18 And, G2532 behold, G2400 men G435 brought G5342 in G1909 a bed G2825 a man G444 which G3739 was G2258 taken with a palsy: G3886 and G2532 they sought G2212 means to bring G1533 him G846 in, G1533 and G2532 to lay G5087 him before G1799 him. G846
19 And G2532 when they could G2147 not G3361 find G2147 by G1223 what G4169 way they might bring G1533 him G846 in G1533 because G1223 of the multitude, G3793 they went G305 upon G1909 the housetop, G1430 and let G2524 him G846 down G2524 through G1223 the tiling G2766 with G4862 his couch G2826 into G1519 the midst G3319 before G1715 Jesus. G2424
20 And G2532 when he saw G1492 their G846 faith, G4102 he said G2036 unto him, G846 Man, G444 thy G4675 sins G266 are forgiven G863 thee. G4671
21 And G2532 the scribes G1122 and G2532 the Pharisees G5330 began G756 to reason, G1260 saying, G3004 Who G5101 is G2076 this G3778 which G3739 speaketh G2980 blasphemies? G988 Who G5101 can G1410 forgive G863 sins, G266 but G1508 God G2316 alone? G3441
22 But G1161 when Jesus G2424 perceived G1921 their G846 thoughts, G1261 he answering G611 said G2036 unto G4314 them, G846 What G5101 reason ye G1260 in G1722 your G5216 hearts? G2588
23 Whether G5101 is G2076 easier, G2123 to say, G2036 Thy G4675 sins G266 be forgiven G863 thee; G4671 or G2228 to say, G2036 Rise up G1453 and G2532 walk? G4043
24 But G1161 that G2443 ye may know G1492 that G3754 the Son G5207 of man G444 hath G2192 power G1849 upon G1909 earth G1093 to forgive G863 sins, G266 (he said G2036 unto the sick of the palsy,) G3886 I say G3004 unto thee, G4671 Arise, G1453 and G2532 take up G142 thy G4675 couch, G2826 and go G4198 into G1519 thine G4675 house. G3624
25 And G2532 immediately G3916 he rose up G450 before G1799 them, G846 and took up G142 that whereon G1909 G3739 he lay, G2621 and departed G565 to G1519 his own G846 house, G3624 glorifying G1392 God. G2316
26 And G2532 they were G2983 all G537 amazed, G1611 and G2532 they glorified G1392 God, G2316 and G2532 were filled G4130 with fear, G5401 saying, G3004 G3754 We have seen G1492 strange things G3861 to day. G4594
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Luke 5
Commentary on Luke 5 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 5
Lu 5:1-11. Miraculous Draught of Fishes—Call of Peter, James, and John.
Not their first call, however, recorded in Joh 1:35-42; nor their second, recorded in Mt 4:18-22; but their third and last before their appointment to the apostleship. That these calls were all distinct and progressive, seems quite plain. (Similar stages are observable in other eminent servants of Christ.)
3. taught … out of the ship—(See on Mt 13:2).
4. for a draught—munificent recompense for the use of his boat.
5. Master—betokening not surely a first acquaintance, but a relationship already formed.
all night—the usual time of fishing then (Joh 21:3), and even now Peter, as a fisherman, knew how hopeless it was to "let down his net" again, save as a mere act of faith, "at His word" of command, which carried in it, as it ever does, assurance of success. (This shows he must have been already and for some time a follower of Christ.)
6. net brake—rather "was breaking," or "beginning to break," as in Lu 5:7, "beginning to sink."
8. Depart, &c.—Did Peter then wish Christ to leave him? Verily no. His all was wrapt up in Him (Joh 6:68). "It was rather, Woe is me, Lord! How shall I abide this blaze of glory? A sinner such as I am is not fit company for Thee." (Compare Isa 6:5.)
10. Simon, fear not—This shows how the Lord read Peter's speech. The more highly they deemed Him, ever the more grateful it was to the Redeemer's spirit. Never did they pain Him by manifesting too lofty conceptions of Him.
from henceforth—marking a new stage of their connection with Christ. The last was simply, "I will make you fishers."
fishers of men—"What wilt thou think, Simon, overwhelmed by this draught of fishes, when I shall bring to thy net what will beggar all this glory?" (See on Mt 4:18.)
11. forsook all—They did this before (Mt 4:20); now they do it again; and yet after the Crucifixion they are at their boats once more (Joh 21:3). In such a business this is easily conceivable. After pentecost, however, they appear to have finally abandoned their secular calling.
Lu 5:12-16. Leper Healed.
(See on Mt 8:2-4.)
15. But so, &c.—(See Mr 1:45).
Lu 5:17-26. Paralytic Healed.
(See on Mt 9:1-8).
17. Pharisees and doctors … sitting by—the highest testimony yet borne to our Lord's growing influence, and the necessity increasingly felt by the ecclesiastics throughout the country of coming to some definite judgment regarding Him.
power of the Lord … present—with Jesus.
to heal them—the sick people.
19. housetop—the flat roof.
through the tiling … before Jesus—(See on Mr 2:2).
24. take up thy couch—"sweet saying! The bed had borne the man; now the man shall bear the bed!" [Bengel].
Lu 5:27-32. Levi's Call and Feast.
(See on Mt 9:9-13; and Mr 2:14.)
30. their scribes—a mode of expression showing that Luke was writing for Gentiles.
Lu 5:33-39. Fasting.
(See on Mt 9:14-17.)
The incongruities mentioned in Lu 5:36-38 were intended to illustrate the difference between the genius of the old and new economies, and the danger of mixing up the one with the other. As in the one case supposed, "the rent is made worse," and in the other, "the new wine is spilled," so by a mongrel mixture of the ascetic ritualism of the old with the spiritual freedom of the new economy, both are disfigured and destroyed. The additional parable in Lu 5:39, which is peculiar to Luke, has been variously interpreted. But the "new wine" seems plainly to be the evangelical freedom which Christ was introducing; and the old, the opposite spirit of Judaism: men long accustomed to the latter could not be expected "straightway"—all at once—to take a liking for the former; that is, "These inquiries about the difference between My disciples and the Pharisees," and even John's, are not surprising; they are the effect of a natural revulsion against sudden change, which time will cure; the new wine will itself in time become old, and so acquire all the added charms of antiquity. What lessons does this teach, on the one hand, to those who unreasonably cling to what is getting antiquated; and, on the other, to hasty reformers who have no patience with the timidity of their weaker brethren!