LYNNE HILTON WILSON

 

Luke 5:17-26 Jesus heals Paralysis (also Mt 9:2-8; Mk 2:1-12)

 

5:17 Pharisees (Josephus identifies a group of 6,000, who emphasized Sabbath and dietary laws), and teachers attack Jesus. Small houses were 9’ X 12,’ medium were 12’ X 15’, and larger homes had rooms surrounding a courtyard. Often an outside stairwell led to the flat roof where you could work or sleep in warm weather.

 

     Roof: There were outside and inside stairs that lead up to the roof, as well as “the road of the roofs” passing from roof to roof if the house adjoined others in the same street. Many Galilean roofs were hard beaten earth with rubble underneath it, with paved brick, stone, or any other hard substance and surrounded by a balustrade which was at least 3’ high. The roof over the courtyard would have been covered with a lighter frame work which supported the tiles. Roman tiled homes have also been unearthed in Palestine.

 

 LUKE 5:18 The paralyzed man had friends with great faith+ determination! A great example in doing all we can to reach God

 

LUKE 5:19 The Greek word for “before the Lord” is used “almost as a technical term in temple worship” and when Moses stood before the Lord (p.290). The speaks of a sacred setting. I wonder how disruptive the scene must have been?

 

LUKE 5:20  Faith propels this miracle. Jesus heals in the “psychological order;” inward thoughts first before outward (remember some Jews thought ever illness came from a sin).  The healings spoke of His Divine Personality.

 

LUKE 5:21-22 Reading other’s thoughts is another miracle and sign that Jesus is God. The word for “power” is also authority. *Note again the similarities with the Devil’s temptation, now from the questioning leaders “if…if…if thou be...”

 

LUKE 5:23-4 The JST helps, “Does it require more power to forgive sins than to make the sick rise . . .” which immediately happens proving Jesus has power over both. His healing is even shown to provide strength to carry his stretcher!

 

 

Luke 5:27-32 Levi/Matthew’s call (also Mt 9:9-13; Mark 2:13-17)

 

LUKE 5:27 The Lord “observed” Levi/Matthew possibly at the custom’s post on the main road just east of Capernaum, on the border of Herod Antipas and Philip’s territories (2 miles west of where the Jordan River meets the Sea of Galilee). Luke calls him Levi, but Matthew (“gift of God”), calls him, “Matthew the Publican.”

 

*Tax Collector: Usually, publicans were despised and listed with harlots and sinners (Mt 18:17). Because some were dishonest, none were allowed to be witnesses or judge. Their positions were leased from the government and lived on the excess that they collected.  “Theocritus was asked, ‘what are the worst wild animals?’ and he answered, ‘On the mountains, bears, and lions; in the city, publicans’ . . . The Jews had a proverb, ‘Take not a wife out of a family where there is a publican, for they are all publicans’” (Farrar p.188).

 

*Roman Taxes: 1) Ground tax: 1/10% of your ground production (ie. grain, wine) paid either in kind or $;

2) Income-tax amounted to 1%; 3) Poll-tax or head-money was levied on all men over 14-65, and girls 12-65.

 

Taxes were paid on all imports and exports, all that was bought and sold, toll roads, bridge money, town dues, admission to markets, harbor dues, and ship toll. Taxes ranged from 2 ½-12 ½ % .  The price was nothing compared to the hassle of constantly being stopped, unloading your pack animals, every bale and package opened, contents counted, private letters opened, etc. There was plenty of room for favors (Edersheim, 514?)

 

LUKE 5:28 describes Levi, just as P, J and J, “forsaking all.” Disciples must be willing to leave all to follow Christ (and still must listen and obey His Spirit and servants). Levi as a publican would have had to brake his contract

 

LUKE 5:29-30 Jesus is the guest of honor and “reclines” to eat at the feast Levi /Matthew provides. (Later Pharisaic Jewish laws forbad eating with publicans, p. 296). After the meal, the self-righteous confront Jesus’ disciples about eating with unclean publicans. Eating with “clean” people (male guests ate with men only) was especially important--because eating with someone was the same as if you were covenanting with them or at least shared values with them as you dipped together in the same dish (sharing germs)

5:31-32 These two statements are cited in the synoptic gospels. We also find them in reverse order as statements from Jesus quoted in Mormon 8:8. None of us are “whole” without the Lord’s atonement making up the difference.

 

 

Luke 5:33-39 Jesus’ Early Teachings

 

LUKE 5:33 The audience appears to still be the publicans and scribes, but in the Gospel of Matthew it is JBst’s disciples. Yet Jesus also speaks so that his new disciples will understand that he is not intending to reform the old Law, but calls for a completely new or fresh restoration. The call for fasting would return after Jesus’ death. (Don’t get hung up on order of stories as each Gospel. It’s like a patchwork squares to create a different overall design.

 

LUKE 5:34-35 Jesus uses the “bridegroom / bride” for imagery for God and Zion as we find in the OT too. The analogy is built on throughout the NT in parables and sermons (including the Book of Revelation).

 

LUKE 5:36 A new patch was “un-shrunk” and would pull away as it shrinks and tear or stretch at the seams.  Matthew uses the word, “pleroun / to fulfill” speaking of the fulfillment of the Law of Moses in Christ.

 

LUKE 5:37 New or “fresh grape juice” was kept in animal skins, so they were only flexible enough for fermentation when new.  Christ is symbolically the new wine and must be received with a flexible, soft, heart.

Old and New Wine and Bottles = Old Law and New