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Luke 5: First Disciples Called
How large a crowd gathered around Jesus at the seashore?
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Luke 5:1–3 One day, Jesus stood on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, and the people crowded around him to hear the word of God. Two boats had been pulled onto the beach, left by fishermen who were washing their nets. He climbed into the boat that belonged to Simon and asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. He sat down and taught the multitude.
King James
Luke 5:1–3 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, and saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
Why was Simon the fisherman reluctant to go fishing?
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Luke 5:4–5 When he finished speaking, he turned to Simon. “Go to deep water and let down your net for a catch.”
“Master, we have worked hard all night and caught nothing. But because you say so, I will go out and let down the net.”
King James
Luke 5:4–5 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
What made the difference in the number of fish caught?
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Luke 5:6–7 This time, they caught so many fish their net started to break. They motioned for help from their partners and filled both boats so full they were on the verge of sinking.
King James
Luke 5:6–7 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
Why did Simon see himself as “sinful”?
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Luke 5:8 When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he turned to Jesus and fell to his knees. “Leave me, Master, for I am a sinful man.”
King James
Luke 5:8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
What was so amazing about the size of the catch? What lesson did Jesus want the fishermen to understand?
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Luke 5:9–10 He and those working with him were amazed at the huge number of fish they had caught, including James and John, the sons of Zebedee.
“You do not need to worry,” Jesus said. “From now on, you will fish for people.”
King James
Luke 5:9–10 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
What motivated the fishermen to leave their business?
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Luke 5:11 So they brought their boats to the shore, left everything, and followed him.
King James
Luke 5:11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
What did the leper know about Jesus? What did he not know?
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Luke 5:12–13 Near one town, a leper kneeled before Jesus, begging. “Sir, you could make me well if you wanted to.”
“I want to.” Moved with compassion, Jesus touched him. “Be cleansed.” Immediately, all signs of the leprosy disappeared.
King James
Luke 5:12–13 And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.
After being healed, what did the formerly leprous man do?
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Luke 5:14–15 “Do not tell anyone about this. Show yourself to the priest, and offer the sacrifices, taking two birds as commanded by Moses. Your healing will become public record so you will no longer be regarded as a leper.”
As the report of Jesus’ power rapidly spread, large crowds gathered to hear his teaching and ask for healing of their diseases.
King James
Luke 5:14–15 And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.
If Jesus had an unbreakable communication link with the Father, why did he need to be alone and pray? How often do you think he did this?
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Luke 5:16 He often retreated to a secluded place where he could be alone and pray.
King James
Luke 5:16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
“The power to heal was present.” What does that mean?
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Luke 5:17 One day, a crowd packed the room where Jesus was teaching, including Pharisees and teachers of the Law, seemingly from every Galilean and Judean town, so there was no space left, not even outside the door. The power to heal was present.
King James
Luke 5:17 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
Where did the men get the ropes needed to lower the paralytic through the roof?
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Luke 5:18–19 Some men carried a paralyzed man on a mat. They tried to enter the house, to lay him before Jesus. They could not find a way into the house, so they went up onto the roof and lowered him through an opening in the tiles, into the midst of the crowd and right in front of Jesus.
King James
Luke 5:18–19 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
Whose faith impressed Jesus? What did that have to do with the man’s sins being forgiven?
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Luke 5:20 Impressed by their faith, Jesus said, “My friend, your sins are forgiven.”
King James
Luke 5:20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
Why did the Pharisees think forgiveness of sin was blasphemy? By what authority can sins be forgiven?
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Luke 5:21–22 Some of the Pharisees and teachers murmured among themselves. “What is he saying? That is blasphemy. Only God can forgive sins.”
Immediately, Jesus recognized their reaction. “Why are you thinking I’ve done something wrong?”
King James
Luke 5:21–22 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?
How did Jesus prove his right to forgive sin?
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Luke 5:23–24 “Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or, ‘Stand and walk’? So you may know the Son of Man has authority on Earth to forgive sins”—he turned to the paralyzed man—”get up. Take your mat and go home.”
King James
Luke 5:23–24 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.
What was the extent of the miracle God did for the paralytic? How many people were affected? In what ways?
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Luke 5:25–26 Without hesitation, the man stood, grabbed his mat, and walked to his own house, praising God. Everyone marveled and glorified God, saying, “We’ve never seen anything like this before.”
King James
Luke 5:25–26 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.
Why did Matthew leave his business to follow Jesus?
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Luke 5:27–28 As Jesus walked along, he saw the tax collector Matthew, also called Levi, sitting at the place where people paid taxes. “Follow me,” he said.
Matthew got up, left everything, and followed.
King James
Luke 5:27–28 And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed him.
Who did Matthew invite to the feast at his house? Who came and who didn’t come? Why?
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Luke 5:29–30 Later, Matthew had a big feast for Jesus at his house. Many tax collectors and other outcasts were among the dinner guests who ate with Jesus and his disciples.
The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with such people?”
King James
Luke 5:29–30 And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them. But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?
How did Jesus’ social practices differ from the Pharisees? Why is that distinction important to the church today?
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Luke 5:30–32 The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with such people?”
“Healthy people do not need a doctor. The sick do. I have not come to invite to repentance those who think they are righteous. I have come for those who know they are sinners.”
James 2:9 If you favor some people above others, you have sinned by violating the principle that God has established.
King James
Luke 5:30–32 But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners? And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
James 2:9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
What motivates people to fast?
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Isaiah 58:4–6 Look, when you fast for leverage to get your way, you raise an evil fist against God that will not cause your voice to be heard. What kind of fast does God want? Does he want people to punish themselves, bowing like reeds bent in the wind, wearing burlap and covered with ashes? Is that what you call an appropriate day of fasting to the Lord? No, the fast I want is to break the shackles of wickedness and lift the burden of sin, to free the oppressed and break every yoke.
Luke 5:34–35 Jesus said, “At a wedding, the friends of the bridegroom do not go without eating while he is still with them. But the day will come when he will be gone. Then they will fast.”
Acts 27:33 At dawn, Paul begged them to eat, saying, “You haven’t eaten anything for two weeks while waiting, hoping, and praying for the storm to calm.
King James
Isaiah 58:4–6 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
Luke 5:34–35 And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
Acts 27:33 And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.
What do patched clothes and old wineskins have to do with the way we conduct our lives?
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Luke 5:36–39 He gave this illustration: “No one uses a piece of new cloth to patch old clothes. The patch would shrink, pull away from the old, and make the tear worse. Men do not pour new wine into old skins. If they did, the wineskin would burst, ruining both the wine and the wineskin. New wine is always kept in fresh skins so both are preserved. After tasting fine, aged wine, no one would want new, because the old is better.”
King James
Luke 5:36–39 And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.