Bible Commentaries
Luke 5

Verse 1

And, &c. verses: Luke 5:1-11 .

it came to pass. See Luke 1:8 .

to hear = and heard. So all the texts. God. App-98 .

He . Emphatic, to distinguish Him from the crowds.

stood = was standing.

by = beside. Greek. para. App-101 .

the lake, &c. See App-169 . Matthew, Mark, and John call it "sea".

Verse 2

saw. App-133 . Not the same word as in Luke 5:27 , Luke 5:1 two ships. At that time there were about 4,000 on the lake.

ships = boats.

standing : i.e. at anchor. Eng. idiom is "lying".

the fishermen . This call was not that of Mark 1:16-20 . When the Lord said "Let us go", &c. (Mark 1:38 ), they perhaps did not go with Him, but returned to their ships. But from this second call they never left Him. See Luke 5:11 , below.

out of = away from. Greek. apo. App-104 . as in Luke 5:36 . Not the same word as in verses: Luke 5:3 , Luke 5:17 .

washing . Greek. apopluno. App-136 . At the first call they were casting their net (amphiblestron). Here they were washing their nets.

nets . Greek. Plural of diktuon. Compare John 21:6-11 .

Verse 3

into. Greek eis. App-104 . Not the same word as in Luke 5:16 .

prayed = asked. See App-134 . Not the same word as in Luke 5:16 .

thrust out = push off. A nautical word.

from = away from. land. Greek. ge. App-129 . sat down. The attitude for teaching. See note on Luke 4:20 .

taught = was teaching. Imperf. Tense.

out of . Greek. ek. App-104 . Not the same as in verses: Luke 5:2 , Luke 5:36 .

Verse 4

when He had left speaking. The Aorist Tense implies the immediate succession of the events.

unto . Greek. pros. App-104 . The same word as in Luke 5:10 .

Launch out. Same as "thrust out" in Luke 5:3 . Addressed to one (Peter).

let down = let ye down: addressed to all. Occurs seven times; five of these by Luke, here, Luke 5:5 ; Acts 9:25 ; Acts 27:17 , Acts 27:30 . The other two are Mark 2:4 . 2 Corinthians 11:33 .

for = with a view to. Greek eis. App-104 . Not the same word as in Luke 5:14 -. Same as in Luke 5:14 .

draught = haul. Used of what is drawn, from Anglo-Saxon drag-an.

Verse 5

unto = to.

Master . Greek Epistates. A word peculiar to Luke, implying knowledge and greater authority than Rabbi, or Teacher. Occurs seven times (Luke 5:5 ; Luke 8:24 , Luke 8:24 , Luke 8:45 ; Luke 9:33 , Luke 9:49 ; Luke 17:13 , and nowhere else). See App-98 .

all = allthrough. Greek dia. App-104 .Luke 5:1 .

at = upon, or [relying] upon. Greek. epi. App-104 . As in Luke 5:9 . Not with the same case as in Luke 5:27 .

Verse 6

multitude = shoal.

brake = were beginning to break. Imperfect Tense. Occurances Luke 8:29 and Acts 14:14 . Elsewhere only in Matthew 26:65 .Mark 14:63 ("rent ").

Verse 7

in. Greek. en. App-104 . Not the same as in verses: Luke 5:18 , Luke 5:19 .

other = different = another of two. See App-124 .

began to sink = are now sinking.

Verse 8

Jesus . App-98 .

I am a sinful man . True conviction has regard to what one is, not to what one has done. Compare Manoah (Judges 13:22 ), Israel (Exodus 20:19 ), men of Beth-shemesh (1 Samuel 6:20 ), David (2 Samuel 12:13 ), Job (Job 40:4 ; Job 42:2-6 ), Isaiah (Isaiah 6:5 ).

a sinful man = a man ( App-123 .) a sinner. Emphasizing the individual.

Lord . Not "Jesus", as in Luke 4:34 . See App-98 .

Verse 9

he was astonished = astonishment laid hold of him.

with = united with. Greek. sun. App-104 .

Verse 10

also James = James also.

Zebedee . Aramaean. App-94 .

not. Greek. me. App-105 .

catch = be capturing (alive), used of taking captives. Greek. zogreo. Occurs only here, and 2 Timothy 2:26 .

men. App-123 .

Verse 11

to . Greek. epi. App-104 .

forsook all = let go all. Not the same word as in Luke 5:28 . Compare Luke 18:28-30 . Mark 10:29 , Mark 10:30 . See note on Luke 5:2 ,

Verse 12

when He was = in (Greek. en, as in Luke 5:7 ) His being.

a certain city = one of the cities. Probably one in which "most of His mighty works were done", viz. Chorazin or Bethsaida. When named together these arein this order. By comparing Luke 5:18 and Mark 1:45 with Mark 5:29 , Matthew 9:10 and Mark 2:15 , it seemsthat that certain city was not Capernaum. The attempts to "touch "the Lord were all in that city or neighbourhood (Luke 6:19 . Matthew 9:20 ; Matthew 14:36 . Mark 3:10 ; Mark 6:56 . Compare Luke 5:15 ). Hence this city was probably Chorazin.

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 and App-133 .

full of leprosy. " Full", in this connection, is a medical word. Compare Colossians 4:14 . See note on Exodus 4:6 .

on . Greek. epi. App-104 . Not the same case asin Luke 5:24 . Greek. deomai. App-134 .

Lord. Now being proclaimed as to His person: the King, Lord of all and yet (Luke 5:24 ) the Son of man. Compare Matthew 8:2 , Matthew 8:6 , Matthew 8:8 , Matthew 8:20 .

if . Denoting a contingent probability. See App-118 .

wilt . Greek. thelo. App-102 .

clean. The sick are healed: lepers are cleansed.

Verse 13

touched. See note on "city", Luke 5:12 .

thou clean = be thou made clean (Passive). '

Verse 14

charged. A military word. Also used of a physician, "prescribe".

no man = no one. Compound of me. App-105 . no one whom he might happen to meet.

but = but [said].

go . . . show, &c. See Leviticus 14:1-32 .

for = concerning. Greek. peri. App-104 .

Moses. See note on Matthew 8:4 . The first of ten occ in Luke; Luke 2:22 ; Luke 5:14 ; Luke 9:30 , Luke 9:33 ; Luke 16:29 , Luke 16:31 ; Luke 16:20 , Luke 16:28 , Luk 37:24 , Luk 37:27 , Luk 37:44 .

Verse 15

fame = report. Greek. logos.

of = concerning. Greek. peri. App-104 .

came together = kept coming together.

by. Greek. hupo. App-104 . All the texts omit "by Him".

of = from. Greek. apo. App-104 .

Verse 16

withdrew = continued withdrawn. Peculiar to Luke here, and Luke 9:10 .

into = in. Greek. en. App-104 .

prayed . Greek. proseuchomai. App-134 . The second recorded occasion in Luke; see Luke 3:21 .

Verse 17

on = in. Greek. en. App-104 . See the Structure "S" and "S".

a certain day = in one of the days.

that = and.

doctors, &c. = teachers of the law. Greek. nomodida skalos. Occurs only here, Acts 5:34 , and 1 Timothy 1:7 .

Galilee, . . . Judaea, . . . Jerusalem . Palestine was divided into the three districts (mountain, seashore and valley). Compare Acts 1:8 ; Acts 10:39

the LORD = Jehovah. App-98 .

to = for, or with a view to. Greek. eis. App-104 .

them . TTrm. A WH R. read "him" instead of "them". If so, then the clause reads, "the power of Jehovah: was [present] for Him to heal", but miracles were few "because of their unbelief", Matthew 13:58 .

Verse 18

brought = carrying.

in = upon. Greek. epi. App-104 .

bed = couch. Greek. kline; not the poor man's bed, krabbaton. John 5:10 .

taken with a palsy = paralysed. Greek. paraluomai. Not the same word as in Luke 4:38 .

Luke always uses the Verb, not the Adjective (contrast Matthew 4:24 ; Matthew 8:6 . Mark 2:3-10 ). Compare Acts 8:7 . Strictly medical usage. Compare Colossians 4:14 .

lay = place.

Verse 19

by . Greek dia. All the texts omit.

because = on account of. Greek. dia. App-104 .Luke 5:2 .

upon. Greek. epi. App-104 .

through. Greek. dia. App-104 .Luke 5:1 .

Verse 20

their faith. Why exclude the man himself, as is generally done?

are = have been.

Verse 21

can forgive = is able to forgive.

God. App-98 .

Verse 22

perceived = well knowing. Greek. epiginosko. App-132 .

thoughts = reasonings.

answering said . See note on Deuteronomy 1:41 , and App-122 .

Verse 23

be = have been.

thee = to thee.

Verse 24

that = in order that,

know. Greek. oida. App-132 .

the Son of man . App-98 and App-99 . First occurance in Luke; compare twenty-sixth, Luke 24:7 .

power = authority. App-172 .

upon. Greek. epi. App-104 .

earth . Greek. ge. App-129 .

Verse 25

immediately . Greek. parachrema, See Luke 1:64 ; Luke 4:39 . Outside Luke and Acts it occurs only in Matthew 21:19 , Matthew 21:20 .

to = into, as in Luke 5:24 , above.

Verse 26

they . . . amazed = amazement seized them all.

filled with = filled of. Compare Luke 1:15 ; Luke 4:28 ; Luke 6:11 .Matthew 22:10 (furnished). Acts 5:17 , &c.

saying = saying that. See Luke 4:21 , Luke 4:24 , Luke 4:41 ; Luke 23:43 , &c. seen. App-133 .

strange things = paradoxes, i.e. contrary to what is generally seen.

Verse 27

after . Greek meta. App-104 .

saw = viewed with attention. Greek. theaomai. App-133 .

publican = toll-collector, or tax-gatherer. See on Luke 3:12 .

Levi. There can be no doubt about Levi and Matthew being different names for the same person (Matthew 9:9 . Mark 2:14 ). For similar changes, at epochs in life, compare Simon and Peter, Saul and Paul. Matthew is an abbreviation of Mattathias = Gift of God, and he is so called after this. "Sitting "shows he was a custom-house officer.

at . Greek. epi. App-104 .

the receipt of custom = the toll office.

Verse 28

left = left behind. Not the same word as "forsook" in Luke 5:11 .

Verse 29

feast = reception (banquet). Greek doche. Occurs only here and Luke 14:13 . others. See App-124 .

with = in company with. Greek. meta. App-104 .

Verse 30

their scribes and Pharisees = the scribes and Pharisees among them: "their" referring to Galilean scribes, as distinguished from those of Jerusalem (Matthew 15:1 ). Note the same distinction as to synagogues in Matthew 4:23 ; Matthew 9:35 , &c.

against . Greek. pros. App-104 .

publicans = the publicans. See Luke 5:27 .

Verse 31

whole = in health (Matt. and Mark have "strong "). This (hugiaino) is the medical word (Colossians 4:14 ), as in Luke 7:10 ; Luke 15:27 . 3 John 1:2 . Paul uses it in a moral sense (1 Timothy 1:10 ; 1 Timothy 6:3 . 2 Timothy 1:13 ; 2 Timothy 4:3 .Titus 1:9 , Titus 1:13 ; Titus 2:1 , Titus 2:2 ).

not . Greek. ou. App-105 .

are = have themselves.

sick = sickly, in an evil condition. Greek. kakos. Adverb of kakos. App-128 .

Verse 32

I came = I have come.

the righteous = righteous ones.

to = unto, with a view to. Greek. eis. App-104 .

repentance. App-111 .

Verse 33

often . Greek. pukna. Occurs only here and in Acts 24:26 . 1 Timothy 5:23 .

make prayers. Note this as distinguished from praying.

prayers = petitions, or supplications. Not used in the other Gospels. See App-134 .

eat and drink. Like ordinary people, without making it a part of their religion.

Verse 34

Can ye make = Ye surely cannot (Greek. me. App-105 ), can ye?

children, &c. = sons ( App-108 .) Hebrew idiom for the bridal party.

while = in (Greek. en App-104 .) the time when.

Verse 35

the days will come = there will come days [for those].

when . All the texts read "and when", following up the Figure of speech Aposiopesis ( App-6 ), as though the time for revealing the fact of His crucifixion had not yet come.

shall be taken away. Greek. apairo. Occurs only here, and the parallels (Matthew 9:15 .Mark 2:20; Mark 2:20 ) implying a violent death; as "lifted up" in John 3:14 .

then shall they fast. As they did (Acts 13:2 , Acts 13:3 ).

Verse 37

new = fresh made. Greek. neos. Seenote on Matthew 9:17 .

bottles = wine-skins.

be spilled = it will be poured out.

Verse 38

also a parable = a parable also.

man, &c. = that no one (Greek. oudeis. App-105 ), [having rent a piece] from a new garment, putteth it upon an old,

new . Greek. kainos. See note on Matthew 9:17 . if. App-118 .

both, &c. = he will both rend the new, and the new will not agree with the old.

agreeth = harmonizeth. Greek sumphoneo.

Verse 39

better = good. So all the texts.