LUKE 5

     Luke 5:1 "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,"
    Gennesaret. The Sea of Galilee, and Chinneereth are all one and the same. "Gennesaret" means garden of riches. There were
small towns on several sides of the lake. Caperneum was one of the towns. Jesus' fame as a preacher and healer has really grown.
    Luke 5:2 "And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their
nets."
    Fishing time was over, because they were washing their nets.
    Luke 5:3 "And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little
from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship."
    Jesus having to get away from the heavy press of the people was one reason for going on the boat, another reason was His
voice would carry better to a larger number of people on the water. Water acts like a microphone. The third reason Jesus
borrowed this boat was to show these fishermen that He was the God of miracles, to build their faith to follow Him.
    Luke 5:4 "Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a
draught."
    Jesus is about to teach Simon Peter a very important lesson. Our toil, even if it is in the ministry, will fail unless we do it
exactly the way the Lord directs us.  Sometimes the Lord sends us to an area to minister; and we, believe it is hopeless. We must
have faith to throw out the net, even if we believe there are no fish, Simon was to learn a very good lesson here. Our feelings are
deceiving. If the Lord tells you to do it, do it. Put action to your faith, and it will happen.
    Luke 5:5 "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."
    Simon cannot see the fish, but is obedient to the Lord's command.
    Luke 5:6 "And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake."
    Obedience of the Lord brings great rewards. These fish had to obey the Lord. They had to be exactly where He wanted them.
    Luke 5:7 "And they beckoned 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."
    This would be James and John. This whole thing happened to show James, John, Peter, and Andrew who Jesus really is.
    Luke 5:8 "When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O
Lord."
    This miracle to a fisherman sets Jesus aside as God manifest in the flesh, Peter knew that no mere man could do this. He bows
his knees, knowing Jesus is Messiah.
    Luke 5:9 "For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:"  
    Luke 5:10 "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 men."
    This miracle gave these men the courage to leave their nets and go with Jesus to fish for men. We see in this call of these
fishermen that Jesus deals with us at the level of our understanding. they understood catching fish, so He speaks to them of
catching men.
    Luke 5:11 "And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him."
    This just means that they left their boats and followed Jesus. A fish even now symbolizes Christianity.
    Luke 5:12  "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."
    Leprosy is symbolic of sin. this is the first account of Jesus dealing with someone who is totally rejected by society. They were
to cry "unclean" when anyone came near them, This man had a humble spirit (he knelt before Jesus) and great faith. He says to
Jesus. "I know that you can heal me. if you will". His faith will be rewarded.
    Luke 5:13 "And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy
departed from him."
    It is the will of the Lord to heal us. Just as He told this man "I will". He will save us, too. We believe, and He will, This leprosy
had to leave when Jesus touched the man. Disease is subject to the Lord the same as everything else.
    Luke 5:14 "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."
    When a person had leprosy and was healed, he must be examined by the priest and declared clean before he could go back
around people. In the 13th chapter of Leviticus, you can read about leprosy. In the 17th verse, it tells you that the priest must
declare him clean. In the 4th chapter of Leviticus, the 4th verse, you can see the offering he is to make. Notice that going to the
priest and the offering is for a testimony unto the people. The man is already clean.
    Luke 5:15 "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."
    There is no way to keep something like this quiet. It spread from one person to the other, until the whole country heard of it.
This multitude that came wanted healing and probably came there also out of curiosity.
    Luke 5:16  "And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed."
    Jesus went aside to talk with His Father. He sought out a private place (in the wilderness). Prayers, when you pray to God
alone are very effective. When you pray in private to God, you are not trying to impress anyone. Too often, public prayers are for
those people listening, and God is not impressed when we pray for that reason. God wants to fellowship with us, When we pray
privately, that is what we are doing; fellowshiping with Him.
    Luke 5:17 "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."
    The Pharisees and doctors of law had heard of Jesus' fame, and they came to see if they could trap Him. They were
all here to see if they could find anything wrong with what He said to see if they could accuse Him.
    Luke 5:18  "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."
    Luke 5:19 "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."
    Luke 5:20 "And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee."
    Some illness is brought on by sin.  Faith is a very important factor in getting healed and in getting forgiveness of sin, as well.
NO man has the power to forgive sin. Jesus lets His Godhood show when He forgives this man's sins.
    Luke 5:21 "And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who
can forgive sins, but God alone?"
    They make a true statement, here, in that only God can forgive sin.  Their mistake is in the fact that they do not recognize Jesus
as God the Son. They accuse Jesus unjustly of blasphemies. These scribes, Pharisees. and lawyers are the educated people of their
day. They know the letter of the law, but do not understand the things of the spirit.
    Luke 5:22 "But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?"
    Jesus didn't have to be told what they were saying. He understood their hearts. He knew the evil they were thinking even
before they said it. He looks into the intents of the heart.
    Luke 5:23 "Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?"
    Now Jesus is about to show these skeptics that not only will He forgive this man's sins but He will cause him to walk, as well.
They will be even more upset when the man is healed before their very eyes.
    Luke 5:24 "But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of
the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house."
    Jesus is speaking to these scribes. lawyers, and Pharisees and says I will show you that what I said is not blasphemy. I will
show you I am the Son of God by healing this man. Then He says to the sick of the palsy, take up thy couch and go into thine
house. Not only does He say the man is healed, but also that his strength is suddenly restored so that he not only can walk, but
carry a couch, as well.
    Luke 5:25 "And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house,
glorifying God."
    Luke 5:26 "And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange
things to day."
    This "all" surely includes the scribes and Pharisees. It seems this miracle left them speechless. The scribes and Pharisees could
have said no more for fear of being mobbed by the people. Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. There was no way to explain
away what had happened.
    Luke 5:27  "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."
    A publican was a collector of the Roman taxes. Publicans were a hated group, especially by the Hebrews.
    Luke 5:28 "And he left all, rose up, and followed him."
    This "Levi", or Matthew, was to be one of the twelve disciples. He never hesitated. He came immediately.
    Luke 5:29 "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."
    These publicans were hated by the Hebrews. It was felt that their job was not one to be proud of. Matthew gave a big dinner
in honor of the Lord. It was thought to be a sin for the Hebrews to eat with publicans and sinners.
    Luke 5:30 "But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with
publicans and sinners?"
    These scribes and Pharisees figure they might be able to win an argument with the disciples.
    Luke 5:31 "And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick."    
    Luke 5:32 "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
    Jesus works on their self righteousness here. He says you are so righteous already, I could not possibly be of any help to you. I
must help those hopeless sinners. If you are already righteous, you do not need to repent and be saved. They quickly change the
subject in the next verse.
    Luke 5:33  "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?"
    Here they are trying to stir up a conflict between the disciples of John and Jesus' disciples.
    Luke 5:34 "And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with
them?"  
    Luke 5:35 "But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in
those days."
    Jesus is speaking of the joy and power that is here, as long as His presence is here; but there will be a day of sorrow with His
followers. Most of His followers will be so frightened that they will run and hide. Fasting is an extension of prayer to the utmost.
As long as Jesus is physically with them, there is no need to fast.
    Luke 5:36  "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."
    Luke 5:37 "And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and
the bottles shall perish."
    Luke 5:38 "But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved."  
    Luke 5:39 "No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better."
    This is speaking of how incompatible the law for the Jews and grace for the Christians are. It is so difficult for the Jews, who
do not believe Jesus is Messiah; and Christians, who believe Jesus is Saviour, to worship together, New and old together are not
compatible. The Jews are satisfied with the law. Christians want salvation by grace through Jesus.