ACC ~ Luke 5 v17 - 26

OVERVIEW:

When the paralytic’s friends carry him to the roof, remove the roof and let him down before Jesus, it shows their seriousness and persistence and affirms that every sick person and every sinner needs intercessors before the Lord (AMBROSE) as did this paralytic whose friends place him in the presence of Jesus.

Jesus the Physician will show that he is present in his creation to heal spiritually through forgiveness and physically by healing the paralytic (CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA). Jesus shows that he is able to heal the whole person (AMBROSE). Jesus’ forgiveness leads to a discussion as to whether his absolution is blasphemy and whether he is the Son of God (EPHREM THE SYRIAN). Jesus, who is able to know their hearts and minds, is certainly also able to forgive sins. The main point Jesus makes is to declare that he, the Son of Man, has authority on earth to forgive sins, and this authority will be given to his church (CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA). The command to return home is a command to return to Paradise (AMBROSE).

5:17-19 | The Paralytic and His Friends

SICK PEOPLE AND SINNERS NEED INTERCESSORS

AMBROSE: You who judge, learn to excuse! You who are sick, learn to accomplish. If you do not trust in the forgiveness of grave sinners, call intercessors, call the church who will pray for you. Because of his regard for the church, the Lord forgives what he may refuse you. And although we must not neglect the faith in the narrative, so that we may indeed believe that the body of the paralytic was healed, we must also acknowledge the healing of the inner man whose sins are forgiven. EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 5.11-12. [1]

[1] EHG 150-51**.

5:20 | The Miracle of Forgiveness

JESUS HEALS SPIRITUALLY AND PHYSICALLY

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: When the Savior says to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you,” he addresses this to humankind in general. For those who believe in him, being healed of the diseases of the soul, will receive forgiveness of the sins which they formerly committed. He may also mean this: “I must heal your soul before I heal your body. If this is not done, by obtaining strength to walk, you will only sin more. Even though you have not asked for this, I as God see the maladies of the soul which brought on you this disease.” COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 12. [1]

[1] CGSL 110-11**.

JESUS CURES THE WHOLE PERSON

AMBROSE: But the Lord, wanting to save sinners, [1] shows himself to be God both by his knowledge of secrets and by the wonder of his actions. He adds, “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk?’” In this passage he shows the full likeness of the resurrection. Alongside of healing the wounds of body and mind, he also forgives the sins of the spirits, removes the weakness of the flesh, and thus heals the whole person. It is a great thing to forgive people’s sins—who can forgive sins, but God alone? For God also forgives through those to whom he has given the power of forgiveness. Yet it is far more divine to give resurrection to bodies, since the Lord himself is the resurrection. [2] EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 5.12-13. [3]

[1] 1 Tim 1:15.

[2] Jn 11:25.

[3] EHG 151*.

5:21-24 | The Dispute

PHARISEES DOUBT JESUS IS GOD

EPHREM THE SYRIAN: While the Pharisee doubted that our Lord was a prophet, he was unwittingly pledging himself to the truth by thinking, “If this man were a prophet, he would know that this woman is a sinner.” [1] Therefore, if our Lord indeed knows that she is a sinner, then, Pharisee, by your own reasoning he indeed is a prophet. And so our Lord did not hesitate to point out not only that she was a sinner but also that she had sinned very much, so that the testimony of his own mouth would trap the accuser. [The Pharisee] was one of those who had said, “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Our Lord took this testimony from them, that whoever is able to forgive sin is God. From this point on, the struggle was for our Lord to show them whether or not he was able to forgive sin. And so he quickly healed the parts [of the body] that were visible, to confirm that he had forgiven the sins which were not visible. HOMILY ON OUR LORD 21.1. [2]

[1] Lk 7:39.

[2] FC 91:295**.

JESUS WHO KNOWS THE HEARTS AND MINDS ALSO FORGIVES SINS

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: He then, as was said, announced forgiveness of sins, since he is endowed with a most godlike authority. But the declaration disturbed again the ignorant and envious gang of the Pharisees. They said one to another, “Who is this that speaks blasphemies?” But would you have said this about him, Pharisee, if you had known the divine Scriptures, and borne in mind the words of prophecy, and understood the adorable and mighty mystery of the incarnation? Instead, they now involve him in a charge of blasphemy, bringing against him the uttermost penalty and condemning him to death. The law of Moses commanded that whoever spoke blasphemies against God should be put to death. [1] But no sooner have they arrived at this height of daring, than he immediately shows that he is God, to convict them once more of intolerable impiety, “Why do you question in your hearts?” If you, therefore, Pharisee, say, “Who can forgive sins but God only?” I will also say to you, “Who can know hearts, and see the thoughts hidden in the depth of the understanding, but God only?” For he himself says somewhere by the voice of the prophets, “I, the Lord, search the minds and try the heart.” [2] David also said somewhere concerning both him and us, “He who fashions the hearts of them all.” [3] Therefore he who as God knows both the hearts and minds, as God also forgives sins. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 12. [4]

[1] Lev 24:16.

[2] Jer 17:10.

[3] Ps 33:15 (32:15 LXX).

[4] CGSL 111-12**.

5:25-26 | The Miracle of Healing

JESUS GIVES TO HIS CHURCH POWER TO HEAL AND FORGIVE

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: A place still remains open for disbelief when it is said, “Your sins are forgiven you”—for people cannot see the forgiven sins with the eyes of the body. By contrast, the putting off of the disease and the paralytic’s rising up and walking carries with it a clear demonstration of a godlike power. Jesus adds, “Rise, take up your bed and go home.” And he returned to his house, delivered from the infirmity from which he had so long suffered. This very fact proves that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins. But to whom does he refer when he says this? Himself only, or us too? Both the one and the other are true. For he forgives sins as the incarnate God, the Lord of the law. We too have received from him this splendid and most admirable grace. He has crowned human nature with this great honor also, having even said to the holy apostles, “Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” [1] And again, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” [2] And what is the occasion on which we find him speaking this to them? It was after he had trampled on the power of death and risen from the grave, when he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” [3] After he had made them partakers of his nature and bestowed upon them the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, he also made them sharers of his glory, by giving them power both to remit and to bind sins. And as we have been commanded to perform this very act, how much more must he himself remit sins, when he gives to others authority to enable them to do so? COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 12. [4]

[1] Mt 18:18.

[2] Jn 20:23.

[3] Jn 20:22.

[4] CGSL 112**.

TO RETURN HOME IS TO RETURN TO PARADISE

AMBROSE: What is this bed which he is commanded to take up, as he is told to rise? It is the same bed which was washed by David every night, [1] the bed of pain on which our soul lay sick with the cruel torment of conscience. But if anyone has acted according to Christ’s teaching, it is already not a bed of pain but of repose. Indeed, through the compassion of the Lord, who turns for us the sleep of death into the grace of delight, that which was death begins to be repose. Not only is he ordered to take up his bed, but also to go home to his house, that is, to return to Paradise. That is our true home which first fostered man, lost not lawfully, but by deceit. Therefore, rightfully is the home restored, since he who would abolish the obligation of deceit and reform the law has come. EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 5.14. [2]

[1] Ps 6:6 (6:7 LXX).

[2] EHG 151-52**.