Gospel of Luke Study – Chapter 5

Chapter 4 showed what happens when someone is empowered by the Holy Spirit, God’s Spirit; Jesus can withstand the devil, Jesus can heal, Jesus can relieve people of the burden’s of demons. He has this power, however, it isn’t a magical power, but a power with a purpose, and that purpose is God’s purpose. “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose.” Now this purpose is about to be seen as Jesus moves out from the Synagogues, where he has been teaching, into the countryside to come into contact with “others,” who are not of the “inside” group, but are “outsiders” according to those in the Synagogues (churches).

Luke 5:1-11 – Jesus calls the first Disciples
Jesus now is not in the synagogue. In fact, he is back in Galillee, rather than Capernaum and Judea. The “Once” possibly signifies that this isn’t necessarily chronological in terms of time, however, what Luke is showing is that Jesus is going forth from Synagogue to Outsiders, this is the progression of Jesus in Luke.

“The crowds” are pressing him to teach them. The crowds want more from Jesus, and they do not care that he is not in the typical teaching location. In order to teach the crowds Jesus chooses to get into a boat? Does he not want them to try to throw him off a cliff like the crowds tried to do in Capernaum? Jesus has certainly seen that the fishermen are frustrated by their lack of catching any fish. Jesus is going to use this difficulty and the next miracle in order to translate his message to this group of people. The miracles are then actually a means to an end, not an end in themselves. Here certainly many fish are caught, and people will eat, but the importance here is to make Simon fully understand the importance of who Jesus is, and what Jesus is about to call him to do also.

Simon seems a bit perturbed, but has learned enough in his short time with Jesus, and the healing of his mother, that even though he has doubts he should listen to Jesus. But he doesn’t do so without at least a minor protest. Their catch of fish on momentous, their nets are breaking, they call other boats over, both boats are full and sinking. Jesus knows how to fish, knows where the fish are, and knows how to get them! This is a good guy to know! This is the first non-healing miracle. Jesus here shows he is beginning to bring a time of grace and abundance to the world.

Simon immediately understands what has just happened. He is in the presence of something greater than himself; his understanding is now beyond Jesus being just a miracle worker, and healer. Peter gets down on his knees, and utters the words all of us should utter in the presence of God, in prayer. If we get close to God we are in deep trouble, because “I am a sinful man!” What is the typical response to people when they are in the presence of God (angels), they are afraid. Jesus knows Simon has figured it out, and thus needs to set him at ease as the angels always do!

Jesus doesn’t contradict Simon; he doesn’t tell him he is not a sinful man. Jesus knows that Simon speaks truthfully, however, the call of Simon (nor anyone else) is not based upon Simon’s goodness, or anything else, but possibly in this instance simple obedience to listen to what Jesus said to do and to do it! This for Luke is the essence of discipleship. Listen to Jesus, do what he says, and follow!

James and John are mentioned here briefly as Simon’s partners, they do not enter into the story, but they do seem to be called along with Simon, or at least they think they are because they seem to follow also!! It seems there is a larger crowd who witnessed this, but the ones who are named appear to be the only ones called, or the only ones who think they are called. This leaves an interesting thought, would Jesus have taken anyone one who followed him after witnessing this event, as he seems to have taken James and John, and only 3 followed him after this?? “They” (Simon, James & John) left everything and followed Jesus. They left all the fish they caught, they families, their lives, etc.?? How willing are we to do this? Now it doesn’t say anything about them being married, so they probably just left their families like parents, brothers and sisters, etc. They are commissioned, taken away from their regular jobs, and given a new, though similar one.

Luke 5:12-16 – Jesus Cleanses a Leper
Leviticus 13-14 shows what the requirements under the law are regarding Leprosy: Examination by a priest; quarantine for 7 days; check by priest; extension of quarantine or clean. The person with leprosy must wear torn clothes, have disheveled hair, live alone or with other lepers, and if approached by someone they must shout out, “Unclean! Unclean!”

As Jesus approaches the Leper breaks from what he is supposed to do, obviously having heard about Jesus, and believes Jesus can heal him. This is more than what the priests could do. Jesus also breaks from what he is supposed to do (stay away from Lepers), and he reaches out his hand to touch the Leper. This is a problem because it was thought that if you touched a leper when you were clean, you would become unclean. Here the exact opposite happens. Jesus is able to touch and make clean! Jesus is even more powerful than Elisha, who needs Naaman to wash in the river 7 times. There is no waiting period, no seven days, the healing is instantaneous. Jesus then instructs him to go show himself to the priests, and make an offering for your healing. Jesus doesn’t want them to know how it took place before they pronounce him clean! Jesus still wants him to follow protocol with the temple priests.

The Leper is a prime example of “the poor” whom Jesus came to help, and his faith, his humility (similar to Simon kneeling earlier) before Jesus depending totally on God’s mercy and care. The Leper recognizes his need for God’s help, and he pleads for it! (Ask and you shall receive, Luke 11:9)
Now Jesus is even more famous, word spread, and many crowds come to Jesus. Jesus would take frequent breaks to separate by himself and pray.

Luke 5:17-26 – Healing of a Paralyzed Man (not a Paralytic)
Jesus is again teaching, and the Greek text only mentions the Pharisees and teachers of the law being in attendance. This is the first time they show up in the story. And they have come from all over the area. A number of firsts in this story: a specific charge is mentioned (blasphemy), first time faith and forgiveness of sins are introduced.

In this story we are going to show the difference between the previous healing of the leper, this paralyzed man, and the Pharisees and teachers of the law in attendance. The power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal those in attendance (namely the Pharisees and the teachers of the law). However, unlike the leper earlier they do not ask Jesus for healing. They are just sitting listening to him. He has power at the ready, but no one seeking yet. In steps people who are seeking healing from Jesus. They can’t get in through the doors because there are too many Pharisees and teachers of the law lounging around, not wanting healing, so they try the roof. The remove the tiles, & send their friend down to Jesus.

The focus of the story is on the men carrying the paralyzed man, and only shifts when Jesus turns to the paralyzed man. Jesus seems to see the faith of the men carrying the paralyzed man, not the paralyzed man faith, or at least it is unclear if the paralytic is included here. Jesus proclaims that the paralyzed man’s sins are forgiven. He doesn’t seem to actually do the forgiving, but seems to pronounce something that has already happened. Is this the healing they were seeking? The reader had assumed that the healing wanted was that the paralytic would be able to walk! Here the scribes and Pharisees have a problem. Healing is OK, however, forgiveness of sins crosses the line. Forgiving sins is God’s territory. The experts that are gathered around Jesus begin a discussion over Jesus proclamation, and it seems that Jesus knows that they are all having the same questioning going on in their hearts.

Jesus confronts them. Which is easier to say?? Here is a question that has multiple answers. First, theologically the Pharisees are saying that only God can forgive, so obviously it is harder to forgive sins. However, you can’t tell if someone’s sins are forgiven until the end of time, so no one can prove they are or aren’t. Practically speaking it is harder to say stand up and walk because it is very easy to verify if you have done what you have said. In truth the Pharisees are correct that only God can forgive, and Jesus is showing them that He is standing right in their midst!! To prove that he does the practically harder thing, and heals the paralytic so he can walk. Jesus again seems to proclaim something that has already happened. He doesn’t touch the paralyzed man, but says “take up your mat,” meaning the healing has occurred already, and the man can go! The paralyzed man obeys Jesus and takes his mat and heads out. This is obedience, and possibly if he hadn’t obeyed he wouldn’t have been healed. I wonder if this is the state of everyone who doesn’t know who Jesus is, who hasn’t heard the story, or is unwilling, or unable to believe that Jesus has the power to heal/forgive. The paralyzed man glorifies God. Everyone is amazed (seized by amazement), and all glorify God. The Pharisees, scribes, teachers of the law are filled with awe. Here we have the term “son of man” used for the first time. Whenever this term is used it seems to have an apocalyptic flavor, meaning that it is focused on the end times, judgment day.

Luke 5:27-39 – Call of Levi & his Banquet
Here we have tax collector who is called by Jesus to follow. Tax collectors have a bad reputation, not well liked in the Jewish community, and considered swindlers, cheat, who collude with the Roman government to take money from the Israelites. The call story is very short, and to the point, but Levi’s response is profound. He is called, and so he gets up and follows!! Jesus uses the same words that Elijah uses to call Elisha, “follow me.” There appears to be nothing of value to Levi to calling him, except his willing response. This is sheer grace. Levi would be the low of the low in terms of position in Israel. He would be despised as a great sinner, not worthy of eating at the table of a Pharisee and yet Jesus calls him to be a disciple!!!!!! Levi rises similarly to the way the paralyzed man rose when healed. Levi is healed/transformed as well.

Eating is very important to Luke, meals are a social gathering time, a time to pull together as a community, and to really get to know each other. The Pharisees had strict rules about dining, and what you do, and would not each with others who did not follow such rules. Jesus, in Luke, is practically always coming from meal, or going to a meal.

Levi responds to Jesus call by throwing a banquet, and as the fishermen were charged with fishing for people, Levi is already bringing them in. The Pharisees have a problem because Jesus seems to be eating and drinking with “sinners” without requiring repentance before sitting down with them. Jesus answers their charge with a proverb. The mission of those who are righteous (supposedly the Pharisees, or so they think) is redefined. It isn’t to stay righteous (and clean) by not associating with the sinners, but rather to live with the sinners, and thus transform them (making them clean) by living with them, touching them, and loving them!!! Repentance and transformation occurs, but is not the precondition for Jesus’ fellowship with sinners, but rather occurs specifically because Jesus is fellowshipping with sinners. This then calls all who are followers of Jesus to radically change our method of discipleship. We are not called to be separate from a sinful world, but to fully engage it with the full realization that we have the power of God at work in us, and because of this power by our associating with the world God will transform people. It calls us to be as inclusive as possible giving up our comforts, our ideas of what is good, our ideas of how things should be in the world.

Debate about Fasting??
Jesus is asked a question about fasting, and why the disciples of John, and the Pharisees fast, but Jesus’ disciples do not. Jesus relates the question to a wedding feast. This is a time of feasting not fasting; when Jesus leaves the fasting will commence. Then Jesus compares what he is bringing about to something new, coming into the old practices. They do not fit. The old practices do not jive with the newness that Jesus is ushering in. If Jesus’ new were to be used to patch up the old, then it wouldn’t work. Here is a commentary on those thinking that Jesus is here to fix up the broken relationship of the Israelites. Jesus is bringing something newer than that. This is not just a patch, but an entire transformation. The metaphor of the old/new wineskins is that new wine must receive a new wineskin (transformation, requires a fully renewed life to mature in). You can’t just put the new ways into the old skin, there must be a total transformation. The difficulty is that the old wine is a tonic and it placates those who drink it because it is good. The old wine is more expensive, is better tasting, and lull to sleep those who partake of it, and prevents them from being transformed into the newness that Jesus is bringing.