Sins Forgiven or Rise Up and Walk - Luke 5:23

Luke the beloved physician shared how, “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. 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. 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. And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, your sins are forgiven you. And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason you in your hearts?”, and in chapter five and verse twenty-three of his book Luke shares how Jesus asked, “which is easier, to say, your sins be forgiven; or … rise up and walk?” where we read:

Whether is easier, to say, Your sins be forgiven you; or to say, Rise up and walk?

The verse reads, “Whether is easier, to say, Your sins be forgiven you;” Luke began with the words, “Whether is easier” or “which thing is more facile and with less labor”, “to say” which means “to utter, declare or proclaim”, “your sins” or “man with palsy the errors, mistakes, offenses, wrongs and violations of the divine law that you have” “be forgiven you” which means “are remitted, departed, disregarded and kept no longer from you”. Luke shared how Jesus presented the first of two choices to the “religious leaders” as to which was easier to declare - that He could declare a person's “sins” to be “remitted and departed” from them or the following words.

The verse goes on to say, “or to say, Rise up and walk?” Luke continued with the words, “or to say” which means “or to utter, declare and proclaim”, “Rise up and walk” or “arouse, raise up and erect yourself and amble, make progress and deport oneself”? Luke shared how Jesus gave the “religious leaders” the second option which was for Him to tell the man with palsy to “arise and amble” away.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we see how Jesus managed the “scribes and Pharisees” thoughts and words by presenting a question to them. He wanted them to decide which of two options took “less labor” to carry out - “forgiving” the man with palsy's “sins” or telling him to “get up and walk”. We can imagine the reaction of these “religious leaders” as they pondered Jesus' question, and Jesus will respond to them not answering in the next verse. For now, let us consider the power Jesus had to do both. He is able to “save” a person from their “sins” and heal their bodies as well. Those who consider the capabilities of Jesus both spiritually and physically should submit their lives to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord” and be “forgiven” of their “sins” and receive everlasting life from God.

Next time Luke shares how Jesus tells the man with palsy, “arise, and take up your couch, and go into your house”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".