Luke 5

Commentary

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

(Matthew 4:18-22; Matthew 13:47-52; Mark 1:16-20; John 1:35-42)

1And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, 2And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3And 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. 4Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5And 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. 6And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 7And 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. 8When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 9For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: 10And 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. 11And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

The Leper's Prayer

(Leviticus 14:1-32; Matthew 8:1-4; Mark 1:40-45)

12And 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. 13And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him. 14And 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. 15But 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. 16And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

Jesus Heals a Paralytic

(Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12)

17And 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. 18And, 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. 19And 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. 20And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. 21And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? 22But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? 23Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? 24But 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. 25And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. 26And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

Jesus Calls Levi

(Matthew 9:9-13; Mark 2:13-17)

27And 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. 28And he left all, rose up, and followed him.

29And 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. 30But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners? 31And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. 32I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Jesus Questioned about Fasting

(Matthew 9:14-15; Mark 2:18-20)

33And 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? 34And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? 35But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

The Patches and Wineskins

(Matthew 9:16-17; Mark 2:21-22)

36And 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. 37And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. 38But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. 39No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

The First Disciples
(Matthew 4:18–22; Mark 1:16–20; John 1:35–42)

1 Now it happened, while the multitude pressed on him and heard the word of God, that he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret. 2 He saw two boats standing by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3 He entered into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered him, “Master, we worked all night, and took nothing; but at your word I will let down the net.” 6 When they had done this, they caught a great multitude of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 They beckoned to their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. They came, and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord.” 9 For he was amazed, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had caught; 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will be catching people alive.” 11 When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything, and followed him.

The Leper’s Prayer
(Leviticus 14:1–32; Matthew 8:1–4; Mark 1:40–45)

12 It happened, while he was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man full of leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell on his face, and begged him, saying, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.” 13 He stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.” Immediately the leprosy left him. 14 He commanded him to tell no one, “But go your way, and show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing according to what Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.” 15 But the report concerning him spread much more, and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. 16 But he withdrew himself into the desert, and prayed.

Jesus Heals a Paralytic
(Matthew 9:1–8; Mark 2:1–12)

17 It happened on one of those days, that he was teaching; and there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every village of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. The power of the Lord was with him to heal them. 18 Behold, men brought a paralyzed man on a cot, and they sought to bring him in to lay before Jesus. 19 Not finding a way to bring him in because of the multitude, they went up to the housetop, and let him down through the tiles with his cot into the midst before Jesus. 20 Seeing their faith, he said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” 21 The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” 22 But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, answered them, “Why are you reasoning so in your hearts? 23 Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you;’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk?’ 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (he said to the paralyzed man), “I tell you, arise, and take up your cot, and go to your house.” 25 Immediately he rose up before them, and took up that which he was laying on, and departed to his house, glorifying God. 26 Amazement took hold on all, and they glorified God. They were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today.”

Jesus Calls Levi
(Matthew 9:9–13; Mark 2:13–17)

27 After these things he went out, and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and said to him, “Follow me!” 28 He left everything, and rose up and followed him.

29 Levi made a great feast for him in his house. There was a great crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining with them. 30 Their scribes and the Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?” 31 Jesus answered them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Questions about Fasting
(Matthew 9:14–15; Mark 2:18–20)

33 They said to him, “Why do John’s disciples often fast and pray, likewise also the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink?” 34 He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast, while the bridegroom is with them? 35 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them. Then they will fast in those days.”

The Patches and the Wineskins
(Matthew 9:16–17; Mark 2:21–22)

36 He also told a parable to them. “No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old garment, or else he will tear the new, and also the piece from the new will not match the old. 37 No one puts new wine into old wineskins, or else the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. 38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved. 39 No man having drunk old wine immediately desires new, for he says, ‘The old is better.’”

The First Disciples
(Matthew 4:18–22; Mark 1:16–20; John 1:35–42)

1 On one occasion, while Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret a with the crowd pressing in on Him to hear the word of God, 2 He saw two boats at the edge of the lake. The fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 3 Jesus got into the boat belonging to Simon and asked him to put out a little from shore. And sitting down, He taught the people from the boat.

4 When Jesus had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”

5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we have worked hard all night without catching anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets.” 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to tear. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees. “Go away from me, Lord,” he said, “for I am a sinful man.” 9 For he and his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were his partners James and John, the sons of Zebedee.

“Do not be afraid,” Jesus said to Simon. “From now on you will catch men.” 11 And when they had brought their boats ashore, they left everything and followed Him.

The Leper’s Prayer
(Leviticus 14:1–32; Matthew 8:1–4; Mark 1:40–45)

12 While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. b When he saw Jesus, he fell facedown and begged Him, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”

13 Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.

14 “Do not tell anyone,” Jesus instructed him. “But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” c

15 But the news about Jesus spread all the more, and great crowds came to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 Yet He frequently withdrew to the wilderness to pray.

Jesus Heals a Paralytic
(Matthew 9:1–8; Mark 2:1–12)

17 One day Jesus was teaching, and the Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. People had come from Jerusalem and from every village of Galilee and Judea, and the power of the Lord was present for Him to heal the sick.

18 Just then some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They tried to bring him inside to set him before Jesus, 19 but they could not find a way through the crowd. So 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.

20 When Jesus saw their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

21 But the scribes and Pharisees began thinking to themselves, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

22 Knowing what they were thinking, Jesus replied, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk?’ 24 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on the earth to forgive sins...” He said to the paralytic, “I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”

25 And immediately the man stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God. 26 Everyone was taken with amazement and glorified God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

Jesus Calls Levi
(Matthew 9:9–13; Mark 2:13–17)

27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax booth. “Follow Me,” He told him, 28 and Levi got up, left everything, and followed Him.

29 Then Levi hosted a great banquet for Jesus at his house. A large crowd of tax collectors was there, along with others who were eating with them. 30 But the Pharisees and their scribes complained to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

31 Jesus answered, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Questions about Fasting
(Matthew 9:14–15; Mark 2:18–20)

33 Then they said to Him, “John’s disciples and those of the Pharisees frequently fast and pray, but Yours keep on eating and drinking.”

34 Jesus replied, “Can you make the guests of the bridegroom fast while He is with them? 35 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.”

The Patches and the Wineskins
(Matthew 9:16–17; Mark 2:21–22)

36 He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and sews it on an old one. If he does, he will tear the new garment as well, and the patch from the new will not match the old.

37 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will spill, and the wineskins will be ruined. 38 Instead, new wine is poured into new wineskins. 39 And no one after drinking old wine wants new, for he says, ‘The old is better.’ ”

 

Footnotes:

1 a That is, the Sea of Galilee
12 b Leprosy was a term used for various skin diseases. See Leviticus 13.
14 c See Leviticus 14:1–32.

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

(Matthew 4:18-22; Matthew 13:47-52; Mark 1:16-20; John 1:35-42)

1And it came to pass, in the multitude pressing on him to hear the word of God, that he was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, 2and he saw two boats standing beside the lake, and the fishers, having gone away from them, were washing the nets, 3and having entered into one of the boats, that was Simon's, he asked him to put back a little from the land, and having sat down, was teaching the multitudes out of the boat. 4And when he left off speaking, he said unto Simon, 'Put back to the deep, and let down your nets for a draught;' 5and Simon answering said to him, 'Master, through the whole night, having laboured, we have taken nothing, but at thy saying I will let down the net.' 6And having done this, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes, and their net was breaking, 7and they beckoned to the partners, who are in the other boat, having come, to help them; and they came, and filled both the boats, so that they were sinking. 8And Simon Peter having seen, fell down at the knees of Jesus, saying, 'Depart from me, because I am a sinful man, O lord;' 9for astonishment seized him, and all those with him, at the draught of the fishes that they took, 10and in like manner also James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon; and Jesus said unto Simon, 'Fear not, henceforth thou shalt be catching men;' 11and they, having brought the boats upon the land, having left all, did follow him.

The Leper's Prayer

(Leviticus 14:1-32; Matthew 8:1-4; Mark 1:40-45)

12And it came to pass, in his being in one of the cities, that lo, a man full of leprosy, and having seen Jesus, having fallen on his face, he besought him, saying, 'Sir, if thou mayest will, thou art able to cleanse me;' 13and having stretched forth his hand, he touched him, having said, 'I will; be thou cleansed;' and immediately the leprosy went away from him. 14And he charged him to tell no one, 'But, having gone away, shew thyself to the priest, and bring near for thy cleansing according as Moses directed, for a testimony to them;' 15but the more was the report going abroad concerning him, and great multitudes were coming together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities, 16and he was withdrawing himself in the desert places and was praying.

Jesus Heals a Paralytic

(Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12)

17And it came to pass, on one of the days, that he was teaching, and there were sitting by Pharisees and teachers of the Law, who were come out of every village of Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem, and the power of the Lord was -- to heal them. 18And lo, men bearing upon a couch a man, who hath been struck with palsy, and they were seeking to bring him in, and to place before him, 19and not having found by what way they may bring him in because of the multitude, having gone up on the house-top, through the tiles they let him down, with the little couch, into the midst before Jesus, 20and he having seen their faith, said to him, 'Man, thy sins have been forgiven thee.' 21And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, 'Who is this that doth speak evil words? who is able to forgive sins, except God only?' 22And Jesus having known their reasonings, answering, said unto them, 'What reason ye in your hearts? 23which is easier -- to say, Thy sins have been forgiven thee? or to say, Arise, and walk? 24'And that ye may know that the Son of Man hath authority upon the earth to forgive sins -- (he said to the one struck with palsy) -- I say to thee, Arise, and having taken up thy little couch, be going on to thy house.' 25And presently having risen before them, having taken up that on which he was lying, he went away to his house, glorifying God, 26and astonishment took all, and they were glorifying God, and were filled with fear, saying -- 'We saw strange things to-day.'

Jesus Calls Levi

(Matthew 9:9-13; Mark 2:13-17)

27And after these things he went forth, and beheld a tax-gatherer, by name Levi, sitting at the tax-office, and said to him, 'Be following me;' 28and he, having left all, having arisen, did follow him.

29And Levi made a great entertainment to him in his house, and there was a great multitude of tax-gatherers and others who were with them reclining (at meat), 30and the scribes and the Pharisees among them were murmuring at his disciples, saying, 'Wherefore with tax-gatherers and sinners do ye eat and drink?' 31And Jesus answering said unto them, 'They who are well have no need of a physician, but they that are ill: 32I came not to call righteous men, but sinners, to reformation.'

Jesus Questioned about Fasting

(Matthew 9:14-15; Mark 2:18-20)

33And they said unto him, 'Wherefore do the disciples of John fast often, and make supplications -- in like manner also those of the Pharisees -- but thine do eat and drink?' 34And he said unto them, 'Are ye able to make the sons of the bride-chamber -- in the bridegroom being with them -- to fast? 35but days will come, and, when the bridegroom may be taken away from them, then they shall fast in those days.'

The Patches and Wineskins

(Matthew 9:16-17; Mark 2:21-22)

36And he spake also a simile unto them -- 'No one a patch of new clothing doth put on old clothing, and if otherwise, the new also doth make a rent, and with the old the patch doth not agree, that is from the new. 37'And no one doth put new wine into old skins, and if otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, and itself will be poured out, and the skins will be destroyed; 38but new wine into new skins is to be put, and both are preserved together; 39and no one having drunk old wine, doth immediately wish new, for he saith, The old is better.'

The Favor of God Message paraphrase

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

¹ One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around Him and listening to the word of God.

² He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.

³ He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then He sat down and taught the people from the boat.

⁴ When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

⁵ Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets.”

⁶ When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.

⁷ So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

⁸ When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”

⁹ For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken,

¹⁰ and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.”

¹¹ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed Him.

Jesus Heals a Man with Leprosy

¹² While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged Him, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”

¹³ Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.

¹⁴ Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”

¹⁵ Yet the news about Him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses.

¹⁶ But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man

¹⁷ 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.

¹⁸ Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus.

¹⁹ 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.

²⁰ When Jesus saw their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

²¹ 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?”

²² Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?

²³ Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?

²⁴ But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So He said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”

²⁵ Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God.

²⁶ Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

Jesus Calls Levi and Eats with Sinners

²⁷ After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow Me,” Jesus said to him,

²⁸ and Levi got up, left everything and followed Him.

²⁹ Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.

³⁰ But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to His disciples, “Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

³¹ Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

³² I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Jesus Questioned About Fasting

³³ They said to Him, “John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but Yours go on eating and drinking.”

³⁴ Jesus answered, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while He is with them?

³⁵ But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.”

³⁶ He told them this parable: “No one tears a piece out of a new garment to patch an old one. Otherwise, they will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old.

³⁷ And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined.

³⁸ No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins.

³⁹ And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for they say, ‘The old is better.’”

Footnotes:

5:4: Jesus’ command to “put out into deep water” is symbolic of stepping out in faith, even when the outcome seems unlikely.

5:8: Peter’s response, “I am a sinful man,” reflects the overwhelming recognition of his unworthiness in the presence of divine power.

5:14: Jesus instructs the man to show himself to the priest as per Levitical law, underscoring Jesus’ respect for the Law and serving as a testimony to the healing.

5:20: The forgiveness of sins, rather than just physical healing, signifies the deeper spiritual authority that Jesus possesses.

5:29: Levi’s banquet represents his transformation from a tax collector, a profession despised by Jews, to a follower of Jesus, showing grace to the marginalized.

5:36: The parable of the garments and wineskins illustrates the incompatibility of Jesus’ new teaching with the old forms of religious practice.

5:39: The resistance to the new wine represents the reluctance of some to embrace the fresh message of grace Jesus brought, preferring the familiarity of the old system.

The F.O.G Commentary:

1What is the meaning of Luke 5?
2Introduction to Luke 5
3Context of Luke 5
4Ancient Key Word Study
5Compare & Contrast
6Luke 5 Unique Insights
7Luke 5 Connections to Yeshua
8Luke 5 Scriptural Echoes
9Luke 5 Devotional
10Did You Know

What is the meaning of Luke 5?

Introduction to Luke 5

Luke 5 marks a pivotal transition in Yeshua’s early ministry, where He begins to establish His core group of disciples and demonstrate His divine authority through powerful miracles. This chapter serves as a profound illustration of the Messiah’s ability to transform ordinary lives through extraordinary encounters. The narrative weaves together three remarkable demonstrations of Yeshua’s power: the miraculous catch of fish, the healing of a leper, and the healing of a paralytic, each revealing different facets of His divine nature and mission.

Azrta box final advert

The chapter particularly emphasizes the theme of calling and response, illuminating how encountering the Messiah demands a decision that often requires leaving behind the familiar to follow Him into the unknown. Through these accounts, Luke masterfully demonstrates how Yeshua’s authority extends over nature, disease, and even the power to forgive sins.

Context of Luke 5

Within the Gospel of Luke, chapter 5 follows the initial announcement of Yeshua’s ministry in His hometown of Nazareth and His early miraculous works in Capernaum. This chapter builds upon the foundation laid in chapter 4, where Yeshua declared His messianic mission by reading from Isaiah 61:1-2. The sequence of events in chapter 5 serves to validate His claims through demonstrations of divine power while simultaneously gathering His first disciples.

In the broader context of Luke’s Gospel, this chapter forms part of the larger section (chapters 4-9) focusing on Yeshua’s Galilean ministry. Luke, writing to a predominantly Gentile audience, carefully structures these accounts to demonstrate how Yeshua’s ministry fulfilled Old Testament prophecies while breaking free from traditional Jewish expectations of the Messiah. The chapter’s emphasis on calling tax collectors and dining with sinners foreshadows the universal scope of the Gospel message that Luke develops throughout his narrative.

Within the larger Biblical narrative, Luke 5 echoes several Old Testament themes, particularly the calling of prophets like Moses and Isaiah, who also encountered God in ways that led to radical life changes. The miraculous catch of fish recalls God’s provision for Israel in the wilderness, while the healing of the leper connects to the Levitical laws concerning purification and the priests’ role in declaring someone clean.

Ancient Key Word Study

  • ἐπιστάτα (epistata) – “Master” (v. 5): Unique to Luke’s Gospel, this Greek term was used to address someone with authority over others. Unlike διδάσκαλε (teacher) or κύριε (lord), this term specifically emphasizes supervisory authority, suggesting Peter’s recognition of Yeshua’s practical authority over his profession before fully understanding His divine nature.
  • ἄγρα (agra) – “Catch” (v. 4,9): This term specifically refers to hunting or fishing as a profession rather than sport. Its use here emphasizes that this miracle directly impacted the disciples’ livelihood, making their decision to leave everything even more significant.
  • καθαρίσθητι (katharisthēti) – “Be cleansed” (v. 13): An aorist passive imperative form indicating immediate, divine passive action. This word choice emphasizes both Yeshua’s authority and the instantaneous nature of the healing, connecting to the Levitical concept of ritual purity.
  • διαπαραλελυμένος (dia-paralelumenos) – “Paralyzed” (v. 18): A compound word intensifying the meaning of paralysis, suggesting complete helplessness. Luke’s medical background influences his precise terminology here.
  • ἀφίενταί (aphientai) – “Are forgiven” (v. 20): Present passive indicative form suggesting ongoing state of forgiveness. The word literally means “to send away,” painting a picture of sins being permanently removed.
  • βλασφημίας (blasphēmias) – “Blasphemies” (v. 21): From βλάπτω (to harm) and φήμη (speech), meaning speech that damages God’s reputation. The scribes correctly understood that only God could forgive sins, making this a crucial theological moment.
  • καινὸν (kainon) – “New” (v. 36): Refers to something qualitatively new, not just chronologically new. This word choice in the parable of the wineskins emphasizes the radical nature of Yeshua’s teaching compared to traditional Judaism.
  • σχίσει (schisei) – “Will tear” (v. 36): Future active indicative emphasizing the inevitable consequence of mixing old and new systems, prophetically pointing to the coming break between Old Covenant and New Covenant practices.

Compare & Contrast

  • Verse 4: “Launch out into the deep” (εἰς τὸ βάθος) was chosen over potential alternatives like “go fishing” (ἁλιεύω) to emphasize the spiritual metaphor of moving beyond comfortable shallow waters into deeper relationship with God. The command to launch into the deep carries connotations of faith and trust that surpass mere fishing instructions.
  • Verse 8: Peter’s confession “I am a sinful man” (ἀνὴρ ἁμαρτωλός) uses ἀνήρ (man) rather than ἄνθρωπος (human), emphasizing his personal, masculine responsibility before God. This echoes Isaiah’s confession in Isaiah 6:5.
  • Verse 13: “I am willing” (θέλω) was chosen over δύναμαι (I am able) to emphasize Yeshua’s sovereign choice in healing rather than merely His ability. This word choice reveals His divine authority and compassionate nature.
  • Verse 20: “Man” (ἄνθρωπε) is used rather than a more specific term like “friend” or “son,” emphasizing the universal application of forgiveness while maintaining appropriate distance in a public teaching moment.
  • Verse 24: “Son of Man” (υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου) deliberately echoes Daniel 7:13-14, making a clear messianic claim while maintaining strategic ambiguity before hostile religious leaders.
  • Verse 27: “Follow Me” (ἀκολούθει μοι) uses the present imperative, indicating ongoing action rather than a one-time command, emphasizing discipleship as a continuous journey.
  • Verse 37: The use of ῥήγνυμι (to burst) rather than σχίζω (to split) emphasizes complete destruction rather than mere damage, underlining the incompatibility of old and new covenant systems.

Luke 5 Unique Insights

The miraculous catch of fish in this chapter carries profound symbolism that would have resonated with first-century Jewish readers. The Sea of Galilee, known in Hebrew as Yam Kinneret, was seen as a place of chaos and uncertainty in Jewish tradition. By demonstrating His authority over the sea and its creatures, Yeshua echoes God’s authority over creation in Genesis and His control over waters in the Exodus narrative. The abundant catch specifically recalls the prophecy of Ezekiel 47:10, where fish in great abundance symbolize the messianic age.

The Rabbinical literature provides interesting parallel insights to this chapter. The Talmud (Bava Batra 74b) discusses how in the messianic age, the righteous will feast on Leviathan, symbolizing victory over chaos. The miraculous catch of fish can be seen as a foretaste of this messianic abundance. Furthermore, the healing of the leper connects to various rabbinic discussions about the Messiah being able to heal conditions that were considered beyond human cure (Sanhedrin 98a).

Early church father Ambrose of Milan saw in the different boats (v. 2) a prophecy of the church’s future mission to both Jews and Gentiles. He interpreted the breaking nets as symbolic of the future challenges the church would face in containing the great influx of converts. This interpretation gained widespread acceptance in patristic literature and influenced medieval biblical interpretation.

The chapter’s structure itself reveals a deeper theological message through its arrangement of miracle stories. The progression from authority over nature (fish), to authority over disease (leprosy), to authority over sin (paralytic) creates an ascending scale of divine prerogatives, culminating in the unique divine authority to forgive sins.

Luke 5 Connections to Yeshua

The events in Luke 5 powerfully demonstrate Yeshua’s divine nature while simultaneously revealing His mission to establish a new covenant. The miraculous catch of fish establishes His authority over creation, echoing God’s original blessing to humanity to have dominion over the fish of the sea (Genesis 1:28). This authority is then channeled into His mission statement: “From now on you will catch men,” transforming a physical miracle into a spiritual commission that continues through His church today.

The healing of the leper and paralytic demonstrate Yeshua’s role as the ultimate fulfillment of the Levitical priesthood. By touching the leper without becoming unclean Himself, He shows His power to transform uncleanness into purity, foreshadowing His work on the cross where He would take our sins upon Himself without being tainted by them (2 Corinthians 5:21). His declaration of forgiveness to the paralytic, followed by physical healing, illustrates His comprehensive mission to address both spiritual and physical brokenness, pointing to the ultimate restoration promised in Revelation where there will be no more sickness or sin.

Luke 5 Scriptural Echoes

This chapter resonates with numerous Old Testament passages and themes. The miraculous catch of fish recalls God’s provision of manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16) and Elisha’s miracle of multiplying the widow’s oil (2 Kings 4:1-7). Peter’s response, “Depart from me,” directly parallels Isaiah’s reaction to his divine encounter (Isaiah 6:5).

The healing of the leper connects to the extensive regulations in Leviticus 13-14 regarding leprosy, while also fulfilling prophecies about the Messiah healing diseases (Isaiah 35:5-6). The calling of Levi echoes God’s pattern of choosing unlikely candidates for His service, seen in the calling of Moses, David, and the prophets.

Luke 5 Devotional

This chapter challenges us to examine our response to divine encounters. Like Peter, James, and John, we may be called to leave behind successful careers and comfortable lives to follow Yeshua. The key question is not whether we have much or little to leave behind, but whether we’re willing to surrender whatever we have when He calls.

The healing stories remind us that no condition is beyond His power to transform. Just as the leper approached with faith saying, “Lord, if You are willing,” we too can bring our seemingly impossible situations to Him with confidence in His power while submitting to His wisdom regarding the timing and manner of His response.

The chapter’s conclusion about new wine and old wineskins challenges us to examine whether we’re truly ready to embrace the new thing God wants to do in our lives, or if we’re trying to contain His fresh work within old patterns and comfortable traditions.

Did You Know

  • The type of nets used in the miraculous catch were specifically drag-nets (δίκτυα), different from the casting nets (ἀμφίβληστρον) mentioned in other Gospel fishing accounts. These larger nets required multiple people to handle, emphasizing the community aspect of the miracle.
  • In Jewish tradition, leprosy (צרעת – tzara’at) was seen not merely as a physical disease but as a physical manifestation of spiritual impurity, often connected to the sin of slander. By healing the leper, Yeshua was demonstrating His authority over both physical and spiritual contamination.
  • The “tax office” where Levi was sitting was likely a customs booth on the major trade route from Damascus to the Mediterranean, making him particularly wealthy and notorious among his fellow Jews.
  • The phrase “new wine” in verse 37 refers to wine that was still fermenting, making it particularly volatile and explaining why new wineskins were necessary to accommodate the expansion.
  • The healing of the paralytic would have been particularly significant in Capernaum, as archaeology has revealed that many homes there had roof access via external stairs, making the story’s details historically accurate.
  • The scribes’ accusation of blasphemy carried a death penalty under Jewish law, making this one of the earliest indicators in Luke’s Gospel of the growing opposition that would eventually lead to the crucifixion.
  • The term “Son of Man” used by Yeshua appears in Daniel 7:13-14 and was a known messianic title in various intertestamental Jewish writings, though its exact implications were debated.
  • When Yeshua told the leper to show himself to the priest, He was fulfilling the requirements of Leviticus 14, providing the priests an opportunity to officially verify His miracle.

sendagiftfinal

This website has over 46,000 Biblical resources and is made possible through the generosity of supporters like you. If you’ve been blessed by these resources, please consider sending a gift today.

Bible Themes
Share your love
Jean Paul Joseph
Jean Paul Joseph

After a dramatic early morning encounter with King Jesus, I just couldn’t put my Bible down. The F.O.G took a hold of me and this website was born. Learn more about the F.O.G.

Articles: 46824

Add your first comment to this post

Related Posts

Encounter Him Send a Gift Scroll Top