Luke 5 - Introduction

Butler's Comments

Chapter Five

(Luke 5:1-39)

THE SON OF MAN CATCHING MEN

IDEAS TO INVESTIGATE:

1.

If the fishermen had fished all night and caught nothing, why did they try their nets where Jesus suggested (Luke 5:5)?

2.

Why did Peter want Jesus to depart from him (Luke 5:8)?

3.

What is leprosy (Luke 5:12)?

4.

Why did Jesus send the cleansed leper to the priest (Luke 5:14)?

5.

What is a Pharisee (Luke 5:17)?

6.

Why did Jesus say first to the paralyzed man, Your sins are forgiven (Luke 5:20)?

7.

What is Jesus illustrating with the new garment and new wine (Luke 5:33-39)?

Applebury's Comments

CHAPTER FIVE

Outline

A.

Luke told about two more incidents that happened in Galilee (Luke 5:1-16).

1.

The miraculous catch of fish (Luke 5:1-11).

a)

It happened at the lake of Gennesaret (Luke 5:1-2).

(1)

The crowd was pressing upon Jesus in order to hear the word of God.

(2)

Jesus was standing on the shore of the lake.

(3)

He saw two boats by the shore.

(4)

The fishermen had left them and were washing their nets.

b)

Jesus taught the people from one of the boats (Luke 5:3).

(1)

He got into Simon's boat and asked him to row it a little way from the shore.

(2)

He sat down and taught the people from the boat.

c)

By miraculous power, Jesus enabled the disciples to catch a multitude of fish (Luke 5:4-7).

(1)

He told Simon to put out into the deep and let down the nets for the catch.

(2)

Simon protested, Master we toiled all night and caught nothing, but at your word we will let down the nets.

(3)

The miraculous catch of fishso many that the nets were breaking and the filled boats were about to sink.

d)

The effect of the miracle on Simon Peter (Luke 5:8-10 a).

(1)

He fell down at Jesus-' knees and said, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

(2)

His partners, James and John, were also amazed.

e)

The lesson drawn from the miracle (Luke 5:10 b - Luke 5:11).

(1)

Jesus said, Fear not; from henceforth you will catch men.

(2)

The disciples brought their boats to land and, leaving all, followed Him.

2.

The healing of a leper (Luke 5:12-16).

a)

The man was full of leprosy.

b)

When he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and said, If you will, you can make me clean.

c)

Jesus touched him and said, I will; be clean. And the leprosy left him.

d)

Jesus told him to tell no one, but to show himself to the priest as Moses had commanded.

e)

The effect of the miracle.

(1)

The report of it went everywhere.

(2)

The crowds came to hear and to be healed.

(3)

Jesus withdrew where He could be alone to pray.

B.

He told of the beginning of the complaints against Jesus (Luke 5:17-39).

1.

The complaint about healing a paralytic (Luke 5:17-26).

a)

The circumstances of the miracle (Luke 5:17-20).

(1)

Jesus was teaching.

(2)

Pharisees and doctors of the law were present.

(3)

The power of the Lord was with Him to heal.

(4)

A paralytic was let down through the roof into the presence of Jesus.

(5)

Jesus said, Man, your sins are forgiven.

b)

Jesus answered the complaint of the Pharisees (Luke 5:21-24).

(1)

They asked, Who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God?

(2)

Jesus answered them.

(a)

He asked, Why reason ye in your minds?

(b)

He gave them something to think about: Which is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise and walk?

(c)

He had performed the miracle to show that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.

(d)

Then He gave His command of authority, Arise, take up your bed and go to your house.

c)

The effect of the miracle (Luke 5:25-26).

(1)

The man arose and departed glorifying God.

(2)

Amazement seized all, and they glorified God.

(3)

They were filled with fear and said, We have seen strange things today.

2.

The complaint about associating with publicans (Luke 5:27-32).

a) The circumstances (Luke 5:27-29).

(1)

Jesus saw Levi the publican and said to him, Follow me.

(2)

Levi, whose other name was Matthew, arose and followed Him.

(3)

Levi gave a great reception for Jesus and invited a crowd of publicans and others.

b)

Jesus answered the complaint of the Pharisees (Luke 5:30-32).

(1)

The Pharisees and their scribes, muttering complaints, said to the disciples of Jesus, Why do you eat and drink with publicans and sinners?

(2)

Jesus answered them.

(a)

They that are in health have no need of a physician; but they that are sick.

(b)

I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

3.

The complaint about fasting (Luke 5:33-39).

a)

The circumstances (Luke 5:33).

(1)

The Pharisees and scribes said, John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast and pray.

(2)

Their complaint: Your disciples eat and drink.

b)

Jesus answered them (Luke 5:34-39).

(1)

By reference to weddings: Men do not fast while the bridegroom is with them; but, when he is taken away.

(2)

By reference to a patch on a garment: Putting a new patch on an old garment or new wine into old wine skinsthis is not done.

(3)

Those who have drunk the old wine will say that it is goodthey do not want to see any change in the time-honored custom of fasting!

Summary

The chapter begins with the account of two dramatic incidents in Jesus-' Galilean ministry of healing and teaching. It continues with the account of the beginnings of the tide of complaint against Him that reached its crest at Calvary.
On the shores of Lake Genessaret, a crowd had gathered to hear Jesus speak the word of God. He sat in Simon Peter's boat and taught the people. When He finished speaking, He said to Peter, Put out into the deep and let down the nets for a catch. Peter, experienced fisherman that he was, said, We toiled all night and took nothing, but if you say so we will let down the nets again. They did and the miracle took place! So many fish were caught that the nets were breaking and the boats were beginning to sink.
When Peter saw it, he fell on his knees before Jesus and said, Depart from me Lord, for I am a sinful man. But Jesus said, From now on you shall catch men. Then the disciples left all and followed Him.
A man who was full of leprosy came up to Jesus and said, If you will, you can make me clean. Jesus said, I will; be clean. And again a miracle happened; his leprosy was gone!
Jesus told him to tell no one, but go and show himself to the priest. Instead, he told everybody what happened, and crowds came to hear Jesus and to be healed. Then Jesus withdrew into a lonely place to pray.
The great popularity of Jesus was bound to arouse the opposition of the leaders of the Jews. He healed a paralytic after He had forgiven his sins, but they complained that He was speaking blasphemies. They reasoned that only God could forgive sins, but they were unaware of the deity of Jesus and that the Son of Man had authority on earth to forgive sins.
They complained about His association with publicans, but Jesus answered, Those who are in good health do not need a physician, but the sick do. They complained that He did not observe the time-honored custom of fasting, but He answered by showing that fasting was out of place while He, the bridegroom, was present. The time would come, however, when fasting would be appropriate. He implied that He would not be with them always, for He was going to the Father.
His answers to the complaints were clear and adequate, but the enemy was interested only in destroying any confidence the people might have in Him. They kept it up until the people were persuaded at His trial to cry out, Away with him; let Him be crucified.

Questions

1.

Under what circumstances did Jesus teach the lesson about becoming fishers of men?

2.

Where did Jesus do most of His teaching?

3.

What are the other names for the Sea of Galilee?

4.

What name did Luke use.

5.

How did Jesus use the miracle of catching fish to teach the lesson about fishers of men?

6.

Why did Peter protest when Jesus said, Put out into the deep and let down the nets for a catch?

7.

What is the meaning of the word master which Peter used in addressing Jesus?

8.

How does it differ in meaning from Lord?

9.

How did Peter show his confidence in Jesus?

10.

What did Peter say when he saw that a miracle had happened?

11.

What basic mistake did he make?

12.

What proof is there that it was a genuine miracle?

13.

When did Jesus perform another miracle like it?

14.

What was Peter's response at that time?

15.

Who were the sons of Zebedee? What were they to Peter?

16.

Although the word catch literally means take alive, what point did Jesus make in using it?

17.

What did the disciples do after they witnessed the miracle?

18.

What are the facts about the cure of leprosy in Bible times?

19.

In what ways is the disease of leprosy like sin?

20.

What were the O. T. regulations about leprosy and its cure?

21.

Who are the three O. T. characters who were stricken with leprosy because of their acts of sin?

22.

What did the leper say to Jesus?

23.

Why did Jesus forbid him to tell about his healing?

24.

Why did he disobey?

25.

Why do some disobey the gospel command to tell the good news to all the world?

26.

What was Jesus-' attitude toward all the sick who were brought to Him?

27.

Why did He withdraw to a quiet place?

28.

How was Luke able to write such vivid accounts of the ministry of Jesus?

29.

What are some of the facts about Jesus-' prayers?

30.

How can the story of Jesus become a living reality to us?

31.

What was the primary purpose of Jesus miracles?

32.

Why did Jesus and the apostles teach in the synagogues of the Jews?

33.

Who were the Pharisees?

34.

What are the beliefs of the Pharisees and the Sadducees?

35.

Who were the scribes? What was their work?

36.

Where was the principal opposition to Jesus located?

37.

Why did Jesus carry on the greater part of His ministry in Galilee?

38.

What is meant by seeing their faith?

39.

Why did Jesus forgive the sins of the paralytic before He healed him?

40.

Explain the reasoning of those who said that Jesus had spoken blasphemies.

41.

What is meant by the heart as the term is used in Scripture?

42.

How does the gospel act upon the heart?

43.

Which was easier for Jesus to say, Your sins are forgiven or Arise and walk?

44.

Why did Jesus say to the paralytic, Arise and walk?

45.

What was the reaction of the people to the miracle of healing the paralytic?

46.

Who was Levi? What was his other name?

47.

What did Levi do after becoming a follower of Jesus?

48.

What was the attitude of the Pharisees when they saw Jesus at Levi's feast?

49.

How did Jesus answer their complaint?

50.

How did Jesus answer the complaint about fasting?

51.

What was implied by His remark?

52.

What does the Bible say about fasting on the part of Christians?