Notes on Luke 5:8-14

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.

Luke 5:10

James and John. Prominent disciples who joined Peter as an "inner circle" among the disciples (8:51; 9:28, 54). Do not be afraid. Jesus encouraged faith in Peter and the other disciples. catch men. The word evokes rescue from danger. Instead of catching living fish to kill for consumption, they would catch spiritually dead people for new life in Christ (see Eph. 2:1-8). This is the central calling of every disciple. Those who have followed Jesus by believing the gospel are to call others to follow him as disciples (see Matt. 28:19-20; John 20:21; Acts 1:8).

Luke 5:11

followed him. This is the basic description of Jesus's disciples. They follow by acknowledging his lordship (Rom. 10:9) and learning from teaching (see Matt. 11:29; John 14:23-24). left everything. Other things in this life do not compare to Jesus. They can be forsaken in light of his call (9:3; 12:33; 14:26, 33; 18:22; John 12:25).

Luke 5:12

leprosy. The word leprosy was kind of a catchall term for various kinds of skin diseases, including the actual condition of leprosy. Some conditions would clear up and be examined by the priest (Lev. 13–14). However leprosy itself had no cure. The disease creates open sores and lesions on the skin which often open up and cause great pain. As it progresses, the disease brings about permanent nerve damage, which often leads to physical disfigurement and the loss of any sensation in limbs. This led to unknown injuries which could become infected. It was often referred to as a condition of living death. Leprosy was an especially powerful sign of humanity's spiritual disease called sin (Isa. 1:4-6). fell on his face. A sign of humility and reverence (17:16). He was desperate for Jesus's help. willing. The man understood Jesus's power and ability to make his clean. He didn't know if he was willing to heal.

Luke 5:13

touched him. Leprosy had social implications in addition to the physical difficulties (see note on v. 12). The man would have been living alone, outside the town, and considered unclean (Lev. 13:45-46). He was expected to keep his distance from others and yell a warning if anyone came close. If someone touched a leper, he would be made unclean as well. leprosy left him. Instead of becoming unclean when Jesus touched the leper, Jesus made the leper clean. Such is his power that the healing was immediate.

Luke 5:14

Moses commanded. Leviticus 14 says that the priest was to examine the man to see if he has been healed. If he had, then the priest declared him to be ceremonially clean, ceremonially washed him, and welcomed him back into the community. testimony. More than obeying the law, Jesus wanted something about himself known. He could do what no priest could do. A normal priest in Israel would have been unable to heal the leper or even touch him for fear of being made unclean. Jesus could actually bring healing.

Related Resources

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.