Home

Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

CHAPTER FIVE:
FISHERS OF MEN AND CALLING SINNERS

[“Fishermen and Tax collectors”]
Key word: Physician

Luke 5:1-11 – Fishermen Follow Jesus

|| Matthew 4:18-22; 188 Mark 1:16-20 189

188	Matthew 4:18-22: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

189	Mark 1:16-20: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.

LK5:1 Now while Jesus was standing on the shore of lake Gennesaret, 190 and the crowd was pressing closely as they listened to God’s Word,

190	Gennesaret: Another name for Galilee though by some to be derived from the older Hebrew name. [Numbers 34:11; Matthew 4:18; Mark 1:16]

LK5:2 he saw two fishing boats on the beach with fishermen cleaning their nets. LK5:3 Jesus boarded one of the boats which belonged to Simon [Peter], and he asked him to put out a bit while he sat down and taught the crowds. LK5:4 After he finished speaking, Jesus said to Simon: “Go further out into deep water and let out your nets for a catch.” 191

191	Let out your nets for a catch: Compare John 21:6.

LK5:5 Then Simon told Jesus: “Master, we fished all night and caught nothing! But if you tell us to I will let down the nets.” LK5:6 After Simon did as he was told they caught so many fish that their nets began to rip apart. LK5:7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and after they came alongside they filled both boats so they were about to swamp. LK5:8 Now Simon Peter realized what had happened and he fell down at the knees of Jesus and said: “Leave me, Master, for I am a sinful man!” LK5:9 For he became awestruck with all the others because of the catch of fish they had pulled in. LK5:10 Now Simon’s fishing partners James and John the sons of Zebedee felt the same way and they heard Jesus say to Simon: “Do not be frightened. From now on you will catch humans!” LK5:11 Then they abandoned their boats and tackle on the beach and followed Jesus.

Luke 5:12-16 – Healing a Leper and Then Privacy

|| Matthew 8:1-4; 192 Mark 1:40-45 193

192	Matthew 8:1-4: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

193	Mark 1:40-45: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.

LK5:12 Now it happened while Jesus was visiting one of the villages, look, there was a man full of leprosy. 194 When he saw Jesus he fell on his face before him and begged: “Master, if you are willing and able cleanse me!”

194	Full of leprosy: Doctor Luke’s diagnosis.

LK5:13 Now reaching out his hand and touching the man, Jesus said: “I want to. Be cleansed.” And instantly the leprosy left him. LK5:14 Then Jesus gave him orders: “Do not to tell anyone, but leave and show yourself to the priest and make the offering for your cleansing as Moses commanded 195 as a testimony to them.” 196

195	As Moses commanded: This was a considerable offering. [Leviticus 14:10, 20]

196	As a testimony to them: The Jewish hierarchy are watching Jesus for a violation of the Law of Moses. Jesus did not come to destroy the Law but to fulfill it.

LK5:15 Despite this the former leper spread the word even more about Jesus, and many crowds gathered to listen to Jesus and to be healed from their sicknesses. LK5:16 But, Jesus withdrew into wilderness areas 197 and continued in prayer.

197

Withdrew into wilderness areas: Or, NAS: often slip away; NEB: from time to time he would withdraw; BER: habitually withdrew; KNX: he would steal away from them. Our Lord was also a private person who sought his solitude for quiet prayers to his Father. It is an excellent lesson for people burdened with the pressures of life.

Luke 5:17-26 – Who Can Forgive Sins?

|| Matthew 9:1-8; 198 Mark 2:1-12 199

198	Matthew 9:1-8: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

199	Mark 2:1-12: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.

LK5:17 Now it occurred during those days when Jesus was teaching some Pharisees and teachers of the Law were sitting around – for they had arrived from every village in Galilee and Judea, including Jerusalem – and YHWH’s power was with him to heal. 200

200	YHWH’s power was with him to heal: Or, the power of the Lord was present to heal them. The Greek is DYNAMIS KYRIOU [power of Lord]. The “Lord” here is The God of Jesus. The Nazarene’s power to heal did not originate from himself but from his Father.

LK5:18 And, look, men approached carrying a paralyzed person on a pallet and they sought a way to place him before Jesus. LK5:19 When they could not find a way to carry him through the crowds they went on to the roof and through the tiles they lowered him on the pallet among them right in front of Jesus. LK5:20 Now when Jesus observed their faith, he said: “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” LK5:21 Then the Bible Copyists 201 and Pharisees began to discuss this among themselves: “Who is this person to speak such blasphemies? Who is able to forgive sins except The God Himself?” 202

201	Bible Copyists: Or, scribes, Bible scholars. The Greek is GRAMMATEIS, the Hebrew Sopherim. They were also teachers and highly respected. They also acted as public notaries or secretaries.

202

Who is able to forgive sins except The God Himself: Or, but God alone. This is a Jewish assertion and not to be used as an argument that Jesus was actually God. In these accounts the Nazarene states that he has received such authority from God, and the crowds draw this same conclusion. That others may receive such authority is seen at John 20:23.

LK5:22 When Jesus realized their thinking he responded to them: “Why do you reason this way in your hearts? LK5:23 Which is easier to say? ‘Your sins have been forgiven,’ or, ‘Get up and walk.’ LK5:24 However, so that you will realize that the ‘Son of Humankind’ 203 [Daniel 7:13] has authority on earth to forgive sins 204 – Jesus said to the paralyzed man – I tell you: rise, pick up your pallet, and return to your house.”

203	Son of Humankind: This is the first occurrence of two dozen of the designation drawn from Daniel 7:13.

204

The Son of Humankind has authority on earth to forgive sins: Jesus uses the designation “Son of Man” as a general title for himself as Messiah. However, he also uses the name for himself before he experienced a human birth. Note John 6:62. The language here could be understood to refer to his pre-existence. For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on the subject pre-existence in the gospel of John as well as in Biblical Articles.

LK5:25 And instantly the man rose before them all, picked up the pallet upon which he lay, and departed to his house giving glory to The God. LK5:26 So the crowd was overcome in ecstasy 205 and they also began to glorify The God, and filled with fear they said: “We have seen strange things 206 this day!”

205	Ecstasy: Or, amazed, astonished, dumbfounded. The Greek is ECSTASIS.

206	Strange things: Or, wonders, unaccountable things, marvelous things, incredible. The Greek is PARADOXA.

Luke 5:27-32 – Tax-man Levi Called

|| Matthew 9:9-12; 207 Mark 2:13-17 208

207	Matthew 9:9-12: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

208	Mark 2:13-17: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.

LK5:27 Now later Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office. Jesus said to him: “Follow me.” LK5:28 So Levi rose, and leaving everything behind, 209 he followed Jesus.

209	Left everything behind: May we think this included money?

LK5:29 Then Levi arranged a great banquet for Jesus in his own home, and so there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others reclining at the meal with them. LK5:30 But the Pharisees and Bible Copyists began to murmur against the disciples of Jesus, saying: “Why are you all eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?” LK5:31 So Jesus answered and said to them: “The healthy do not need a physician 210 but the sick do.

210	Physician: We can imagine Luke particularly interested in this statement. [Matthew 9:12; Mark 2:17]

LK5:32 I have not come to call righteous persons 211 to repentance but rather sinners.”

211	Righteous persons: Or, law-abiding persons. As opposed to law-breakers.

Luke 5:33-39 – The Old and the New

|| Matthew 9:15, 16; 212 Mark 2:19; 213 John 3:29 214

212	Matthew 9:15, 16: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

213	Mark 2:19: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.

214	John 3:29: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on John.

LK5:33 Now these said to Jesus: “The disciples of John fast often with prayers just as the Pharisees, but your disciples [only] eat and drink.” LK5:34 Jesus asked them: “Can you force the friends of the bridegroom to fast as long as he is with them? LK5:35 However, the days will come when the bridegroom 215 is taken away and then they will fast in those days.”

215	Bridegroom: That is, Jesus. [2 Corinthians 11:2]

LK5:36 Now Jesus also told them the parable: “No one places a patch from a new garment on an old garment. For the old and new will both tear because the new does not match with the old. LK5:37 Also, no one puts new wine into old wineskins because if they do the new wine will burst the old wineskins 216 and then both are ruined.

216

New wine will burst the old wineskins: [Job 32:19] It is the view of some that the “new wine” is the Nazarene doctrine forming in the new Israel of God. It cannot just be placed within the framework of the Jewish Mosaic Law. Some would later try to do this by forcing the new congregation formed by Jesus into the old Jewish system. [For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Acts 15:1, 2.]

LK5:38 Instead new wine must be put into new wineskins. LK5:39 Now he that has drunk the aged wine does not want the new, for he says, ‘The aged wine is better.’” 217

217	The aged wine is better: Or, good enough, preferable, nice, suits me. The view of many Jewish members of the old law covenant with Israel. The new Nazarene community with its little house churches could not be compared to the glory of Jerusalem’s temple with its grand rituals.

Review Questions on Chapter Five