“ One day Jesus was teaching…”
(Luke 5:17)
“A few days later , when Jesus again entered Capernaum , the people heard that he had come home.” (Mark 2:1)

“One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there.”
(Luke 5:17)
Φαρισαῖος (Pharisaios) – “Pharisees”
• “separated ones”
• A Jewish sect that started after the exile in Babylon who sought distinction and praise by outward observance of external rites, such as ceremonial washings, fasting, prayers, and alms giving.

▪ Essenes A Jewish sect whose members formed small monastic communities, strictly observed the laws of
Moses, and held their property in common. They sought piety through asceticism and excluded women.
It is likely that the Dead Sea Scrolls were copied and collected by the Essenes.
Asceticism - practicing strict self-denial as a measure of spirituality.

▪ Essenes
▪ Zealots A Jewish sect which was political in nature and sought to forcefully expel the Romans from
Palestine. They started a revolt in 66 AD which led ultimately to the destruction of Jerusalem.
“…James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.” (Matthew 10:3b-4)

▪ Essenes
▪ Zealots
“Call in Zadok the priest…” (I Kings 1:32b)
קוֹד ָצ (Tsadowq) – “righteous”
▪ Sadducees An elitist Jewish sect largely comprised of a traditional, ruling class of priests who rejected doctrines not in the Law, such as resurrection, future retribution and angels.

▪ Essenes
▪ Zealots
▪ Sadducees
▪ Pharisees
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices…But you neglect the more important matters of the law - justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides!
You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel .”
(Matthew 23:23-24)

“One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there.”
(Luke 5:17)
νομοδιδάσκαλος (nomodidaskalos) –
“teachers of the law”
• a teacher and interpreter of the law among the Jews.
• sometimes referred to as “scribes.”

“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 .”
(Luke 5:17)

Nazareth

“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.”
(Luke 5:17)
“Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them.”
(Mark 2:3)

Not all homes had a stairway leading to the roof.

“Some men came carrying a paralyzed man 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.” (Luke 5:18-19)

When Jesus saw their faith, he said,
“Friend, your sins are forgiven .” (Luke 5:20)
“ Which is easier : to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?” (Luke 5:23)
Jesus has chosen this situation to prove a point:
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Miracle (commonly) - extremely outstanding or unusual event, thing or accomplishment; anything that causes acknowledgement of God’s intervention in ordinary lives.
Miracle (Biblically) - supernatural event performed by a human agent which defies natural law to serve as a sign for the truth of a specific claim.

1) God’s redemptive work which is explained by… 2) God’s revelation which is authenticated by…3) God’s miracle.
3) “ Jesus did many other miraculous signs…
2) These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ…
1) and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
(John 20:30-31)

3) God’s miracle.
For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation ? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord , was confirmed to us by those who heard him.
God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles , and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his wil l.” (Hebrews 2:2-4)

“When Jesus saw their faith, he said,
‘Friend, your sins are forgiven .’” (5:20)
“But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” (5:24a)
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… (5:24b-25a)

“Jesus knew what they were thinking…” (Luke 5:22)
Against you, you only, have I sinned
(Psalm 51:4)

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?” (Luke 5:21)

“But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” (Luke 5:24)
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man , coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of
Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power ; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed .” (Daniel 7:13-14)

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.”
(Luke 5:25-26)

► We need to bring our friends to Jesus.
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The greatest need everyone has is for forgiveness.
People matter more than possessions.
The best thing we can do for someone is bring them to Jesus.
“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (II Corinthians 4:4)

► We need to bring our friends to Jesus.
► We need to avoid the leaven of the Pharisees.
“On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords.”
(Revelation 19:16)

► We need to avoid the leaven of the Pharisees.
► Isolationism.

While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples,
“ Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners ?” (Matthew 9:10-11)
Sinners
Jesus
Disciples
Pharisee

Sinner
Friend Friend

Sinner listens to secular music watches violent movies reads Harry Potter books dances wears makeup stays out past 10 PM dons Tie-Dye

► We need to avoid the leaven of the Pharisees.
► Isolationism.
► Pride.
“But knowledge puffs up while love
(I Corinthians 8:1b) builds up .”
οἰκοδομέω (oikodomeo) – “builds up” (“edify” - KJV)
• to build a house, erect a building.
• to grow in wisdom and piety.

This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight ,” declares the Lord.
(Jeremiah 9:23-24)

► We need to avoid the leaven of the Pharisees.
► Isolationism.
► Pride.
► Unloving.
► Hypocrisy.
► Joyless.
► Methodolatry.
*
* - insisting on a of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy .”
Note – this word is not found in a dictionary.