Bible Commentaries
Luke 5

Verse 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,

Matthew 4:18; Mark 1:16.

Verse 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

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

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

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.

Matthew 8:2; Mark 1:40.

Verse 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.

Leviticus 14:2.

Verse 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

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

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.

Matthew 9:2; Mark 2:3.

Verse 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

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

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.

Matthew 9:9; Mark 2:14.

Verse 28

And he left all, rose up, and followed him.

Leaving all — His business and gain.

Verse 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

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

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

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

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.