Luke5

American Standard Version · Public Domain

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¹Now it came to pass, while the multitude pressed upon him and heard the word of God, that he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret;

²and he saw two boats standing by the lake: but the fishermen had gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

³And he entered into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the multitudes out of the boat.

⁴And when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

⁵And Simon answered and said, Master, we toiled all night, and took nothing: but at thy word I will let down the nets.

⁶And when they had done this, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes; and their nets were breaking;

⁷and they beckoned unto their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.

⁸But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

⁹For he was amazed, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken;

¹⁰and so were also James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

¹¹And when they had brought their boats to land, they left all, and followed him.

¹²And it came to pass, while he was in one of the cities, behold, a man full of leprosy: and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

¹³And he stretched forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou made clean. And straightway the leprosy departed from him.

¹⁴And he charged him to tell no man: but go thy way, and show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

¹⁵But so much the more went abroad the report concerning him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed of their infirmities.

¹⁶But he withdrew himself in the deserts, and prayed.

¹⁷And it came to pass on one of those days, that he was teaching; and there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, who were come out of every village of Galilee and Judaea and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was with him to heal.

¹⁸And behold, men bring on a bed a man that was palsied: and they sought to bring him in, and to lay him before him.

¹⁹And not finding by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went up to the housetop, and let him down through the tiles with his couch into the midst before Jesus.

²⁰And seeing their faith, he said, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

²¹And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this that speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

²²But Jesus perceiving their reasonings, answered and said unto them, Why reason ye in your hearts?

²³Which is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee; or to say, Arise and walk?

²⁴But that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority on earth to forgive sins (he said unto him that was palsied), I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go unto thy house.

²⁵And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his house, glorifying God.

²⁶And amazement took hold on all, and they glorified God; and they were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to-day.

²⁷And after these things he went forth, and beheld a publican, named Levi, sitting at the place of toll, and said unto him, Follow me.

²⁸And he forsook all, and rose up and followed him.

²⁹And Levi made him a great feast in his house: and there was a great multitude of publicans and of others that were sitting at meat with them.

³⁰And the Pharisees and their scribes murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with the publicans and sinners?

³¹And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are in health have no need of a physician; but they that are sick.

³²I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.

³³And they said unto him, The disciples of John fast often, and make supplications; likewise also the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink.

³⁴And Jesus said unto them, Can ye make the sons of the bride-chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?

³⁵But the days will come; and when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, then will they fast in those days.

³⁶And he spake also a parable unto them: No man rendeth a piece from a new garment and putteth it upon an old garment; else he will rend the new, and also the piece from the new will not agree with the old.

³⁷And no man putteth new wine into old wine-skins; else the new wine will burst the skins, and itself will be spilled, and the skins will perish.

³⁸But new wine must be put into fresh wine-skins.

³⁹And no man having drunk old wine desireth new; for he saith, The old is good.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Luke 5.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: The miraculous draught of fishes, Peter, James, and John called. (1–11). A leper cleansed. (12–16). A paralytic cured. (17–26). Levi called, Christ's answer to the Pharisees. (27–39).

vv1-11

When Christ had done preaching, he told Peter to apply to the business of his calling. Time spent on week days in public exercises of religion, need be but little hinderance in time, and may be great furtherance to us in temper of mind, as to our worldly business. With what cheerfulness may we go about the duties of our calling, when we have been with God, and thus have our worldly employments sanctified to us by the word and prayer! Though they had taken nothing, yet Christ told them to let down their nets again. We must not abruptly quit our callings because we have not the success in them we desire. We are likely to speed well, when we follow the guidance of Christ's word. The draught of fishes was by a miracle. We must all, like Peter, own ourselves to be sinful men, therefore Jesus Christ might justly depart from us. But we must beseech him that he would not depart; for woe unto us if the Saviour depart from sinners! Rather let us entreat him to come and dwell in our hearts by faith, that he may transform and cleanse them. These fishermen forsook all, and followed Jesus, when their calling prospered. When riches increase, and we are tempted to set our hearts upon them, then to quit them for Christ is thankworthy.

vv12-16

This man is said to be full of leprosy; he had that distemper in a high degree, which represents our natural pollution by sin; we are full of that leprosy; from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot there is no soundness in us. Strong confidence and deep humility are united in the words of this leper. And if any sinner, from a deep sense of vileness, says, I know the Lord can cleanse, but will he look upon such a one as me? will he apply his own precious blood for my cleansing and healing? Yes, he will. Speak not as doubting, but as humbly referring the matter to Christ. And being saved from the guilt and power of our sins, let us spread abroad Christ's fame, and bring others to hear him and to be healed.

vv17-26

How many are there in our assemblies, where the gospel is preached, who do not sit under the word, but sit by! It is to them as a tale that is told them, not as a message that is sent to them. Observe the duties taught and recommended to us by the history of the paralytic. In applying to Christ, we must be very pressing and urgent; that is an evidence of faith, and is very pleasing to Christ, and prevailing with him. Give us, Lord, the same kind of faith with respect to thy ability and willingness to heal our souls. Give us to desire the pardon of sin more than any earthly blessing, or life itself. Enable us to believe thy power to forgive sins; then will our souls cheerfully arise and go where thou pleasest.

Key Words

whileG1722Greek

ἐν (en): "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.

crowdG3793Greek

ὄχλος (óchlos): a throng (as borne along); by implication, the rabble; by extension, a class of people; figuratively, a riot

onG1945Greek

ἐπίκειμαι (epíkeimai): to rest upon (literally or figuratively)

himG846Greek

αὐτός (autós): the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438 (ἑαυτοῦ)) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

hearG191Greek

ἀκούω (akoúō): to hear (in various senses)

wordG3056Greek

λόγος (lógos): something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ)

byG3844Greek

παρά (pará): properly, near; i.e. (with genitive case) from beside (literally or figuratively), (with dative case) at (or in) the vicinity of (objectively or subjectively), (with accusative case) to the proximity with (local (especially beyond or opposed to) or causal (on account of)

lakeG3041Greek

λίμνη (límnē): a pond (large or small)

GennesaretG1082Greek

Γεννησαρέτ (Gennēsarét): Gennesaret (i.e. Kinnereth), a lake and plain in Palestine

andG2532Greek

καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

Cross References

Luke 5

v12Matthew 8:2-4thematic

Parallel account of the cleansing of the leper, detailing his humble plea and Christ's healing touch.