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 5:19 mean?

Explanation

Luke 5:19 recounts an event in the life of Jesus where a paralytic man is being brought to Him for healing. Due to the crowd gathered around Jesus, the man's friends could not reach Him through conventional means.

Therefore, they climbed onto the roof of the house, removed some tiling, and lowered the man on his bed down into the room where Jesus was teaching.

This act demonstrates the friends' determination and faith in Jesus' ability to heal, as well as their ingenuity in overcoming obstacles.

The deeper meaning of this verse underscores themes of perseverance, faith, and the communal effort required to bring individuals to experience the transformative presence of Jesus.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

In first-century Palestine, houses often had flat roofs made of beams and branches, covered with mud and tiles.

The roofs were accessible by stairs or a ladder on the outside.

The houses were typically small, and large crowds could easily prevent access.

The event takes place during the early part of Jesus' ministry, where He had begun to attract attention due to His teachings and miracles, leading to large gatherings of people eager to hear Him and seek healing.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse illustrates the power of faith and determination.

The actions of the friends represent an active faith, a belief that leads to taking bold steps.

In the gospel narrative, this is often rewarded, as Jesus responds positively to demonstrations of faith.

From a Christian point of view, the act of lowering the paralytic through the roof can symbolize the need to remove barriers between humanity and God, often achieved through acts of faith and community support.

Practical Applications

The practical applications of this verse lie in its demonstration of the lengths one should go to in assisting others in their time of need. It encourages individuals to be innovative and proactive in helping others access the healing and support they need.

Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of community and collective action in overcoming obstacles that prevent individuals from receiving help.

Cross-References

Mark 2:4: "And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay."
Matthew 9:2-6: "And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee."

Language Study

Key words in the original Greek text of this verse include:

"housetop": The word used here is "δῶμα" (doma), which refers to the flat roof of a house.
"tiling": The term "κεράμων" (keramōn) can refer to clay tiles or slates that were part of the roof construction.
"couch": "κλίνη" (klinē) refers to the small bed or mat on which the paralytic man was laying.

These terms give us insight into the architecture of homes in Jesus' time and the specific actions taken by the friends to reach Him.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The act of lowering someone through a roof is unique to the Jesus healing narratives in the Bible and has no direct parallels in other ancient myths.

However, the theme of friends or individuals taking extraordinary measures to seek healing for someone can be found in various cultural tales. In Greco-Roman myths, individuals often undergo great trials to seek the favor of the gods or healing.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the passage doesn't necessarily intersect with any scientific understandings as it is a narrative account.

The construction of first-century Palestinian homes and their materials is of archaeological interest, supporting the feasibility of the event described.

Commentaries

Commentators on this verse often focus on the determination and faith of the paralytic's friends.

Matthew Henry comments on their zeal and ingenuity, attributing their actions to a strong faith that Jesus could heal.

John Gill notes the obstacles they faced due to the crowd, pointing out their perseverance.

Many commentators view the lowering of the paralytic as symbolic of removing barriers to Jesus' healing power. They highlight the communal and intercessory role played by the friends, emphasizing that sometimes faith is exercised not just by individuals, but by groups seeking good for others.

Luke 5

Luke 5

What does Luke 5:19 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 5:19 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?