31 "And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole
need not a physician; but they that are sick." Luke 5:32 "I came not
to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
Jesus works on their self righteousness here. He says you are so
righteous already, I could not possibly be of any help to you. I must
help those hopeless sinners. If you are already righteous, you do not
need to repent and be saved. We can see that they quickly jump off of
this subject in the next verse.
Luke 5:33 "And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John
fast often, and make prayers, and likewise [the disciples] of the
Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?"
Here they are trying to stir up strife between the disciples of
John and Jesus' disciples. The strange thing is that they respected
John the Baptist, even though he plainly told them who Jesus was: but
they did not believe Jesus.
Luke 5:34 "And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the
bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?" Luke 5:35 "But
the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them,
and then shall they fast in those days."
Jesus is speaking of the joy and power that is here, as long as
His presence is here; but there will be a day of sorrow with His
followers. Most of His followers will be so frightened and
disillusioned that they will run and hide. Fasting is an extension of
prayer to the utmost. As long as Jesus is physically with them, there
is no need to fast.
Luke 5:36 "And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth
a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new
maketh a rent, and the piece that was [taken] out of the new agreeth
not with the old." Luke 5:37 "And no man putteth new wine into old
bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and
the bottles shall perish." Luke 5:38 "But new wine must be put into
new bottles; and both are preserved." Luke 5:39 "No man also having
drunk old [wine] straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is
better."
To me, this is speaking of how incompatible the law for the Jews
and grace for the Christians are. It is so difficult for the Jews, who
do not believe Jesus is Messiah; and Christians, who believe Jesus is
Saviour, to worship together, New and old together are not compatible.
The Jews are satisfied with the law. Christians want salvation by
grace through Jesus.
Luke 13 Questions
1. Where did the Pharisees and doctors of law come from to see Jesus?
2. What was present to heal them?
3. Why were the Pharisees there?
4. What was wrong with the man whose friends brought him to Jesus?
5. When they couldn't get through the crowd, how did they get him to
Jesus?
6. What is palsy?
7. When He saw their faith, what did Jesus say to the man?
8. What does that tell us about disease?
9. Who has the power to forgive sins?
10. What did the scribes and Pharisees accuse Jesus of?
11. Where are these scribes and Pharisees in error?
12. Who are these scribes, Pharisees, and doctors of law?
13, How did Jesus know?
14. They know the letter of the law, but do not know what?
15. Jesus healed the man to prove what to the Pharisees?
16. What did Jesus tell the man to do when He healed him?
17. What did the sick of the palsy do?
18. The people were amazed and _________ ________.
19. What is the beginning of wisdom?
20. Who was sitting at the seat of custom?
21. What other name is he known by?
22. What did Levi do to honor Jesus?
23. Who hated the publicans?
24. What is a publican?
25. Who needs a physician?
26. Who did Jesus come to call to repentance?
27. What did John's disciples do that Jesus' disciples did not?
28. What did Jesus call Himself in verse 34?
29. What shows the incompatibility of the law and grace?
30. Christians do not accept just the law, but want what?
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