Introduction

Welcome friends, welcome. It's good to see you all here today. It's a beautiful day, isn't it? A day full of hope and promise. A day to come together and share in the Word of God.

We gather here, in this sacred space, to open our hearts and minds to the teachings of our Lord. We are here to learn, to grow, to seek understanding. We are here to find comfort, to find strength, to find hope. We are here to be filled with the love and grace of God.

Today, we turn our attention to the Gospel of Luke. Specifically, Luke 5:17-26. Allow me to read it for you:

"One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, 'Friend, your sins are forgiven.' The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, 'Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?' Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, 'Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.' So he said to the paralyzed man, 'I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.' Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, 'We have seen remarkable things today.'"

Identifying with the Pharisee

Often, we find ourselves quick to judge the Pharisees in the Bible. We see their actions and their attitudes, their skepticism and their self-righteousness, and we think, "I would never be like that." But the truth is, we are more like the Pharisees than we'd like to admit.

Who were they?: The Pharisees were the religious leaders of their time. They were well-versed in the scriptures, they knew the law inside and out. They were respected, they were revered. They were the ones people looked to for spiritual guidance. They were the ones people trusted to lead them in their faith.

They lost sight of God: But in their knowledge, in their status, they became prideful. They became so focused on the law, on the rules, on the rituals, that they lost sight of the heart of their faith. They lost sight of God's love, of God's grace. They became so wrapped up in their own righteousness, in their own superiority, that they failed to see their own sin, their own need for a Savior.

They didn’t understand: The Pharisees saw Jesus healing the sick, forgiving sins, and instead of rejoicing, instead of praising God for the miracles they were witnessing, they questioned, they doubted, they accused. They saw Jesus, not as the Messiah, but as a threat to their authority, to their way of life.

Often our reaction as well: When God moves in ways we don't understand, when He challenges our beliefs, our traditions, our comfort zones, don't we often respond with skepticism, with resistance, with fear? Don't we often cling to our own understanding, our own control, instead of trusting in His wisdom, His sovereignty?

The Pharisees' reaction to Jesus forgiving the paralytic's sins: They thought, "Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" They knew the scriptures, they knew that only God could forgive sins. But instead of recognizing Jesus as God, instead of acknowledging His authority, they accused Him of blasphemy. They let their pride, their prejudice, their fear cloud their judgment, blind them to the truth.

How often do we do the same?: How often do we let our pride, our prejudice, our fear keep us from seeing God's truth, from accepting His grace? How often do we judge others, condemn others, instead of showing them love, showing them grace? How often do we focus on the letter of the law, instead of the spirit of the law, on the outward appearance, instead of the heart?

An incorrect view: The Pharisees saw the paralytic, not as a man in need of healing, in need of love, but as a sinner, as a transgressor of the law. They saw his physical condition as a punishment for his sins, as a result of his moral failings. They failed to see his humanity, his worth, his dignity. And isn't that often our perspective as well? Don't we often judge people based on their circumstances, their mistakes, their past? Don't we often see people as problems to be solved, as burdens to be borne, instead of as individuals to be loved, to be cared for?

Self-focused: The Pharisees were so focused on their own righteousness, on their own superiority, that they failed to see their own need for forgiveness, for grace. They saw themselves as the standard, as the measure of righteousness, instead of seeing God as the standard, God as the measure of righteousness.

Emulating the Faithful Friends

As we turn our gaze from the Pharisees, we find ourselves in the company of the faithful friends ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO