Luke

Chapter 5

Luke 5:1-11
1
 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:
10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

 

As Jesus was standing on the shore of Lake Gennesaret, the Sea of Galilee, people pushed to get near enough to hear Him preach. He saw two boats pulled up on the shore and the fishermen had left them and were washing the nets.

 

Jesus got into one of the boats that belonged to Simon Peter and asked him to push off a little ways from the shore. Then, Jesus sat in the boat and taught the crowd.

 

When he finished his teaching, he told Simon Peter, “Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

 

Entire books have been written explaining that command to “launch out into the deep.” “Launch out” (Gr. epanagage-epanagage) is not a request.  It is a command, an imperitive! Likewise, “Let down” (Gr. chalasate-calasate) is also command (imperative)!

 

Simon Peter objected because they had already fished all night and had nothing to show for their efforts. But then, he had second thoughts, and said, but if you insist I will do it.

 

They followed Jesus’ commands and the result was a large catch! The same may be said for evangelism today.  When we follow His commands, the result will be astounding!

 

Peter and the others with him, signaled another boat and they responded with both boats were eventually filled to capacity to the point of almost being swamped.

 

When Simon Peter saw what was happening he fell on his knees before Jesus and proclaimed, “Depart from me, O Lord, because I am a sinful person.”

 

Peter and those with him were astonished at the large catch. James and John, the sons of Zebedee, apparently not with Peter at the time of the large catch were also amazed.

 

Jesus assured Peter telling him, “Fear not; from now on you shall catch men.

 

Peter and his crew pulled the boats onto shore, left everything, and followed Jesus. Fish was no longer the prime focus of their efforts!

Luke 5:12-15
12
 And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
13 And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.
14 And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
15 But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.

 

As Jesus entered one town, He encountered a man who was suffering from leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he threw himself down and begged Him, “Please, if you will, make me clean!”

 

At that request, Jesus reached out and touched him saying, “I will! Be clean!” The disease was immediately cured!

 

Then Jesus did a strange thing.  He ordered the man not to tell others about the cure, but go straight to the Priest, and let him examine the man to prove he was cured.  The man was then to make the sacrifice Moses ordered.

 

We must put all of Jesus earthly works prior to the resurrection into context.  They were done under the authority of the Old Covenant, the Law. The Gospel of Grace had not yet been revealed!

 

The action ordered by Jesus seems odd, because how does anyone keep the healing of a vile skin disease private.  It would be apparent to all who knew the man. Christ did NOT disrespect Moses Law! Instead, he took it from the letter of the law to the Spirit of the law! Christ took the Ten Commandments from the physical realm and placed it into the spiritual realm!

That is why Paul could tell us that “the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” (Romans 7:12)

That man did not need to tell others about his healing! When we are healed of our sins, saved, it is obvious to all around us. The secret disciple story is a fabrication!

 

While the man told none but the High Priest, the news of the man’s healing quickly spread. And, since only one in all the area could have done such a wonderful thing, crowds gathered around Jesus seeking healing.

Luke 5:16-26
16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
17 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?
23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?
24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.
25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

Jesus went to a secluded spot to pray. It was like going into a prayer “closet.”

Matt 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

 

While Jesus was teaching one day, Pharisees and teachers of the Law, who had come from Jerusalem, were there.  As was His custom, Jesus began to heal the sick.

 

Some men had carried a paralyzed man to the home where He was ministering.  There was such a large crowd that they could not get him into the house. So, they carried him up to the roof and began to lower him from the roof. When Jesus saw their faith, he told the man, “You sins are forgiven!

 

That statement caused quite a stir among the Pharisees and Teachers. They began to question the statement, “Who is this who speaks blasphemy? Only God can forgive sins!” Christ Jesus did NOT challenge that fact!

 

Jesus knew their very thoughts! Jesus is God the Son, and so their statement was correct!  He did what only God can do, because He is God the Son!

 

However, Jesus did confront them on another point by asking, “Which is easier, to say, your sins are forgiven, or to say rise and walk? But, so that you all may know that the Son of man has the authority (Gr. exousia-ἐξουσία) on earth to forgive sins, (He told the man who was the sick of the palsy,) pick up you pallet, and go home.” (That was not a command!  It was a request.)

 

The man did not hesitate! He stood up in front of all present, picked up the bed on which he had been lowered into the house and went home! All in the house were amazed, filled with respect for the Lord and praised God, saying, “Today, we have seen spectacular things!”

Luke 5:27-32
27
 And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.
28 And he left all, rose up, and followed him.
29 And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.
30 But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?
31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

After that Jesus was walking along and saw a tax collector named Levi.  We know him today as Matthew.

When Jesus saw Levi, He commanded him, “Follow me!(Gr. Akolouthei moi-Akolouqei moi).  Levi left everything and followed Christ Jesus!

Shortly afterward, Levi held a banquet in his home in honor of Jesus.  It may have been a precursor to the Marriage supper in heaven!

A large number of tax collectors and other social undesirables were invited.  Many of those who are invited to the Lamb’s marriage supper shall also be socially unacceptable here on earth!

Some, but not a majority of those present in Levi’s home were Pharisees and Teachers.  That group grumbled to Jesus and his disciple, “Why do you all eat and drink with tax collectors and other sinners?

Jesus responded, “Those that are whole do not need a physician, while those who are sick need a physician. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

The fact is that the righteous do not need to repent! Jesus came to seek and to save the lost!

Luke 5:33-39
33 And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink? 34 And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?
35 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
36 And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.
37 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.
38 But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.
39 No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.

While at the banquet, some asked Jesus, “Why do John’s disciples and the Pharisees’ disciples often fast, and offer prayers, but Your disciples just eat and drink?

Jesus answered with a question, “Can you make the Bride’s attendants fast, while the groom is still with them? However, the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, they will fast.

 

Jesus also offered them a parable: “No person patches an old garment with new clothe! If he does it will cause a tear in the clothing! The new and the old are incompatible! And, no person puts new wine into old wineskins (Gr. askos-ἀσκός)! The new wine will cause the old wineskins to burst, the wine will be spilled, and the wineskins shall be rendered unusable. New wine must be put into new wineskins, and thereby both are preserved. No man having tasted old wine immediately desires new wine, because, the old is better.

 

Jesus spoke that indicating the renewal, rebirth of the spirit and the filling of the new spirit with the wine of the Holy Spirit. All that is done by God on behalf of a newly created Christian! God does not put His spirit into an old sinner! Instead, He causes His chosen to be recreated and new! That is a difficult concept for pretenders to grasp!

 

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

 

As a Christian you are a new creation! You mature in the new creation as you learn to accept who you are and Whose you are!

 

Chapter 6
Index