Luke 5
DOYLYLuke 5:6
- — their net brake.] Their net was breaking; was so near it, that, without help, it would have been broken. Bp. Pearce. This was a draught which nothing could have caused but the commanding power of Him, who has all creatures at His disposal, and calls them together at such seasons and places as He sees fit. It was a significant emblem of the indefatigable industry and most amazing successes of these Apostles in after-times, when they became fishers of men. Dean Stanhope.
Luke 5:8
- — I am a sinful man, O Lord.] And therefore unworthy of the presence of so Divine a Person as I perceive Thou art. Dr. Whitby. How strongly do these words express an awful acknowledgment of His Divine power and Person; a mixture of humility, surprise, and dread! Peter looked up first to the almighty Author of so signal a favour, and then reflected on himself, as altogether unworthy of it. All which behaviour seems to have proceeded from a notion so often inculcated by Moses, that “so man shall see God and live.” Dean Stanhope.
Luke 5:10
- — thou shalt catch men.] Thus our Saviour plainly gives him to understand what this miracle portended; that it was the figure of a richer and more plentiful prey; that he should be taken from that mean employment and exalted to one more high and honourable; that his net should enclose the minds of reasonable creatures, and bring them into captivity to the Gospel; that these should be caught, not to their destruction, but therefore caught, that they might live. O blessed captivity to the Gospel, which is the only instrument,
the indispensable condition, of our happiness! Dean Stanhope.
Luke 5:12
- — when he was in a certain city.] It was when He came down from the mount, Matt. viii. 1, and was about to enter into Capernaum. Dr. Whitby. See notes at Matt. viii. 2—4.
Luke 5:16
- — withdrew himself—and prayed.] We should observe what a deep, fixed, and constant piety was displayed by Christ. Nor was He content to nourish such a feeling in His soul, but He thought fit, at sundry times, to draw it forth in actual prayer, to clothe it in words, to betake Himself to visible devotion, to retire to a mountain or wilderness for this express purpose. Let all who feel their hearts impregnated with religious fervour, remember this example; remember that this disposition of the heart ought to vent itself in actual prayer; let them not be either ashamed or afraid, nor suffer any person, or any thing, to keep them from this holy exercise. They will find the devout dispositions of their souls strengthened, gratified, confirmed. If any one should think that outward expressions of piety are superfluous, it is enough to answer, that our blessed Lord did not so think. He had all the fulness of devotion in His soul: nevertheless, He thought it not superfluous to utter and pronounce audible prayer to God; and not only so, but to retire and withdraw Himself from other engagements; nay, even from his most intimate and favoured companions, expressly for this purpose. Archdeacon Paley.
Luke 5:17
- And it came to pass] This was at Capernaum, in the house where He used to sojourn, Matt. ix. 1; Mark ii. 1. Bp. Pearce.
— and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.] That is, Jesus confirmed His doctrine, and proved His Divine power, before all these witnesses, by many signal miracles of healing. Dr. S. Clarke.
Luke 5:18
- And, behold, &c.] For the remainder of this chapter, see further notes at Matt. ix. 2—17.
N Christ healeth one sick of the palsy. The disciples excused from fasting.
Anon DOMINI 21. 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.
Luke 5:20
- — thy sins are forgiven thee, &c.] See notes at Matt. ix. 2, 5.
Luke 5:24
- — the Son of man hath power — to forgive sins.] Our Lord was guilty of no blasphemy, when, either to this poor paralytick, or to that contrite woman, who washed His feet with her tears, He vouchsafed to pronounce these comfortable words, “Thy sins are forgiven.” He was Himself vested with His Father’s authority, was Himself God as well as man, the Maker and Governour of the world, John i. 3. Dr. Ogden.
Luke 5:27
- — named Levi.] Called also Matthew, the Evangelist. See Matt. ix. 9.
Luke 5:30
- — their Scribes and Pharisees] That is, the scribes or lawyers of the Jews, who inhabited that place. Dr. Hammond.
Luke 5:39
- No man also having drunk &c.] These words of our Saviour are recorded by St. Luke only. His meaning is, that at the setting up of a new institution, nothing burdensome or unnecessary ought by any means to be imposed, but with the greatest gentleness and moderation, that men may by degrees be prevailed upon to