Tyndale Open Study Notes

Verse 1

5:1-11 This is the first call of disciples recorded in Luke; Matthew and Mark recount a (presumably earlier) call of the four fishermen brothers (Matt 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20). Jesus demonstrated extraordinary authority in the miraculous catch of fish and in his call of Simon Peter.

Verse 3

5:3 So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds: By sitting in the boat slightly offshore, Jesus had a platform from which to address the people without being mobbed.

Verse 4

5:4 let down your nets to catch some fish: Peter was naturally skeptical when a rabbi told fishermen how to catch fish. Jesus’ command was odd for three reasons: (1) When the sun came up, the fish moved to the bottom of the lake (which is why they fished at night); (2) they fished with a heavy dragnet hung over the side of the boat by two men (or between two boats) and could not go deep with it; (3) they had just fished all night with no results, and the prospects were now much more unlikely.

Verse 7

5:7 Their partners in the other boat were James and John, who with their father Zebedee were business partners with Peter (see 5:10; Mark 1:19-20) and Andrew (see Mark 1:16). • both boats were filled with fish: This dramatic miracle confirmed Jesus’ authority over the forces of nature.

Verse 8

5:8 I’m such a sinful man: Cp. Isa 6:5.

Verse 10

5:10 Jesus drew a spiritual analogy between fishing and seeking people for the Kingdom of God.

Verse 11

5:11 they left everything: Their sacrifice was remarkable in a culture that so highly valued loyalty to family and clan.

Verse 12

5:12 an advanced case of leprosy: “Leprosy” does not refer specifically to the modern disease known as leprosy (Hansen’s disease), but to a variety of skin disorders. To avoid contagion, lepers were outcasts in the ancient world, required to live on the margins of society. The law of Moses set guidelines for the diagnosis and quarantine of leprosy (Lev 13–14).

Verse 13

5:13 Jesus reached out and touched him: Most people feared catching the disease through physical contact, but Jesus showed compassion. Jesus was not contaminated by disease or evil, but brought healing and salvation. • Be healed: Literally Be cleansed. This act had spiritual and physical significance, since leprosy separated Israelites from social contact and religious practice.

Verse 14

5:14 Jesus often told those he healed not to tell anyone what had happened to avoid celebrity status. Nonetheless, news of these events spreads like wildfire (see 5:15-16; see also “The Secret of the Messiah” Theme Note). • Go to the priest and let him examine you. . . . the offering: Those healed of leprosy had to be declared clean by a priest, and a sacrifice was offered on their behalf.

Verse 17

5:17-26 The healing of the paralyzed man initiated the conflicts Jesus had with religious leaders throughout his public ministry until he was crucified in Jerusalem.

5:17 Pharisees: See “The Pharisees” Profile. • Teachers of religious law, also called “scribes” and “lawyers,” were experts in interpreting the law of Moses. Most of the scribes were Pharisees, though some were Sadducees.

Verse 19

5:19 took off some tiles: Palestinian roofs were normally made of wooden beams covered with reeds and mud or clay. Either this roof had tiles, or else Luke was interpreting the episode for his Greek readers (cp. Mark 2:4, which speaks of digging through the roof).

Verse 22

5:22 Jesus knew what they were thinking: While the Pharisees were accusing Jesus of blasphemy, he was reading their minds—something only God can do.

Verse 23

5:23-24 Jesus showed his authority to forgive sins by healing the man.

Verse 24

5:24 Son of Man: See “The Son of Man” Theme Note.

Verse 27

5:27-32 The call of Levi led to Jesus’ second conflict with the religious leaders, and it introduced the idea that Jesus had come to save sinners.

5:27 tax collector: See study note on 3:12. • Levi’s tax collector’s booth was probably a toll booth for goods in transit. • Levi was also called Matthew (Matt 9:9; see “Matthew (Levi)” Profile).

Verse 29

5:29 with Jesus as the guest of honor: Matthew introduced Jesus to his friends and colleagues to honor Jesus for calling him as a disciple. It was common in the ancient world to repay honor with honor.

Verse 30

5:30 Meals were rituals of social status in the ancient world, and eating with someone meant social acceptance of that person. The Pharisees refused to eat with tax collectors and other sinners, or to enter their homes, believing that this would defile them. They expected Jesus, as a rabbi, to do the same. Jesus shattered social norms by dining with sinners and allowing sinful people to touch him (5:29; 7:39; 15:1). The religious leaders severely criticized him for this and derisively called him “a friend of tax collectors and other sinners” (7:34).

Verse 31

5:31-32 Jesus responded that, like a doctor, his mission was to work with sick people, not the healthy. Jesus was not called to minister to self-righteous people, but to those who recognized their spiritual need for God’s grace and healing.

Verse 33

5:33 John the Baptist’s disciples: Most rabbis had students who learned from them and served them (see also Acts 19:1-7). • fast and pray regularly: Many pious Jews fasted two days a week (Luke 18:12). Fasting was associated with spiritual preparation (Esth 4:16) and repentance (2 Sam 12:22; Joel 1:14; Jon 3:5). Fasting is not a means of righteousness (Isa 58:4-5; Jer 14:12) but a spiritual discipline for cultivating intimacy with God. Fasting is often linked with prayer and spiritual retreat. • Why are your disciples always eating and drinking? The point was that they did not fast regularly.

Verse 34

5:34-35 Do wedding guests fast? Just as it would be inappropriate for anyone to fast at a wedding celebration, it was inappropriate for people to fast while the Messiah was with them. God’s final salvation is a great wedding feast that God prepares for his people (Isa 25:6-8; Luke 14:15-24).

Verse 36

5:36-38 a new garment . . . new wine: New cloth shrinks when washed and so tears the old; new wine expands with fermentation and breaks brittle old wineskins. In either case, both old and new are ruined. Both illustrations make the point that the old is incompatible with the new. Jesus did not come to patch up the old covenant, but to establish a new one. The Kingdom of God brings a whole new orientation to thinking and living.

Verse 39

5:39 The old is just fine: The religious leaders were resistant to change.