Luke 5

And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,

And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:

And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.

And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.

And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

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.

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, thy sins are forgiven thee.

And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?

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

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.

And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.

And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

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.

And he left all, rose up, and followed him.

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.

But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?

And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.

I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

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?

And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?

But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

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.

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.

But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.

No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.

What does Luke 5:25 mean?

Explanation

Luke 5:25 describes a miraculous healing performed by Jesus Christ.

The context of this verse involves a paralyzed man who is brought to Jesus by his friends.

Due to the crowd around Jesus, they are unable to reach Him through conventional means and so they lower the man through the roof of the house where Jesus was teaching.

Upon seeing their faith, Jesus forgives the man's sins and then commands him to rise, take up his bed, and go home.

This verse captures the immediate response of the healed man, he gets up in the presence of the crowd, picks up the mat he had been lying on, and goes back to his home, praising God.

The verse highlights the man's restored health, his obedience to Jesus' command, and his gratitude expressed through glorifying God.

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Historical Context

The healing took place during the early part of Jesus' ministry in Galilee, a region in ancient Palestine.

The event is believed to have occurred in the town of Capernaum, which served as a base for Jesus' ministry at the time.

This period was marked by great anticipation among the Jewish people for the Messiah, and miracles were seen as signs of divine authority.

The inclusion of this story in the Gospel according to Luke represents an important testimony to the authority of Jesus, not only to heal physical ailments but also to forgive sins, which was a radical claim in a religious context that only attributed such authority to God.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse demonstrates several key elements:

Authority of Jesus: Jesus' command leading to immediate healing illustrates His divine authority.
Faith and Healing: The healing might suggest a connection between faith and healing since it was the faith of the man and his friends that prompted Jesus' response.
Forgiveness of Sins: The incident underscores Jesus’ ability to forgive sins, intertwining physical healing with spiritual redemption, which is a cornerstone of Christian soteriology.
Public Testimony: The man's public display of glorifying God serves as a witness to the power of Jesus and validates His ministry.

Different Christian denominations may emphasize various aspects of this passage, with some focusing on the miraculous healing as a sign of God's kingdom, others on the authority of Jesus, and still others on the role of faith in experiencing God's work.

Practical Applications

The verse can be practically applied in several ways:

Faith in Difficulties: The persistence of the paralyzed man and his friends demonstrates the importance of faith and determination in overcoming obstacles.
Witness and Testimony: The healed man's response encourages believers to openly share their experiences of God's work in their lives, serving as a witness to others.
Gratitude: The act of glorifying God serves as a model for expressing gratitude for all blessings received.
Holistic Healing: This verse can inspire a view of healing that encompasses both physical ailments and spiritual needs.

Cross-References

Mark 2:11-12: "I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion."

Matthew 9:6-8: "But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

And he arose, and departed to his house."

Psalm 103:2-3: "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text of Luke 5:25 include:

Anastas: Translated as "he rose up," the Greek verb "ἀναστὰς" (anastas) is in the aorist active participle form, indicating a prompt and decisive action.
Euthys: "immediately" or "straightway," conveys the sense of immediate response with no delay.
Krabbaton: The Greek word for "bed" or "mat," "κράββατον" (krabbaton), which the man was instructed to take up, represents his previous condition of helplessness.
Doxazōn: Translated as "glorifying," "δοξάζων" (doxazōn) reflects an ongoing action of praising or honoring God, a verb form emphasizing the man's continual praise.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Within the broader cultural and religious context of the time, miraculous healings were not unheard of and were sometimes ascribed to various prophets or holy figures in different traditions.

The healing by Jesus is distinct in that it also includes the forgiveness of sins, challenging the Jewish religious authority by implying divine status.

Comparatively, other ancient cultures had myths of gods or demigods performing miraculous feats, but the direct personal encounter and forgiveness aspect is unique to the Christian narrative.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, there is no empirical mechanism by which a spoken command can directly result in the immediate healing of paralysis.

Such events are typically categorized as miracles, which by definition are outside the scope of natural law and therefore not subject to scientific validation or explanation.

Nonetheless, the psychological effects of belief and faith are well-documented in improving the well-being of individuals, which can positively influence health outcomes, known as the placebo effect.

commentaries

Different Biblical scholars and commentators have reflected on this verse providing insights into its significance:

John Calvin: Emphasises the faith of the man and his friends, in conjunction with Christ's divine power as a basis for the miracle.
Matthew Henry: Explains the miracle as an evidence of Christ's Messiahship and His power to forgive sins, as well as an exhibition of the man's faith being rewarded.
William Barclay: Discusses the societal implications of the healing, highlighting the social reintegration of the man as he is restored not only in body but also in his ability to re-enter the community.
**N.T.

Wright**: Offers a theological interpretation that situates the miracle within the larger narrative of Jesus's ministry, underscoring the in-breaking of God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven through such acts of Jesus.

Luke 5

Luke 5

What does Luke 5:25 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 5:25 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?