Notes on Luke 4:40-5:8

Luke 4:40-41

Luke made a point of distinguishing between physical sickness and disease and demonic afflictions. Not all infirmities are spiritual in nature (see 9:1-2; 13:10-17; Matt. 8:16-17).

Luke 4:41

he was the Christ. Jesus's identity would eventually be revealed and proclaimed throughout the world (see 24:44-47; Acts 1:8, 2:36). However, at this time, there was too much misunderstanding about who the Christ would be. Jesus needed to slowly show people that he was bringing salvation from sins, not simply liberation from Rome (see Mark 10:42-45; John 18:36-37).

Luke 4:42

solitary place. Jesus would regularly withdraw from the crowds for fellowship with God (5:15-16; 6:12; Matt. 14:23; Mark 1:35; 6:45-46). tried to keep him. How different the response here than in Nazareth (vv. 28-30)!

Luke 4:43

I must also preach. Jesus's ministry could not be reduced to healings and good deeds (v. 40). God sent him to preach the gospel of God's kingdom (v. 18; 9:2; Mark 1:15). The kingdom is about God's reign over the hearts and lives of people, not a physical land. Through faith in Christ, this kingdom is both a present reality and future hope (11:2, 14-22; 13:22-30; 16:16; 17:20-21; 22:16-18). Because the gospel which is the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16), it must be preached in every age.

Luke 5:1

crowding . . . listening. Jesus's powerful and authoritative ministry created in people a hunger for God's word (4:31-44). Gennesaret. Also known as the Sea of Galilee. Gennesaret was the area around the northwest side of the Sea. Thus, the name of the area often extended to the name of the Sea (see Num. 34:11). word of God. Often refers to the gospel message (Acts 8:12, 14).

Luke 5:2-3

Because the crowd was eager, Jesus decided to teach from a boat (see Mark 4:1-2). Luke emphasized the importance of God's word.

Luke 5:4

Simon. Later named Peter (v. 8; 6:14). Jesus had recently healed his mother-in-law (4:38-39). In this passage (vv.3-11), he is representative of the other disciples. let down your nets. Fishing in this day was done using dragnets. Those large nets were shaped like semi-circles, stretched over 100 ft. in length. The fishermen would cast out the nets and let them sink into the water to catch fish. These full, heavy nets would then be pulled back up into the boat.

Luke 5:5

Simon was reluctant to obey Jesus, perhaps for a few reasons. First, as a carpenter's son, he may have believed that Jesus had less knowledge of fishing than Simon, the fisherman by trade. Second, they had already been fishing all night and caught nothing. Finally, it was morning, which was a worse time to fish than evening. Nevertheless, Simon obeyed Jesus's instructions.

Luke 5:6-7

It is unclear if the miracle was one of Jesus's knowledge (location of the fish) or authority (directing the fish). Luke was more concerned to show the size of the miracle, which revealed Jesus's glory.

Luke 5:8

fell down. A visible sign of humility and fear (18:13). sinful man. Whenever humanity truly encounters God, what overcomes them most is his holiness (see 7:6; Job 42:5-6; Isa. 6:1-7). Peter's response indicates that he saw divine power at work through Jesus. Only God commands the seas and all that is in them (see Ps. 95:4-5; 148:1-8). Lord. Previously, Jesus was simply called master (v. 5). The word simply mean sir but Luke's previous thirty uses of it always indicate God.

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