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    WEEK 2. LUKE 5:15-26   “JESUS AND THE PARALYZED MAN”
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Read: Luke 5:15-26

Jesus’ teaching and miracles had attracted lots of 
attention. The “Pharisees and teachers of the law” have 
gathered from all over the entire region to check out this 
new teacher. The Pharisees were very strict practitioners of 
their religion, and very judgmental of people who weren’t as 
legalistic as they were. They had minute rules of 
righteousness for everything: Sabbath observance, food laws, 
you name it. One of the ironies of Jesus’ ministry is that 
the most upstanding of men became his most vigorous 
opponents. Much of their opposition was to Jesus’ 
characteristic mercy and forgiveness, as portrayed in this 
episode....

Comment: Most Palestinian homes had flat roofs with outside 
stairs leading up to the rooftop. The roof of the house in 
this story was either made of tile, or of brushwood covered 
over with mud mixed with straw. The sick man’s friends 
apparently dismantled a portion of the roof right over the 
heads of the crowed packed in the room below. Then they 
lowered their paralyzed friend down from the four corners of 
his mat right in front of Jesus –- a very striking and 
memorable image.

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MONDAY

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LEVEL 1. OBSERVATION QUESTIONS. WHAT DOES THE TEXT SAY?
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1.1  Who comprises the cast of characters in this story?

1.2  What was the physical setting of Jesus’ teaching on 
this occasion?

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TUESDAY

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LEVEL 2. INTERPRETATION QUESTIONS. WHAT DOES THE TEXT MEAN?
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2.1  What motivated the Pharisees and teachers of the law to 
gather to hear Jesus? Was it their faith? If so, why do you 
think so?

2.2  What motivated the paralyzed man and his friends to 
make sure nothing stopped him from getting to Jesus? Was it 
their faith? If so, why do you think so?

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WEDNESDAY

2.3  In the minds of the Pharisees, how do you think 
sickness was linked with sin?

2.4  What point was Jesus trying to make by linking healing 
with forgiveness? (vss. 20-24) Why didn’t he just heal the 
man and be done with it?

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THURSDAY
2.5  Why is forgiveness key to a healing of the whole 
person?

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LEVEL 3. APPLICATION QUESTIONS. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME?
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3.1  What do we learn about Jesus from this passage?  His 
basic attitude towardS needy people? His attitude toward 
skeptics? Clues about who he really is?

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FRIDAY

3.2  What would it take to get you or a friend within 
“healing distance” of Jesus?