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
But G1161 what G5101 think G1380 ye? G5213 A certain man G444 had G2192 two G1417 sons; G5043 and G2532 he came G4334 to the first, G4413 and said, G2036 Son, G5043 go G5217 work G2038 to day G4594 in G1722 my G3450 vineyard. G290 He answered G1161 G611 and said, G2036 I will G2309 not: G3756 but G1161 afterward G5305 he repented, G3338 and went. G565 And G2532 he came G4334 to the second, G1208 and said G2036 likewise. G5615 And G1161 he answered G611 and said, G2036 I G1473 go, sir: G2962 and G2532 went G565 not. G3756 Whether G5101 of G1537 them twain G1417 did G4160 the will G2307 of his father? G3962 They say G3004 unto him, G846 The first. G4413 Jesus G2424 saith G3004 unto them, G846 Verily G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 That G3754 the publicans G5057 and G2532 the harlots G4204 go G4254 into G1519 the kingdom G932 of God G2316 before G4254 you. G5209 For G1063 John G2491 came G2064 unto G4314 you G5209 in G1722 the way G3598 of righteousness, G1343 and G2532 ye believed G4100 him G846 not: G3756 but G1161 the publicans G5057 and G2532 the harlots G4204 believed G4100 him: G846 and G1161 ye, G5210 when ye had seen G1492 it, repented G3338 not G3756 afterward, G5305 that ye might believe G4100 him. G846
And G2532 all G3956 the people G2992 that heard G191 him, and G2532 the publicans, G5057 justified G1344 God, G2316 being baptized G907 with the baptism G908 of John. G2491 But G1161 the Pharisees G5330 and G2532 lawyers G3544 rejected G114 the counsel G1012 of God G2316 against G1519 themselves, G1438 being G907 not G3361 baptized G907 of G5259 him. G846
Then G1161 drew near G2258 G1448 unto him G846 all G3956 the publicans G5057 and G2532 sinners G268 for to hear G191 him. G846 And G2532 the Pharisees G5330 and G2532 scribes G1122 murmured, G1234 saying, G3004 This man G3754 G3778 receiveth G4327 sinners, G268 and G2532 eateth G4906 with them. G846
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!