Luke 5

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,

And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:

And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

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.

And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.

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.

But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.

And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

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.

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.

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.

And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?

Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.

And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.

And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

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.

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

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.

But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?

And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.

I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

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?

And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?

But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

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.

And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.

But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.

No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.

What does Luke 5:14 mean?

Explanation

Luke 5:14 is a part of the narrative where Jesus heals a man with leprosy.

After the healing, Jesus instructs the man not to tell anyone about what happened, but rather to show himself to the priest and offer a sacrifice as outlined in the Law of Moses.

The directive to "tell no man" serves to emphasize Jesus’ humble approach to His miracles, avoiding the spectacle and misunderstanding that might arise from public displays of power.

Instead, Jesus directs the healed man to follow the established religious protocol, which includes a ceremonial cleansing and offering, reflecting respect for the law and its institutions.

The command to offer a sacrifice "for a testimony unto them" suggests a dual purpose: it serves as evidence that the man was truly healed, and it also bears witness to the priests (and thereby to the traditional religious system) of Jesus' miraculous power and divine authority.

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Historical Context

At the time of Jesus, leprosy was a significant disease with social and religious consequences.

Lepers were considered unclean and were segregated from society.

The Law of Moses, particularly in Leviticus 13-14, provided detailed instructions for the diagnosis, isolation, and ceremonial cleansing of lepers.

The priests at the temple acted as both religious leaders and public health officials in this context.

The historical setting of Luke 5:14 is within the early period of Jesus' public ministry, as recounted by the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament.

Jesus’ ministry often challenged the existing religious norms by reaching out to the marginalized, including lepers, and by asserting his authority to forgive sins and heal sicknesses.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, several viewpoints can be considered:

Christ's Authority: The power and authority of Jesus Christ to heal leprosy, which was more than a physical affliction but also a societal and religious stigma, affirms His divine nature and messianic role.
The Messianic Secret: Jesus' instruction to the healed man not to publicize the miracle is often associated with the motif of the "Messianic Secret," a theme in the Gospels where Jesus does not wish His full identity and mission to be revealed prematurely.

The Law Fulfilled: By instructing the man to follow the Law of Moses, Jesus demonstrates respect for the law, while also showing that He operates within and yet beyond its confines.

This reflects a larger theological theme in the Gospels that Jesus came not to abolish the law but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17).

Witness to the Priests: The healed man's presentation to the priests would have served as a witness to them. It challenged them to recognize the work of God in Jesus amidst their religiosity and expectations of what the Messiah would be like.

Practical Applications

The verse can be applied in practical ways:

Obedience: Jesus' command suggests the importance of obedience to religious and societal laws, where they align with God's will.

Humility: Believers are called to act with humility, not seeking fame or recognition for works done by God’s hand through them.

Testimony: The healed life of a believer may serve as a testimony to others, encouraging faith in God's power and the truth of the Gospel.

Respect for Order: Even in miraculous or extraordinary experiences, there is a place for order and procedure, as Jesus demonstrated by honoring the law’s requirements.

Cross-References

Leviticus 14:2-4: “This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest...”
Matthew 8:4: “And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony unto them.”
Mark 1:44: “And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.”
Matthew 5:17: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”

Language Study

The original Koine Greek language provides insight into key words in this verse:

"τελέσατι" (telesati, translated offer): Derived from "τελέω" (teleō), which means to complete or accomplish.

The word carries a sense of fulfilling an obligation or carrying out a religious duty.

"καθαρισμός" (katharismos, translated cleansing): This term refers to purification and is associated with the ceremonial rites for cleansing from leprosy.
"μαρτύριον" (marturion, translated testimony): This word can mean a witness or evidence, and in this context, it implies that the act of offering the cleansing sacrifice would serve as evidence of the man’s healing and as a witness to the priests.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The command by Jesus to follow the Mosaic law for the cleansing of a leper can be compared to various other ancient religious practices:

Many ancient cultures had purification rites for the cleansing of physical or spiritual impurities, including the use of water or other elements.

Sacrificial offerings as a response to divine intervention can be found across different religions, where offerings are made to appease or thank the gods.

Ancient myths often featured gods or heroes who healed diseases, but the emphasis in the Gospel narrative is on Jesus' respect for existing religious laws rather than a call to new or alternative practices.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern science understands leprosy not as a curse but as a bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Today, leprosy is treatable with antibiotics, and the social stigma associated with it is understood to be unfounded.

The idea of cleansing and offering sacrifices has no direct parallel in scientific medicine, but the importance of psychological and social aspects in healing is recognized.

The ritual Jesus commanded may have had a restorative effect on the individual's social status and sense of inclusion within the community.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have commented on this verse:

William Barclay notes that Jesus' command reflects his respect for the law and the place of the Temple in Jewish life, as well as His desire to avoid sensationalism.
John Calvin suggests that the zeal of the man to spread the news of his healing might have increased opposition to Jesus' ministry, and thus Jesus sought to moderate it.
Matthew Henry emphasizes the testimony aspect, wherein Jesus provides the priests with an undeniable proof of His divine power and compassion.
Modern biblical scholars like N. T. Wright often discuss Jesus' actions in the context of His larger mission to restore Israel and to demonstrate how the Kingdom of God was breaking into the world through His ministry.

Luke 5

Luke 5

What does Luke 5:14 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 5:14 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?