Luke 5:17-26
Your Sins Are Forgiven
Read the passage
17One day Jesus was teaching, and the Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. People had come from Jerusalem and from every village of Galilee and Judea, and the power of the Lord was present for Him to heal the sick.
18Just then some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They tried to bring him inside to set him before Jesus,
19but they could not find a way through the crowd. So they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.
20When Jesus saw their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
21But the scribes and Pharisees began thinking to themselves, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
22Knowing what they were thinking, Jesus replied, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?
23Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?
24But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on the earth to forgive sins…” He said to the paralytic, “I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”
25And immediately the man stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God.
26Everyone was taken with amazement and glorified God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Pharisees and teachers of the law sit nearby while Jesus teaches. Men bring a paralyzed man on a bed, but the crowd blocks the way. They climb to the roof, remove tiles, and lower him into the middle of the gathering in front of Jesus.
Jesus sees their faith and says to the man, “Your sins are forgiven.” The scribes and Pharisees begin reasoning that He is speaking blasphemy, because only God can forgive sins.
Jesus knows their thoughts. He asks which is easier: to say that sins are forgiven or to say, “Get up and walk.” He then tells them that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.
The man rises immediately, picks up his bed, and goes home praising God. Everyone is amazed and glorifies God. No one in the room can see sins being forgiven. They can see a man who could not walk stand up and carry his mat. Jesus makes that healing a sign of his authority to give the forgiveness he has already announced. The question about who he is cannot be separated from the help he gives.
Questions
1 How do the friends bring the paralyzed man to Jesus?
AnswerThey carry him on a bed, climb to the roof, remove tiles, and lower him into the crowded room in front of Jesus.
2 What does Jesus say first to the man?
AnswerJesus says, “Your sins are forgiven,” making forgiveness the first gift He announces before restoring the man's ability to walk.
3 Why are the religious teachers troubled?
AnswerThey believe only God can forgive sins, so Jesus' declaration forces them to consider who He is and what authority He possesses.
4 How does the healed man respond?
AnswerHe immediately stands, carries the bed he had depended on, returns home, and praises God. His restored life becomes public testimony.
What This Means for Us
The friends' faith is active and determined, but the passage centers on Jesus' authority rather than on a technique for getting miracles. We may bring people to Christ without promising that every illness will be removed.
Jesus also refuses to separate spiritual need from physical suffering. Neither should a family assume that illness proves hidden sin. Receive forgiveness as grace, seek appropriate care, and let restored relationships become part of the response.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for authority to forgive and compassion to restore. Make us friends who carry one another toward You, and protect our household from blaming people for suffering we do not understand. Amen.