Luke 5

Luke 5:1-11

In this chapter we have, 1. Christ’s preaching to the people out of Peter’s ship, ver. 1-3. 2. The miraculous draught of fishes, ver. 4-11. 3. His cleansing the leper, ver. 12-15. 4. A short account of his private devotion and public ministry, ver. 16, 17. 5. His care of the man, and of the palsy, ver. 18-26. 6. His calling Love the publican, and conversing with publicans on that mission, ver. 27-32. 7. His justifying his disciples in not falling is frequently as the disciples of John and the Pharisius did, ver. 33. ad Anem.

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 Gennesforth. 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 thrall 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, ‘Lanch 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 beckned 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’s 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 them. 11. And, when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

Vaff was the concourse that attended the preaching of Jefus; and whilst the Scribes and Pharisees, the will doctors of the law, despised him, the common people were eager to hear him, and pressed through the crowd to get nearer. Hereupon,

1. Christ desired the use of a fisherman’s boat, for the greater convenience of being heard, and to be less incommoded with the throng; and there he sat down and taught the people who stood before him on the shore.

2. When he had done preaching he desired Simon, in whose boat he was, to launch out farther into the lake and let down their nets. Simon told him the ill sacred they had met with; but, though they had wearied themselves all night, and walked their nets, if he hid them they would cheerfully make another trial. Nate, (1.) The most diligent and laborious sometimes meet with disappointments, and are apt to be discouraged by the little fruit they see of their labours; but they must perish in the way of duty, and leave the event to God. (2.) If our bread be easily earned, and our rest sweet unto us, we should remember charitably those who labour hard for little gain, and wake, at their toils, when we are sleeping.

3. Most amazing was the quantity of fishes they inclosed: their net began to give way with the weight; and, unable to draw them up themselves, they beckoned to their partners to come to their assistance, and loaded both their boats to deep, that they were in danger of linking. Peter was now abundantly repack for the loan of his boat; and in this display of his Master’s power in the sea, as well as on the land, might be confirmed in his faith of the doctrine which he delivered.

4. Peter, deeply affected with what he saw, and perceiving the danger they were in, fell down at Jefus’s head, and, under the deepest sense of his own unworthiness, cried out, saying, Depart from me, for I am a joyful man, O Lord. Conscious of his guilt and sinfulness, he trembled, lest the Lord was come to punish instead of blessing him; and was afraid of his very mercies; for he was oftenified, and all that were with him, at the draught of fishes they had taken; though brought up to this business from their youth, they had never seen any thing at all to be compared with this in their whole lives. Nate, (1.) The best of men are joyful men, and need continually to fall at Jefus’s feet in deepest self-absolument. (2.) Though we have grievously offended our Lord, we may not say, Depart from me, but, Stay with me, or, Return to me in mercy; for nothing but his pre-duce and grace can keep us from linking.

5. Jefus quiets their tears. He is not come to them in anger, but in mercy: and he hath still greater kindness in store for them than this cargo of fishes; therefore he said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou fault catch man, and he more successful in calling the gospel-ness, and drawing greater multitudes out of the depths of sin and misery to life and salvation. Which was eminently fulfilled, Acts ii. 41.

6. No sooner were they come to land than Simon and Andrew, and the sons of Zebedee their partners, obeying his call, immediately left their boats, and all they had, quitting their employment at the time when it appeared most successful, and commenced thenceforward constant attendants on the Lord Jefus. Nate, They who know the blessedness of Christ’s service will count nothing too much to part with for his sake.

7. ¶ And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold, a man full of leprosy: who, seeing Jefus, fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou can’t make me clean. 13. And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; he 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 to 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. 16. ¶ And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

Luke 5:12-16

We have here,

1. The cleansing of the leper. This story both the former evangelists have recorded. It affords us,

(1.) A striking emblem of our true state. So corrupt is our nature; so spotted are our souls; so loathsome in the eyes of God; and by all human means so utterly incurable is the disease of sin.

(2.) It directs us where our only hope lies, even in Jefus, the great physician. To him, with deep humiliation and confusion of face, in the sight of our own vileness, should we make application; crying earnestly for his healing grace; depending on his power to save to the uttermost; and calling ourselves wholly on his mercy.

(3.) Christ appears a gracious Saviour, ready to hear the prayer of the poor desirous, and able to save to the uttermost all who come to him: both to pardon the sinner’s guilt, however

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aggravated; and to deliver him from the power of his corruptions, however inveratase.

(4.) Every cleansed sinner will obediently follow the commands of Jefus; will offer up himself a living sacrifice to God; and in the blessed, evident, and universal change wrought upon him, will leave those without excuse, who will not acknowledge the divine power and grace magnified in such a conversion.

2. Great multitudes reported to him from every quarter to hear him and to be healed. The more he thought to be hid, the more his fame spread. The gratitude and transport of joy this poor man felt on his cure would not permit him to hold his tongue and conceal the glory of his great benefactor. Mostest worth, that wishes to be concealed, shines the brighter.

3. He withdrew, after the labours of the day, from the crowd, and, retiring into a solitary place, spent some time alone in prayer. To teach us this necessary duty, which nothing should untrench upon or interrupt.

4. 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 Judea, 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 the 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 house-top, 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 Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone? 22. But when I 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, Rite up and walk? 24. But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he saith unto the sick of the palsy) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into shine 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.

Luke 5:17-26

Christ ceased not his indefatigable labours.

1. He preached in a house on a week-day at Capernaum, for no day, no place, is unsuitable or unfathable when an opportunity offers to speak a word for God, and for the good of men’s souls. Among others of his audience, were a large number of Scribes and Pharisees; who, with no good intention, were come from the distant places, not to hear and learn, but to sit by, to make remarks and cavil; and the power of the Lord was present to heal them, not the Pharisees, but many of the multitude who came to him with their several diseases; thus at least to leave without excuse those who refused the evidence of such incontestable miracles. Nate, (1.) When persons come to hear the word of God, not to point themselves, but to prejudice others against it, great is their guilt. (2.) Though we know the malice of those who watch for our halving, we must not be discouraged from persevering in the way of duty. (3.) The power of the Lord is present to heal wherever his gospel is preached, but they who reject the counsel of God against their own souls, have only themselves to blame for their destruction.

2. Just at that time a paralytic man was brought to Jesus, unable to gain access by the door, because of the multitude, his friends carried him up to the top of the house, and let him down through the roof into the room where Jesus was. Beholding their faith, he pronounces the pardon of his sins; and notwithstanding all the cavils of the Pharisees which he knew, Jesus confirms the divine authority he assumed, by an immediate cure of the paralytic man; proving thereby, that he who could thus foresee, by his own power, remove the effects of sin, had an undoubted right to pardon it. The cure was instantaneous and perfect, and to the menace of all, who were struck with sacred reverence and awe when they saw him, who the moment before lay stretched so helpless, now rise with full strength and vigour, take up his own bed, and go away glorifying God for the astonishing mercy; and the people in general acknowledged, that no such strange miracles were ever before seen or heard of. Nate, (1.) All our diseases are the fruit of sin, and that should ever humble us under them before God. (2.) Jesus hath power to forgive sins, and they who by faith come to him, shall know it by blessed experience. (3.) If our sin be pardoned, the bitterness of sickness and death is passed

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away: a foul rejoicing in God, as his Saviour, hath nothing to complain of. (4.) When we have received mercy at God’s hand, we are bound to ascribe to him the glory due unto his name, and to speak to his praise.

27. ¶ And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican named Levi, sitting at the receipt of cotton: and he said unto him, Follow me. 28. And he left all, rose up, and followed him. 29. And Levi made him a great fealt in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans, and of others that far down with them. 30. But their scribes and Pharises murmured again 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. 33. ¶ And they said unto him, ‘Why do the disciples of John fall often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharises; but those eat and drink? 34. And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bride-chamber fall, 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 fall in those days. 36. ¶ And he spake also a parable unto them, ‘No man puteth 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 puteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be pulled, and the bottles shall perish. 38. But new wine must be put into new bottles, and both are preferred. 39. No man also, having drunk old wine, straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.

28. 27-39. The conversion of the sinner’s heart to God is equally a matter of wonder, and as great an evidence of divine power, as cleansing the leper, or raising the dead. We have here,

29. The calling of Matthew, or Levi the publican, and his ready obedience to the command of Jesus; instantly leaving all, he followed him. The vilest sinners, and those who have the greatest obstacles lying in the way of their salvation, are, when Jesus speaks to the heart, effectually wrought upon: Nothing is above his almighty grace.

30. The gracious condemnation of the Lord to those publicans, whom Matthew invited to his house. Our Lord disdained not to sit down with them, and vindicates his conduct from the envious, malicious, and censorious suggestions of the Pharises. He associated not with them as approving their ways, or countenancing them in evil, but as a physician visits the deceased, the whole, at least they who fancy themselves, he need not his care. The business of the Saviour in the world was not with the righteous, or those who were vainly puffed up with a conceit of their own excellence, as was the case of the Pharises, he came to call poor sinners, as the publicans were, to repentance; and would kindly receive them, when sensible of their guilt and sinfulness they turned to him. And he is still the same gracious Lord; no miserable sinner need despair; let him look unto Jesus and be saved; only those perish who know not their need of him, or proudly fancy they are righteous.

31. He vindicates his disciples from the censures of the Pharises respecting sailing. It was not fit they should fall, whilst their Master was with them: they were not yet prepared to endure this discipline. Such authorities might tempt them to draw back, as new fermenting wine would burst old bottles; their exercises must be proportioned to their strength. At present they could not bear it; but hereafter the time would come when losing their Master, and called out to labour in his cause, they would learn to fall, 1 Cor. iv. 11. Not that the Pharises need lay such a fire as upon their own bodily services: though, like new fermenting wine that sparkles high, they made a fair show in the flesh, their form of godliness was not to be compared with the life and power of religion, the old stone, which the disciples possessed, and which every spiritual person, who hath a true relish for the things of God, far prefers.