| Back to Home Page | Back to
Book Index |
Luke Chapter
Five
Luke 5
Man
He was come for men. He will associate others (chap.
5) with Himself in this glorious work. He has a right to do it. If He is in
grace a servant
He is so according to the full power of the Holy Ghost. He
works a miracle well adapted to strike those whom He would call
and which made
them feel that everything was at His disposal
that all depended on Him
that
where man could do nothing He could do everything. Peter
stricken in
conscience by the presence of the Lord
confesses his unworthiness
but drawn
by grace goes to Christ. Grace raises him up
and appoints him to speak of
itself to others-to fish for men. Already it was not a preacher of
righteousness among the people of God
but one who drew into His net those that
were afar off. He attracted to Himself as the manifestation on earth of the
power and the character of God. It was grace which was there.
He was there with the will and the power to heal that which was a
figure of sin
and incurable but by the intervention of God. But God had
intervened; and in grace He can say
and says
to one who acknowledged His
power but doubted His will
"I will
be thou clean." [1] Yet He submitted to Jewish ordinances as one
obedient to the law. Jesus prayed
as a man dependent on God. This was His
perfection as a man born under the law. Moreover
He must needs acknowledge the
ordinances of God
not yet abrogated by His rejection. But this obedience as
man became a testimony; for the power of Jehovah alone could heal leprosy
and
He had healed it
and the priests were to acknowledge that which had been done.
But He brings pardon as well as cleansing. He gives a
proof of this by removing all infirmity
and imparting strength to one who had
none. This was not the doctrine that God could pardon. They believed that. But
God had intervened
and pardon was present. They would no longer have to wait
for the last day
nor for a day of judgment
to know their condition. A Nathan
would not be required to come and proclaim it on the part of a God who was in
heaven while His people were on earth. Pardon was come
in the Person of the
Son of man come down to earth. In all this
Jesus gave proofs of the power and
the rights of Jehovah. In this instance it was the fulfilment of Psalm 103:3;
but
at the same time
He gives these proofs as accomplished by the power of
the Holy Ghost
without measure in man
in His own Person the true Son of God.
The Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins: in fact
Jehovah was come
a
man on earth. The Son of man was there before their eyes
in grace
to exercise
this power-a proof that God had visited them.
In both these instances [2] the Lord
while displaying a power fitted to
extend
and that was to extend
beyond this sphere
displays it in connection
with Israel. The cleansing was a proof of the power of Jehovah in the midst of
Israel
and the pardon was in connection with His government in Israel
and
therefore proved itself by the perfect cure of the sick man
according to the
psalm already quoted. [3] No doubt
these rights were not limited to
Israel
but at that moment they were exercised in connection with this nation.
He cleansed
in grace
that which Jehovah alone could cleanse. He pardoned that
which Jehovah alone could pardon
taking away all the consequence of their sin.
It was
in this sense
a governmental pardon; the power of Jehovah present
fully to restore and re-establish Israel-wherever
at least
faith could profit
by it. Afterwards
we shall find pardon for peace of soul.
The call of Levi
and that which follows
shews that not
only was this power of grace to extend beyond Israel
but that the old vessel
was not able to bear it. It must form a vessel for itself.
We may also remark here
on the other hand
that faith is
characterised by perseverance. In the consciousness of the evil
an evil
without remedy
and in the assurance that One able to heal is there
it does
not allow itself to be discouraged-does not put off the relief of its need.
Now
the power of God was there to meet this need.
This terminates that part of the narrative which reveals
in a positive way
divine power
visiting the earth in grace
in the Person of
the Son of man
and exercised in Israel
in the condition in which it found
them.
That which follows characterises its exercise in contrast
with Judaism. But that which we have already examined is divided into two
parts
having distinct characters which deserve to be noticed. First
from
chapter 4:31-41
it is the power of the Lord manifesting itself on His part
as
triumphing (without any particular connection with the mind of the individual)
over all the power of the enemy
whether in sickness or in possession. The
power of the enemy is there: Jesus casts it out
and heals those who are
suffering from it. But
secondly
His occupation is to preach. And the kingdom
was not only the manifestation of a power which casts out all that of the
enemy
but of a power which brought souls also into connection with God. We see
this in chapter 5:1-26. Here their condition before God
-sin
and faith
are in
question-in a word
all that belonged to their relationship with God.
Here
consequently
we see the authority of the word of
Christ upon the heart
the manifestation of His glory (He is owned as Lord)
conviction of sin
just jealousy for His glory
in the sense of His holiness
which should keep itself inviolate; the soul taking God's part against itself
because it loves holiness and respects the glory of God
even while feeling the
attraction of His grace; so that
owing to this
everything is forgotten-fish
nets
boat
danger: "one thing" already possesses the. soul. The
Lord's answer then dispels all fear
and He associates the freed soul with
Himself in the grace which He had exercised towards it
and in the work which
He wrought in behalf of men. It was already delivered morally from all that was
around it; now
in the full enjoyment of grace
it is set free by the power of
grace
and wholly given to Jesus. The Lord-perfect manifestation of God-in
creating new affections by this revelat ion of God
separates the heart from
all that bound it to this world
to the order of the old man
in order to set
it apart for Himself-for God. He surrounds Himself with all that is delivered
becoming its centre; and
indeed
delivers by being so.
He then cleanses the leper
which none but Jehovah could
do. Still He does not come out of His position under the law; and
however
great His fame
He maintains His place of perfect dependence as man before God.
The leper
the unclean
may return to God.
He next forgives. The guilty one is no longer so before
God; he is pardoned. At the same time he receives strength. Nevertheless it is
still the Son of man who is there. In both cases faith seeks the Lord
bringing
its need before Him.
The Lord now exhibits the character of this grace in
connection with its objects. Being supreme
being of God
it acts in virtue of
its rights. Human circumstances do not hinder it. It adapts itself by its very
nature to human need
and not to human privileges. It is not subject to
ordinances
[4] and does not come in through them. The power
of God by the Spirit was there
and acted for itself
and produced its own
effects
setting aside that which was old-that to which man was attached
[5] and to which the power of the Spirit could
not be confined. The scribes and Pharisees would not have the Lord associate
with the wicked and disreputable. God seeks those who need Him-sinners-in
grace.
When they ask why His disciples do not observe the
customs and the ordinances of John and the Pharisees
by which they guided the
legal piety of their disciples
it is that the new thing could not be subjected
to the forms that belonged to that which was old
and which could not sustain
the strength and energy of that which came from God. The old were the forms of
man after the flesh; the new
the energy of God
according to the Holy Ghost.
Moreover it was not the time for a piety that took the form of
self-mortification. What else could man do? But the Bridegroom was there.
Nevertheless
man would prefer that which was old
because it was man
and not the energy of God.
[1] If a
man touched a leper
he was unclean. But here grace works
and Jesus
undefilable touches the leper (God in grace
undefilable
but a man touching
the defiled thing to cleanse it.
[2] The
call of Peter is more general in this respect
that it is connected with the
Person of Christ. Nevertheless
although he was a fisher of men (a word used evidently
in contrast with the fishes he was occupied with)
he exercised his ministry
more particularly with regard to Israel. But it was power in the Person of
Christ that governed his heart; so that it was fundamentally
the new thing
but as yet in its connection with Israel
while extending beyond them. It is at
the end of chapter 7 and in chapter 8 that we enter on ground beyond the narrow
limits of Israel.
[3]
Compare Job 33
36 and James 5:14
15-the first outside dispensations
and
James under Christianity. In Israel
it is the Lord Himself in sovereign grace.
[4]
Christ
born under the law
was subject to them; but that is a different thing.
Here it is a divine power acting in grace.
[5] But
here also the Lord
in giving the reasons why the disciples did not follow the
ordinances
and the institutions
of John and of the Pharisees
connects them
with the two principles already pointed out-His position in the midst of
Israel
and the power of grace which went beyond its limits. The Messiah
Jehovah Himself
was among them
in this grace (in spite of their failure under
the law
in spite of their subjection to the Gentiles) according to which
Jehovah named Himself "I am the Lord that healeth thee." At least
He
was there in the supremacy of grace for faith. Those therefore who owned Him as
the Messiah
the husband of Israel
could they fast while He was with them? He
would leave them: without doubt that would be their time to fast. Moreover
secondly
it is always impossible. He could not adapt the new cloth of
Christianity to the old garment of Judaism
in its nature incapable of
receiving its energy
or adapting itself to grace
worn out withal as a
dispensation by sin
and under which Israel was
in judgment
made subject to
the Gentiles. Besides
the power of the Spirit of God in grace could not be
restricted to the ordinances of the law. It would destroy them by its very
strength. The call of Levi violated
and most openly
all the prejudices of the
Jews. Their own fellow-countrymen were the instruments of their masters'
extortion
and reminded them in the most painful manner of their subjection to
the Gentiles. But the Lord was there in grace to seek sinners. That which the
Holy Ghost sets before us is the presence of the Lord
and the rights which are
necessarily attached to His Person and to His sovereign grace
which had come
into Israel
but necessarily went beyond its limits (setting aside
consequently
the legal system which could not receive the new thing). This is
the key to all these narratives. Thus
also
in that which follows respecting
the sabbath
the one case shews the supremacy which His glorious Person gave
Him over that which was the sign of the covenant itself; and the other
that
the goodness of God cannot abdicate its rights and its nature. He would do good
even on a sabbath-day.
── John Darby《Synopsis of Luke》
Luke 5
Chapter Contents
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)
Commentary on Luke 5:1-11
(Read Luke 5:1-11)
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.
Commentary on Luke 5:12-16
(Read Luke 5:12-16)
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.
Commentary on Luke 5:17-26
(Read Luke 5:17-26)
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.
Commentary on Luke 5:27-39
(Read Luke 5:27-39)
It was a wonder of Christ's grace
that he would call a
publican to be his disciple and follower. It was a wonder of his grace
that
the call was made so effectual. It was a wonder of his grace
that he came to
call sinners to repentance
and to assure them of pardon. It was a wonder of
his grace
that he so patiently bore the contradiction of sinners against
himself and his disciples. It was a wonder of his grace
that he fixed the
services of his disciples according to their strength and standing. The Lord
trains up his people gradually for the trials allotted them; we should copy his
example in dealing with the weak in faith
or the tempted believer.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Luke》
Luke 5
Verse 1
[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 Gennesaret
Verse 6
[6] And when they had this done
they inclosed a great multitude of fishes:
and their net brake.
Their net brake —
Began to tear.
Verse 8
[8] When
Simon Peter saw it
he fell down at Jesus' knees
saying
Depart from me; for I
am a sinful man
O Lord.
Depart from me
for I am a sinful man — And therefore not worthy to be in thy presence.
Verse 11
[11] And
when they had brought their ships to land
they forsook all
and followed him.
They forsook all and followed him — They had followed him before
John 1:43
but not so as to forsake all. Till
now
they wrought at their ordinary calling.
Verse 12
[12] And it came to pass
when he was in a certain city
behold a man full of
leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face
and besought him
saying
Lord
if
thou wilt
thou canst make me clean.
Verse 14
[14] And
he charged him to tell no man: but go
and shew thyself to the priest
and
offer for thy cleansing
according as Moses commanded
for a testimony unto
them.
Verse 16
[16] And
he withdrew himself into the wilderness
and prayed.
He withdrew —
The expression in the original implies
that he did so frequently.
Verse 17
[17] 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 Judaea
and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to
heal them.
Sitting by — As
being more honourable than the bulk of the congregation
who stood.
And the power of the Lord was present to heal
them — To heal the sickness of their souls
as
well as all bodily diseases.
Verse 18
[18] And
behold
men brought 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.
Verse 19
[19] And
when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the
multitude
they went upon the housetop
and let him down through the tiling
with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
Not being able to bring him in through the
multitude
they went round about by a back passage
and going up the stairs on
the outside
they came upon the flat-roofed house
and let him down through the
trap door
such as was on the top of most of the Jewish houses: doubtless
with
such circumspection as the circumstances plainly required.
Verse 26
[26] And
they were all amazed
and they glorified God
and were filled with fear
saying
We have seen strange things to day.
We have seen strange things to. day — Sins forgiven
miracles wrought.
Verse 27
[27] And
after these things he went forth
and saw a publican
named Levi
sitting at
the receipt of custom: and he said unto him
Follow me.
Verse 28
[28] And
he left all
rose up
and followed him.
Leaving all —
His business and gain.
Verse 29
[29] And
Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of
publicans and of others that sat down with them.
And Levi made him a great entertainment — It was necessarily great
because of the great number of guests.
Verse 33
[33] And
they said unto him
Why do the disciples of John fast often
and make prayers
and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?
Make prayers —
Long and solemn. Matthew 9:14; Mark 2:18.
Verse 34
[34] And
he said unto them
Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast
while the
bridegroom is with them?
Can ye make —
That is
is it proper to make men fast and mourn
during a festival solemnity?
Verse 36
[36] And
he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth 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.
He spake also a parable — Taken from clothes and wine; therefore peculiarly proper at a feast.
Verse 39
[39] No
man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith
The old
is better.
And no man having drunk old wine — And beside
men are not wont to be immediately freed from old
prejudices.
── John ‘Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Luke》
Chapter 5. Missionary Training
Terminate the
Past (Old Wine)
Begin the Future (New Wine)
I. Miracle of
the First Catch
II. Jesus Heals
the Sick
III. Call Levi
the Tax Collector
── Chih-Hsin Chang《An Outline of The New Testament》
Followers and Fishers
1.
A Night of Failure—toiled all the night
taken nothing (v.5)
2.
A Morning of Faith—at Thy Word I will let down the net (v.5)
3.
A Day of Fullness—a great multitude of fishes (v.6)
4.
A Lifetime of Fellowship—their partners—come and help them (v.7)
5.
A Maxim for Fishers of Men—Launch out and Let down (v.4)