Luke 5

Luke 5:1

Luke: The Man Christ Jesus Jesus in Galilee An EasyEnglish Bible Version and Commentary (2800 word vocabulary) on Luke 4:14 to 9:50

www.easyenglish.info Ian Mackervoy This commentary has been through Advanced Checking.

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Chapter 5 Jesus chooses the first *disciples – Luke 5:1-11 v1 One day Jesus stood by the Gennesaret Lake. The people crowded round him as they listened to God’s word. v2 Jesus saw two boats on the shore. The *fishermen had left the boats and they were washing their nets. v3 Jesus got into one of the boats. It belonged to Simon. Jesus asked Simon to take the boat a short distance from the shore. Then Jesus sat down and he taught the people from the boat.

v4 Jesus finished his speech to the people. Then he said to Simon, ‘Take the boat into deep water. And put your nets in the water to catch some fish.’

v5 Simon answered, ‘Master, we worked all night. And we caught no fish. But because you tell me to do it, I will put the nets into the water.’

v6 They did this and they caught a large number of fishes. There were so many fishes that the nets began to break. v7 So, they called to their partners in the other boat to come and to help them. They came and together they filled both boats with fishes. There were so many fishes that the boats began to sink.

v8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at the knees of Jesus. And he said to Jesus, ‘Go away from me, *Lord. I am a *sinful man.’ v9 What Jesus did astonished Simon. And it astonished all the men who were with him. They had caught such a large number of fishes. v10 Also, this astonished Simon’s partners, James and John. James and John were the sons of Zebedee.

And Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid. From now on, you will catch living people.’ v11 Simon and his partners brought the boats to shore. Then they left everything, and they followed Jesus.

Verses 1-3 Gennesaret Lake has two other names in the *New Testament. It is the Sea of Galilee and the Sea of Tiberias. That means, the sea called Galilee (or Tiberias). Gennesaret was the more ancient name of the lake. The name came from a small plain on its west border. The plain was between Tiberias and Capernaum. In *Hebrew, Gennesaret is Chinnereth or Kinnereth (Numbers 34:11). The plain called Chinnereth had very good soil and the people planted all kinds of fruit trees there.

The lake is about 13 miles long and 7 miles wide. It is about 700 feet below sea level.

A large crowd had come to hear Jesus as he taught. They wanted to hear what God said. They knew that Jesus was teaching the word of God to them.

The whole crowd pushed forward to hear Jesus. They pressed so hard upon him that Jesus needed some space. There were two empty boats on the shore. Jesus got into the one that belonged to Simon Peter. The other boat belonged to a man called Zebedee and his two sons, James and John. As Jesus was speaking, these men cleaned their nets. Jesus asked Simon to take his boat a short distance from the shore. Then Jesus sat in the boat and he taught the people. The people could all hear him as sound travels well over water.

Verses 4-7 Jesus told Simon to take the boat away from the shore and into deep water. Peter and his crew did so. Then Jesus told them to put their nets into the water. Simon and his friends were in business as *fishermen. They knew that this was not a good time to catch fish. The best time to catch fish was at night. They had been out all night and they had caught no fishes. They had worked hard all night and they were tired.

Of course, Jesus was not a *fisherman. But because it was Jesus, Simon agreed to put their nets into the water. He called Jesus ‘master’ for the first time. To fish was Simon’s job but he accepted the authority of Jesus even in this.

Jesus told them where to put the nets into the water. Because they obeyed Jesus, they caught a large number of fishes. There were so many fishes that the nets almost broke. If the nets had broken, the fishes would have escaped.

The men in Simon’s boat called for help to those in the other boat. Together they filled both boats with fishes. There were so many fishes that the two boats began to sink. This amount of fishes was clearly beyond what they would usually expect. This was a *miracle.

Luke does not tell us who and how many were with Simon Peter in his boat. It is probable that Andrew (Simon’s brother) was among the crew. In the crew of the other boat were James and John, who were brothers.

Verses 8-11 Peter saw the quantity of fishes that they had caught. This *miracle astonished him and those men who were with him. It showed that Jesus had authority over the natural world. Peter now knew that Jesus was more than an ordinary man. He calls Jesus not just master but *Lord. Perhaps Peter already recognised that Jesus was the *Christ. ‘*Lord’ is the word that Peter would choose to give honour to the *Christ.

This *miracle had a powerful effect on Peter. He became aware of his own *sinful character. He felt that he could not live with such a perfect person as Jesus. He fell down on his knees in front of Jesus. And he cried, ‘Go away from me, *Lord.’ The power of Jesus was too much for him. He was afraid.

Jesus understood Peter’s reaction. So, he said to Peter, ‘Do not be afraid.’ Then Jesus showed Peter what would be his life’s work from now on. Peter would catch people alive rather than fishes. This means that Peter would bring people to know Christ. He would be an *apostle to the *Jews (Galatians 2:8). And he would make it possible for people from other nations to become Christians (Acts chapter 10).

The crews of both boats got them to the shore safely. This incident impressed James and John in a similar way to Peter. So, these three men left everything and they followed Jesus. A man with a serious skin disease – Luke 5:12-16 v12 One day Jesus was in a town. There was a man with *leprosy that was all over him. When he saw Jesus, he fell down with his face to the ground. He appealed to Jesus. ‘*Lord, if you want to, you can cure me.’

v13 Jesus reached out his hand and he touched the man. Jesus said, ‘I want to. I have cured you.’ At once, the *leprosy left the man.

v14 Then Jesus ordered him, ‘Tell nobody about it. But go and show yourself to the priest. Offer a *sacrifice as Moses ordered. This will show them that the disease has gone.

v15 But the news about Jesus spread even more. Great crowds of people came to hear Jesus. Many sick people came to him that he might cure them. v16 Often Jesus would go away to places where he could be alone for prayer.

Verses 12-13 *Leprosy is the word in the Bible for some serious skin diseases. The word included other diseases, as well as what we know as *leprosy. As the *leprosy spreads, it eats away the sick person’s body. And in those days, there was no way to cure *leprosy.

When a person had *leprosy, he was unclean in the *Jewish religion. That meant that the person with *leprosy had to keep away from other people. When other people were near, he had to cover his upper lip. And he had to cry, ‘unclean, unclean’ (Leviticus 13:45-46). A person with *leprosy could not work in order to earn the money that he needed. He had to depend on the kindness of other people to live.

Sometimes a disease does not spread and it clears up. A priest would then examine the person. If the disease has healed, the person must go to the priest. He would make a *sacrifice as the law ordered. Then the priest would declare that the person was clean again. The rules for this are in Leviticus chapter 14.

This awful *leprosy covered this man. He was very ill with this disease. Probably, he had heard about some of the *miracles that Jesus had done. He came to Jesus and fell down at his feet. He said, ‘*Lord, if you want to.’ He did not doubt Jesus’ kindness. Rather he felt that he had no value. He could not expect Jesus to pity him. But he did believe that Jesus could cure him.

Nobody would touch a person who had *leprosy. But Jesus did. He had pity on the man. By this act, Jesus showed this poor man that he cared. Jesus reached out and he touched the man. Jesus cured him from his *leprosy and the disease went immediately.

Verses 14-16 Jesus told the man to say nothing about it. But the man could not keep quiet. He told many people what had happened. So, news about Jesus spread. Crowds came to him. Many sick people came for him to cure them.

The man had to go to the priests. Jesus told him to obey the law. He had to do as Leviticus chapter 14 said. The priest had to examine him. Then the priest would declare that the disease had gone. This would be necessary for the man. People would know that he had been a *leper. They needed proof that the disease had gone. They would want to know that the priest considered the man to be well. Also, it would show the people that Jesus obeyed the law.

Jesus often had to go away from the crowds. He needed to have times of quiet. Private prayer was very important in his life. The *Pharisees begin to oppose Jesus – Luke 5:17–6:11 Jesus cures a man who could not move – Luke 5:17-26 v17 One day as Jesus taught the people, some *Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village in Galilee, Judea and from Jerusalem. The power of the *Lord was with him, to cure sick people. v18 Some men brought on a mat a man who could not move. They tried to take him into the house and to put him in front of Jesus. v19 But they could not get him into the house because of the crowd. So, they went up on the roof and they made a hole in it. Then they let the man down on his mat into the middle of the crowd. He came down in front of Jesus.

v20 When Jesus saw their *faith, he spoke to the man on the mat. He said to him, ‘My friend, I forgive you your *sins.’

v21 The teachers of the law and the *Pharisees began to say to themselves, ‘Who is this man? He speaks such *blasphemy. God is the only one who can forgive *sins.’

v22 But Jesus knew what they thought. He said to them, ‘Do not think like that. v23 Which of these statements is easier to say? “I forgive your *sins.” Or “stand up and walk.” v24 I will show to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive *sins.’ He said to the man who was unable to move, ‘I tell you to get up. Take your mat and go home.’ v25 At once, the man stood up in front of them. He picked up his mat. And he praised God as he went home. v26 This caused all the people to wonder and they praised God. With fear they said, ‘We have seen astonishing things today.’

Verses 17-19 Jesus had returned to Capernaum. He taught the people in a house there. Some *Pharisees and teachers of the law had come to hear what he taught. They had come from all over Galilee, Judea and even from Jerusalem. Probably they wanted to test what he taught. They wanted to know whether Jesus agreed with them about the law and their traditions.

Probably many of the people in the house had come because they were sick. They wanted Jesus to cure them. Jesus had the power to cure. In some way, that power was noticeable in the house. Perhaps as Jesus taught some people felt that power.

There were 4 men. They wanted to bring their sick friend to Jesus. The friend could not walk so they carried him on a mat. They believed that Jesus would cure their friend. But when they arrived at the house, they could not get in. There were so many people already there, both inside and outside the door.

Many of the houses had flat roofs. And they had outside stairs up to the roof. The typical roof was of wooden beams that the builders had placed across the mud brick or stone walls. They covered the wooden beams with various materials such as earth, grasses and mud bricks. In this house, they had used harder materials as well.

The 4 men took their friend up the stairs and onto the roof. Then they opened a hole in the roof. Such damage as they may have done was easy to repair. Then they carefully let the sick man down on his mat through the hole. They let him down until he landed at the feet of Jesus.

Verses 20-21 The man lay at the feet of Jesus. This showed to Jesus the *faith of the 4 friends of the man. Probably the man had *faith as well. The man had come because he needed Jesus to cure his body. But Jesus said to the man, ‘I forgive you your *sins.’

There is nothing to suggest that *sin was the immediate cause of this disease.

Nobody can forgive *sins but God. No *angel or man could do that. If Jesus were an ordinary man, this would be *blasphemy against God. Jesus in effect showed that he is God. But the teachers of the law and the *Pharisees did not believe this fact. They began to reason among themselves that this was *blasphemy.

Verses 22-26 Jesus knew what they thought. He asked them which of these two statements was easier to say. It is easy to say either statement. We cannot see the result of the first one. But we can see the result of the second one. So, the effect of the second is evidence of the first. If the man walks, then Jesus has power to forgive *sins.

This is the first time that Jesus calls himself the Son of Man. In this, Jesus shows that he is a man. And he shows that he is more than a man. An ordinary man could not forgive *sins. Only God can forgive *sins. The *Jews would later recognise this phrase, the Son of Man, as a name for the *Christ (John 12:34).

The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive *sins. He proved this as he cured the man. At Jesus’ command, the man got up immediately. He picked up his mat and he went home. The man praised God as he went.

This passage does not inform us about the effect that this had on the *Pharisees and teachers of the law. The people felt fear at the strange things that had happened. But they praised God. Levi becomes a *disciple – Luke 5:27-32 v27 After this, Jesus went out and he saw Levi. Levi was a man who collected taxes. He sat in the place where he worked. Jesus said to Levi, ‘Follow me.’ v28 Levi got up and he left everything. And he followed Jesus.

v29 Then Levi made a big dinner at his home for Jesus. A large crowd of the men who collected taxes and other guests ate with them. v30 But the *Pharisees and their teachers of the law complained to Jesus’ *disciples. ‘You eat and drink with these people. They are men who collect taxes and *sinners. Why do you eat with them?’

v31 Jesus answered them, ‘Healthy people do not need a doctor. But sick people do need one. v32 I did not come to call good people. I came to invite *sinners to *repent.’

Verses 27-32 Jesus went down by the lake where he taught a large crowd of people. Then as he walked along, he saw Levi (Mark 2:14). Levi was the son of a man called Alphaeus. Another name for Levi is Matthew (Matthew 9:9). He was a man who collected taxes. He was at work when Jesus came to him. Jesus told him to follow him. Immediately Levi did as Jesus told him. Levi became one of the 12 *apostles of Jesus.

Levi had a party at his home with Jesus as the principal guest. Among the other guests, there were many of his friends who collected taxes. Other people did not like the men who collected taxes. They collected taxes for the *Roman government. They were able to collect more than they should from the people. In this way, they robbed the people and they often became wealthy. They were ‘*sinners’. There were other people there that the public called *sinners as well.

The *Pharisees and their teachers of the law tried to keep the *Jewish religion moral and good. For this purpose, they taught the law, as they understood it. Along with the law, they insisted on their traditions. They refused to be friendly to any people whom they considered bad *sinners. In their opinion, to eat with someone meant that you agreed with that person. Therefore, a *Pharisee would not eat with these ‘*sinners’.

So, these *Pharisees complained about Jesus because he ate with these ‘*sinners’. They asked the *disciples why Jesus did this. Jesus told them that he had come for *sinners. He came to offer to them the opportunity to *repent. The Bible teaches us that we are all *sinners (Romans 3:23). But these *Pharisees would not admit that they were *sinners too. Therefore, Jesus had nothing to offer to them. When to go without food – Luke 5:33-39 v33 Some people said to Jesus, ‘John’s *disciples often go without food. At those times, they pray. The *disciples of the *Pharisees do the same. But your *disciples continue to eat and to drink.’

v34 Jesus said to them, ‘A bridegroom’s friends at his wedding do not go without food. They will eat while he is still with them. v35 But the time will come when people will take the bridegroom away from them. And then they will not eat.’

v36 Jesus told them this story. ‘Nobody tears a piece of cloth from a new coat to cover a hole in an old coat. If he does, he will have torn the new coat. And the cloth from the new coat will not match the old coat. v37 Nobody pours new wine into old leather wine bags. If he does, the new wine will break the old wine bags. The wine will spill out and it will ruin the old wine bags. v38 You must pour new wine into new leather bags. v39 Nobody who has drunk old wine wants to drink new wine. He says, ‘The old wine is better.’

Verses 33-35 The *disciples of John the *Baptist often went without food. The *disciples of the *Pharisees did the same. The *Pharisees often went without food two days in a week. Such periods with no food had become a tradition in their religion. God’s law has only one definite day on which the *Jews should eat no food. That day is called the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:26-32). The *disciples of Jesus did not follow the *Pharisees’ tradition.

Jesus replied, ‘A bridegroom’s friends at his wedding do not go without food.’ In effect, guests at a wedding eat and drink. It is a time of joy and a good party. While the bridegroom is with them, they do not go without food. While Jesus was with his *disciples, they could not do it.

However, the time would come when Jesus was not there. Jesus knew that he had come to die. Then the *disciples would be sad. And they would have times when they did not eat. This would not be because Jesus told them to do it. It would be a reaction to the situation.

Many Christians do have times without food. But this is not just a tradition. They do it for special purposes. Often they do it to give themselves more time to pray.

Verses 36-39 To repair an old coat with cloth from a new coat would spoil both coats. It would tear the new coat. And the piece of cloth would not fit the old coat. In the Book of Mark, we read that the new piece of cloth would reduce in size. And this would tear the old coat (Mark 2:21).

What Jesus taught was new and different from the traditions of the *Jews. It was not possible to combine the two. By their traditions, they interpreted the law and they added their own rules to it. Jesus explained the *Old Testament. He showed us what it really means.

In those days, the people kept wine in bags that they made from the skins of animals. Most often, it was the skin of goats. At first, the skins were soft and they could stretch. But as they got older, they became harder and stiff. New wine increased in volume in the skin. Therefore, new wine needed new skins. New wine in an old skin would split the old skin. So the wine would flow out and it would break the skin.

A man drinks the old wine and he enjoys it. He would not want to drink the new wine. He believes that the old wine is better. So, it was with many *Pharisees and other people who followed the traditions of their religion. They would not follow the new way of Jesus Christ.

© 2013, Wycliffe Associates (UK)

This publication is in EasyEnglish Level B (2800 words).

April 2013

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var w4 = new Array;w4[0]=’<b%3Edisciple</b%3E ~ a person who follows a leader, especially the 12 men that Jesus chose to be with him.’;w4[1]=’<b%3Efishermen</b%3E ~ men whose job is to catch fish.’;w4[2]=’<b%3ELord</b%3E ~ a title for God, or Jesus, to show that he is over all people and things. In the Old Testament, LORD was a special name for God.