Luke 5:20Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Though you have not asked for it, I, as God, see the soul's weaknesses that have caused your ailment.” A significant miracle was warranted in the presence of numerous scribes and Pharisees, who held Him in disdain, prompting the Savior to perform an extraordinary act for their benefit. A paralyzed man lay helpless, afflicted by an incurable malady; the skills of physicians having failed, his family brought him to the Healer from on high. In the presence of the one capable of restoring, his faith was acknowledged, and immediately Christ demonstrated that faith can remove sin, affirming to him, “Thy sins are forgiven thee.” Some may question, “He sought healing for his affliction; why then does Christ declare the forgiveness of his sins?” This illustrates how God attentively observes the actions of humanity and the paths of individual lives, as it is written, “The ways of man are before the eyes of God, and He watches all his footsteps.” In His goodness and desire for all to attain salvation, He often purifies those entrenched in sin through affliction. As communicated through the prophet Jeremiah, “You shall be taught, O Jerusalem, by labour and scourge.” Likewise, Proverbs advises, “My son, despise not the doctrine of the Lord, nor be discouraged when He condemns thee: for whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.” Thus, Christ emphasizes His intention to eradicate the source of the affliction, the very root of sin, for its removal will likewise eliminate the disease that arises from it.

According to Mark 2:4, those who brought the sick man made considerable effort to remove part of the roof (εξορυξαντες). We can infer that this involved not just lifting off tiles that were cemented in place, but also excavating the earth and breaking through the ceiling below. The mat or bed on which the sick man was carried was likely lightweight, something akin to felt, which could easily be transported and used for resting during journeys, especially in situations like the one described.

Seeing the faith of those who brought the afflicted man, Jesus addressed the paralytic, saying, "Child, your sins are forgiven you." The Pharisees who were present perceived this as blasphemy, arguing that only God has the authority to forgive sins. In response, Christ demonstrated that healing a sick person is no more difficult than forgiving sins, asserting that if they acknowledged His ability to heal—an undeniable fact—they should also accept His divine right to pardon transgressions. However, anticipating that the Pharisees might question the validity of His claim, He said to the healed man, "Arise, take up thy bed, and go into thy house." The immediate fulfillment of this command served as confirmation that His declaration, "Thy sins are forgiven thee," was equally effective. The phrase "Son of man on earth" stands in contrast to their understanding of God, who resides in heaven.

But so that you may understand that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” —then He addressed the paralyzed man— “Rise, take up your mattress, and return to your home.” And the man, healed, rose, took his mattress, and went home in complete health. The onlookers were filled with awe and glorified God who had granted such authority to humanity. The news of this extraordinary occurrence reverberated throughout Galilee and Perea, reaching even the farthest edges of Syria (Matthew 4:24), highlighting how much the weary Savior must have longed for a chance to rest afterwards. Yet, the most refreshing retreat for Him was solitude and silence, where He could connect privately with His Heavenly Father, free from disturbances. As the plain of Genesaret remained enveloped in the darkness before dawn, Christ quietly arose and slipped away to an isolated place where He rejuvenated His spirit through quiet prayer.

Four individuals attempted to bring a paralyzed man on a mat to Jesus, but they found it impossible to access the house due to the overwhelming crowd. However, since houses in the East typically have flat roofs composed of slabs and stones and often present two access points—one from within and another from the street—those who carried the sick man, facing a dire situation, decided to breach the roof. They ascended, removed part of the roof, and gently lowered the mat with the paralyzed man down to Jesus. When the Lord observed their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” The root cause of the man's affliction was sin; thus, Christ first absolved him of his sins before healing his physical condition. As St. John Chrysostom aptly notes, “Physicians typically do not treat ailments before addressing their origins,” which is what Christ did—He first eradicated the source of evil, which is sin. Through His words, He rejuvenated the paralytic's spirit and uplifted his afflicted soul; these declarations became transformative acts that penetrated his conscience and touched his very essence, dispelling all despair.