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 5:15 mean?

Explanation

Luke 5:15 describes an occasion during the ministry of Jesus when His fame had spread so widely that large crowds were drawn to Him. They came with a dual purpose: to listen to His teachings and to seek healing for their physical afflictions.

The verse emphasizes the increasing recognition of Jesus' authority and power both as a teacher and a healer.

The literal meaning is straightforward , Jesus' reputation grew, and so did the number of His followers.

On a deeper level, this verse suggests the magnetic draw of Jesus’ presence and the growing impact of His ministry on the people of that time.

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Historical Context

The Gospel of Luke is one of the four canonical gospels of the New Testament, believed to have been written by Luke the Evangelist, a companion of the Apostle Paul, around AD 80-110.

This verse is set in the early part of Jesus' public ministry, occurring shortly after the calling of the first disciples and a series of miraculous healings.

Israel at this time was under Roman occupation, and the Jewish people were expectant of a messiah who would deliver them.

The spread of Jesus’ fame as a healer and teacher must be seen against this backdrop of socio-political tension and messianic expectation.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse reinforces the idea of Jesus' divine identity and mission. His ability to heal physical infirmities is seen as a sign of the coming of the Kingdom of God and a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah.

The verse also highlights the importance of faith and the need for physical and spiritual healing. Different Christian traditions may focus on various aspects of this event, such as the miraculous healing power of Jesus, his compassion for the multitudes, or the spreading of the Gospel.

Practical Applications

The practical applications of this verse could include the understanding that fame and popularity, when connected to genuine acts of kindness and truth, can bring about positive change in society.

For the individual, this could be an inspiration to share their beliefs and to offer help where they're able.

It could also be seen as an encouragement for believers to seek out Jesus’ teachings and healing in their lives, emphasizing the importance of gathering in communities to grow in faith and support each other.

Cross-References

Mark 1:45 - "But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter."
Matthew 4:24 - "And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them."
Matthew 9:26 - "And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land."

Language Study

Key words in the original Greek for this verse include:

"Fame" (διήρχετο – diērcheto): This term suggests a spreading or thorough dissemination, like the diffusion of news throughout an area.
"Great multitudes" (ὄχλοι πολλοί – ochloi polloi): The phrase denotes large crowds or a throng of people, which indicates not just a few individuals but potentially hundreds or thousands.
"Healed" (θεραπεύεσθαι – therapeuesthai): This term means to cure, heal, or restore to health.

It often suggests a restorative process rather than an instantaneous event.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the context of ancient myths and religions, miraculous healings were not uncommon.

Figures in various mythologies were credited with the power to heal, such as Asclepius in Greek mythology.

Comparatively, Jesus' healings in the Gospels are attributed to his unique authority and divine mission rather than to any external source of magical power or technique, highlighting his distinct role as the anticipated Jewish Messiah.

Scientific Perspectives

The scientific community typically views miraculous healing accounts as unverifiable anecdotes since they fall outside the parameters of empirical testing.

Some modern psychological and medical research acknowledges the impact of belief and faith on health outcomes, known as the placebo effect.

However, the literal interpretation of miraculous healings as described in the Bible remains at odds with the scientific understanding of the natural world.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians offer various interpretations of Luke 5:15.

Some commentaries, like the ones by Matthew Henry or William Barclay, would focus on the divine authority and compassion of Jesus as demonstrated through his healings.

Others might emphasize the social and religious implications of Jesus' growing popularity.

They might discuss how such fame could lead to opposition from religious authorities who felt threatened by Jesus' influence (as seen later in the Gospels).

Generally, however, commentators would agree that this passage illustrates a significant phase in Jesus' ministry where his actions and teachings begin to draw attention throughout Judea and beyond.

Luke 5

Luke 5

What does Luke 5:15 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 5:15 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?