17 One day He was teaching ; and there were some Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem ; and the power of the Lord was present for Him to perform healing . 18 And some men were carrying on a bed a man who was paralyzed ; and they were trying to bring him in and to set him down in front of Him. 19 But not finding any way to bring him in because of the crowd , they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiles with his stretcher , into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus . 20 Seeing their faith , He said , "Friend , your sins are forgiven you." 21 The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason , saying , " Who is this man who speaks blasphemies ? Who can forgive sins , but God alone ?" 22 But Jesus , aware of their reasonings , answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts ? 23 "Which is easier , to say , 'Your sins have been forgiven you,' or to say , 'Get up and walk '? 24 "But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins ,"-He said to the paralytic -"I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home ." 25 Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God . 26 They were all struck with astonishment and began glorifying God ; and they were filled with fear , saying , "We have seen remarkable things today ."
27 After that He went out and noticed a tax collector named Levi sitting in the tax booth , and He said to him, "Follow Me." 28 And he left everything behind , and got up and began to follow Him. 29 And Levi gave a big reception for Him in his house ; and there was a great crowd of tax collectors and other people who were reclining at the table with them. 30 The Pharisees and their scribes began grumbling at His disciples , saying , "Why e do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners ?" 31 And Jesus answered and said to them, " It is not those who are well who need a physician , but those who are sick . 32 "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance ."
33 And they said to Him, " The disciples of John often fast and offer prayers , the disciples of the Pharisees also do the same , but Yours eat and drink ." 34 And Jesus said to them, "You cannot e make the attendants of the bridegroom fast while e the bridegroom is with them, can you? 35 " But the days will come ; and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days ." 36 And He was also telling them a parable : "No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and puts it on an old garment ; otherwise he will both tear the new , and the piece from the new will not match the old . 37 "And no one puts new wine into old wineskins ; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined . 38 "But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins . 39 "And no one , after drinking old wine wishes for new ; for he says , 'The old is good enough.' "
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 5:17-39
Commentary on Luke 5:17-26
(Read Luke 5:17-26)
How many are there in our assemblies, where the gospel is preached, who do not sit under the word, but sit by! It is to them as a tale that is told them, not as a message that is sent to them. Observe the duties taught and recommended to us by the history of the paralytic. In applying to Christ, we must be very pressing and urgent; that is an evidence of faith, and is very pleasing to Christ, and prevailing with him. Give us, Lord, the same kind of faith with respect to thy ability and willingness to heal our souls. Give us to desire the pardon of sin more than any earthly blessing, or life itself. Enable us to believe thy power to forgive sins; then will our souls cheerfully arise and go where thou pleasest.
Commentary on Luke 5:27-39
(Read Luke 5:27-39)
It was a wonder of Christ's grace, that he would call a publican to be his disciple and follower. It was a wonder of his grace, that the call was made so effectual. It was a wonder of his grace, that he came to call sinners to repentance, and to assure them of pardon. It was a wonder of his grace, that he so patiently bore the contradiction of sinners against himself and his disciples. It was a wonder of his grace, that he fixed the services of his disciples according to their strength and standing. The Lord trains up his people gradually for the trials allotted them; we should copy his example in dealing with the weak in faith, or the tempted believer.