27 And G2532 after G3326 these things G5023 he went forth, G1831 and G2532 saw G2300 a publican, G5057 named G3686 Levi, G3018 sitting G2521 at G1909 the receipt of custom: G5058 and G2532 he said G2036 unto him, G846 Follow G190 me. G3427
28 And G2532 he left G2641 all, G537 rose up, G450 and followed G190 him. G846
29 And G2532 Levi G3018 made G4160 him G846 a great G3173 feast G1403 in G1722 his own G846 house: G3614 and G2532 there was G2258 a great G4183 company G3793 of publicans G5057 and G2532 of others G243 that G3739 sat down G2258 G2621 with G3326 them. G846
30 But G2532 their G846 scribes G1122 and G2532 Pharisees G5330 murmured G1111 against G4314 his G846 disciples, G3101 saying, G3004 Why G1302 do ye eat G2068 and G2532 drink G4095 with G3326 publicans G5057 and G2532 sinners? G268
31 And G2532 Jesus G2424 answering G611 said G2036 unto G4314 them, G846 They that are whole G5198 need G5532 G2192 not G3756 a physician; G2395 but G235 they that are G2192 sick. G2560
32 I came G2064 not G3756 to call G2564 the righteous, G1342 but G235 sinners G268 to G1519 repentance. G3341
33 And G1161 they said G2036 unto G4314 him, G846 Why G1302 do G3522 the disciples G3101 of John G2491 fast G3522 often, G4437 and G2532 make G4160 prayers, G1162 and G2532 likewise G3668 the disciples G3588 of the Pharisees; G5330 but G1161 thine G4674 eat G2068 and G2532 drink? G4095
34 And G1161 he said G2036 unto G4314 them, G846 G3361 Can ye G1410 make G4160 the children G5207 of the bridechamber G3567 fast, G3522 while G3739 G1722 the bridegroom G3566 is G2076 with G3326 them? G846
35 But G1161 the days G2250 will come, G2064 when G3752 G2532 the bridegroom G3566 shall be taken away G522 from G575 them, G846 and then G5119 shall they fast G3522 in G1722 those G1565 days. G2250
36 And G1161 he spake G3004 also G2532 a parable G3850 unto G4314 them; G846 G3754 No man G3762 putteth G1911 a piece G1915 of a new G2537 garment G2440 upon G1909 an old; G2440 G3820 if otherwise, then G1490 both G2532 the new G2537 maketh a rent, G4977 and G2532 the piece G1915 that was taken out of G575 the new G2537 agreeth G4856 not G3756 with the old. G3820
37 And G2532 no man G3762 putteth G906 new G3501 wine G3631 into G1519 old G3820 bottles; G779 else G1490 the new G3501 wine G3631 will burst G4486 the bottles, G779 and G2532 G846 be spilled, G1632 and G2532 the bottles G779 shall perish. G622
38 But G235 new G3501 wine G3631 must be put G992 into G1519 new G2537 bottles; G779 and G2532 both G297 are preserved. G4933
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Luke 5
Commentary on Luke 5 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 5
Lu 5:1-11. Miraculous Draught of Fishes—Call of Peter, James, and John.
Not their first call, however, recorded in Joh 1:35-42; nor their second, recorded in Mt 4:18-22; but their third and last before their appointment to the apostleship. That these calls were all distinct and progressive, seems quite plain. (Similar stages are observable in other eminent servants of Christ.)
3. taught … out of the ship—(See on Mt 13:2).
4. for a draught—munificent recompense for the use of his boat.
5. Master—betokening not surely a first acquaintance, but a relationship already formed.
all night—the usual time of fishing then (Joh 21:3), and even now Peter, as a fisherman, knew how hopeless it was to "let down his net" again, save as a mere act of faith, "at His word" of command, which carried in it, as it ever does, assurance of success. (This shows he must have been already and for some time a follower of Christ.)
6. net brake—rather "was breaking," or "beginning to break," as in Lu 5:7, "beginning to sink."
8. Depart, &c.—Did Peter then wish Christ to leave him? Verily no. His all was wrapt up in Him (Joh 6:68). "It was rather, Woe is me, Lord! How shall I abide this blaze of glory? A sinner such as I am is not fit company for Thee." (Compare Isa 6:5.)
10. Simon, fear not—This shows how the Lord read Peter's speech. The more highly they deemed Him, ever the more grateful it was to the Redeemer's spirit. Never did they pain Him by manifesting too lofty conceptions of Him.
from henceforth—marking a new stage of their connection with Christ. The last was simply, "I will make you fishers."
fishers of men—"What wilt thou think, Simon, overwhelmed by this draught of fishes, when I shall bring to thy net what will beggar all this glory?" (See on Mt 4:18.)
11. forsook all—They did this before (Mt 4:20); now they do it again; and yet after the Crucifixion they are at their boats once more (Joh 21:3). In such a business this is easily conceivable. After pentecost, however, they appear to have finally abandoned their secular calling.
Lu 5:12-16. Leper Healed.
(See on Mt 8:2-4.)
15. But so, &c.—(See Mr 1:45).
Lu 5:17-26. Paralytic Healed.
(See on Mt 9:1-8).
17. Pharisees and doctors … sitting by—the highest testimony yet borne to our Lord's growing influence, and the necessity increasingly felt by the ecclesiastics throughout the country of coming to some definite judgment regarding Him.
power of the Lord … present—with Jesus.
to heal them—the sick people.
19. housetop—the flat roof.
through the tiling … before Jesus—(See on Mr 2:2).
24. take up thy couch—"sweet saying! The bed had borne the man; now the man shall bear the bed!" [Bengel].
Lu 5:27-32. Levi's Call and Feast.
(See on Mt 9:9-13; and Mr 2:14.)
30. their scribes—a mode of expression showing that Luke was writing for Gentiles.
Lu 5:33-39. Fasting.
(See on Mt 9:14-17.)
The incongruities mentioned in Lu 5:36-38 were intended to illustrate the difference between the genius of the old and new economies, and the danger of mixing up the one with the other. As in the one case supposed, "the rent is made worse," and in the other, "the new wine is spilled," so by a mongrel mixture of the ascetic ritualism of the old with the spiritual freedom of the new economy, both are disfigured and destroyed. The additional parable in Lu 5:39, which is peculiar to Luke, has been variously interpreted. But the "new wine" seems plainly to be the evangelical freedom which Christ was introducing; and the old, the opposite spirit of Judaism: men long accustomed to the latter could not be expected "straightway"—all at once—to take a liking for the former; that is, "These inquiries about the difference between My disciples and the Pharisees," and even John's, are not surprising; they are the effect of a natural revulsion against sudden change, which time will cure; the new wine will itself in time become old, and so acquire all the added charms of antiquity. What lessons does this teach, on the one hand, to those who unreasonably cling to what is getting antiquated; and, on the other, to hasty reformers who have no patience with the timidity of their weaker brethren!