Luke 5:20 kjv

And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

Luke 5:20 nkjv

When He saw their faith, He said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."

Luke 5:20 niv

When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."

Luke 5:20 esv

And when he saw their faith, he said, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."

Luke 5:20 nlt

Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, "Young man, your sins are forgiven."

Luke 5 verses

Luke 5 20 Meaning

Luke 5:20 describes Jesus' pivotal declaration to the paralyzed man. Upon witnessing the profound faith of the man and his companions who brought him for healing, Jesus bypasses the physical ailment initially and addresses the spiritual core. He declares that the man's sins are forgiven. This statement reveals Jesus' divine authority, claiming a prerogative traditionally reserved for God alone, and signifies the deeper spiritual need met before any physical restoration. It highlights the primary importance of spiritual reconciliation over physical healing in God's eyes.

Luke 5 20 Context

Luke chapter 5 opens with Jesus calling His first disciples, including Peter, after a miraculous catch of fish, demonstrating His power and drawing them to follow Him. Immediately following this, Jesus begins a circuit in Galilee, healing the sick and teaching. The healing of the paralytic (Luke 5:17-26) occurs in a crowded house in Capernaum, filled with Pharisees and teachers of the law from all over Judea, Galilee, and Jerusalem. These religious leaders were present, observing Jesus, undoubtedly curious but also skeptical or critical of His actions. The intense faith of the paralytic's friends, who disassembled a roof to bring him before Jesus, underscores the desperate need and expectation. In this charged atmosphere, Jesus' declaration of forgiveness of sins, rather than immediate physical healing, serves as a direct challenge to the authority and theological understanding of the religious elite present. It sets the stage for a controversy concerning His identity and power.

Luke 5 20 Word analysis

• And (Καὶ - Kai): Connects this action to the preceding scene, emphasizing the flow of events and Jesus' immediate response to the situation.
• when He saw (ἰδὼν - idōn): From eido, meaning not just physical perception but also spiritual discernment or full comprehension. Jesus did not just observe the physical act but perceived the spiritual reality and genuine trust.
• their faith (τὴν πίστιν αὐτῶν - tēn pistin autōn): Refers to the collective faith – both the paralyzed man's and his four friends'. This highlights the power of intercessory faith and mutual commitment within the community. It was an active, demonstrated faith, overcoming obstacles.
• He said (εἶπεν - eipen): Simple declarative statement, indicating direct, authoritative speech. Jesus doesn't ask God for forgiveness; He declares it Himself.
• "Man" (Ἄνθρωπε - Anthrōpe): A direct address, possibly gentle or emphatic. It's not a generic address but specific, focusing on the individual person, conveying empathy and direct engagement.
• "your sins" (αἱ ἁμαρτίαι σου - hai hamartiai sou): Hamartia (plural) means "missing the mark," moral failures, deviations from God's perfect standard. This specifies that the forgiveness is personal and comprehensive for all his accumulated transgressions. It suggests a potential link (though not always direct or singular) between his sins and his paralytic condition, common in Jewish thought of the time (e.g., John 9:2).
• "are forgiven you" (ἀφέωνταί σοι - apheōntaí soi): This is a perfect passive indicative verb (aphēmi), meaning "have been sent away," "released," "dismissed," or "remitted."
  • Perfect tense: Indicates a completed action with continuing results. The sins are already forgiven and remain so.
  • Passive voice: Implies God as the agent performing the action, even though Jesus is the one speaking. This nuanced phrasing indicates Jesus as the authoritative revealer or agent of God's forgiveness, asserting His unity with God's will and power. It's a divine pronouncement, not a request or wish.
  • "you" (soi - dative): Indicates that the forgiveness is specifically for this man.
• "He said, 'Man, your sins are forgiven you.'": This whole phrase is a declaration of divine prerogative. In the Jewish worldview, only God could truly forgive sins. This statement by Jesus, an ordinary man in their eyes, was perceived as blasphemy by the religious leaders present, directly claiming divine authority.

Luke 5 20 Bonus section

• The passive voice "are forgiven" (ἀφέωνται) suggests that the forgiveness emanates from God Himself, reinforcing Jesus' intrinsic connection to divine authority rather than just being a prophet delivering a message. It's God's act, declared by Jesus.
• This instance sets up a significant polemic. By asserting the authority to forgive sins, Jesus directly challenged the prevailing religious understanding that forgiveness required temple sacrifice and the mediation of priests. Jesus' direct declaration of forgiveness indicated a new covenant, a direct access to God's grace without intermediary rituals or systems.
• The connection between sickness and sin, though not always direct (as shown in John 9 where the man was born blind not because of sin), was a prevalent belief in that culture. By addressing sin first, Jesus validated His authority at the point of common understanding before proceeding to the physical miracle. His power to forgive was the greater and more fundamental proof of His divine identity, and His physical healing of the man served as an outward confirmation of the inward spiritual healing He had already wrought.

Luke 5 20 Commentary

Luke 5:20 encapsulates a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry, highlighting the supreme importance of spiritual healing over physical restoration. When faced with the paralytic's immense physical need, underscored by his friends' desperate act of bringing him through the roof, Jesus addresses his spiritual state first. By declaring "your sins are forgiven," Jesus directly claims an authority that Jewish theology reserved exclusively for God. This audacious pronouncement was revolutionary; it bypassed the Temple system and priestly mediation, offering direct and complete remission of sins by His own divine word. The religious leaders understood the profound theological claim inherent in His words, immediately perceiving it as blasphemy because, in their view, only God could forgive sins. Yet, Jesus, in His authority, chose to reveal His power over sin before demonstrating His power over sickness, asserting His messianic and divine identity. This act of forgiveness establishes a crucial truth: Jesus has the inherent authority as God to forgive sins, a spiritual reality far more critical and eternally significant than any physical malady. It reveals that the ultimate problem facing humanity is sin and alienation from God, for which Jesus offers the definitive solution through His atoning work, culminating at the cross.