CHAPTER 5

Verses 1-12 are one story.
Let's look at this story.

1 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,
2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
3 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.
4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
5 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.
6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
7 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.
8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:
10 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.
11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

The call of Peter, Andrew, James and John is related in Matthew 4, and Mark 1.
Matthew and Mark give the brief account, and Luke gives the extended version.

First, the crowd "pressed upon" Jesus so that they might "hear the Word of God."
It was prophesied before that when "Shiloh" came, "unto Him shall the gathering of the people be." (Genesis 49:10)
Though the Pharisees and Sadducees despised Him, the "common people heard him gladly." (Mark 12:37)

Second, Jesus was near (on the shores of) "the lake of Gennesaret."
Jesus saw the two ships, and realized they offered a perfect amphitheatre for speaking to all the crowd.
They could not hear Him, bunched up and "pressed upon" Him, but they would be able to hear if His voice were amplified across water.

Jesus also saw the owners of the ships "washing their nets."
He stepped into one of the ships and asked Peter (the owner) to move away from the shore.
Peter may have been a big, blustery type man, but he was a gentle soul, and did as Jesus asked.

Third, Jesus taught the people "the Word of God."
Let me just say here, the WHOLE PURPOSE of this story is that the PEOPLE might HEAR "the WORD of God!"

Fourth, AFTER Jesus had completed teaching the people, He offered an incentive to Peter and the others who worked with him. He asked them to move the ship out a little, and try catching some fish. Simon noted that they had worked ALL NIGHT, but hadn't caught anything. But, he also said, "at thy word I will let down the net."

Simon had been listening to the teaching. He KNEW that Jesus taught truth!
He TRUSTED Jesus. And he was willing to DO as Jesus asked.

When YOU met Jesus, was it not the same with you?

Fifth, Peter's nets caught so many fish they began to come apart! So he called for help from the other boat nearby (James and John's).
They brought in so many fish that BOTH boats began to sink!!

Peter realized this was a miracle from God, and told Jesus, "Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord." He recognized Jesus as LORD!

Sixth, Jesus extended a call to ministry for these men. He told them, "from henceforth thou shalt catch MEN!" This indicated that these men would become those by whom others would "hear the Word of God!"

Seventh, Peter, Andrew, James and John "forsook all, and followed HIM!"
They left father, mother, brethren, sisters, jobs, businesses.
They left in order to become those by whom others would "hear the Word of God!"

This story is related in this manner for a REASON!
It is to let us know that when we come to Jesus, we are to BECOME the "ambassadors of Christ!" (2Corinthians 5:20)
NOTHING is more important in a believer's life than helping others "hear the Word of God!"

12 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.
13 And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.
14 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.
15 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.
16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

Leprosy (or Hansen's Disease) was awful. According to the law of God, those who were infected with leprosy (and could not be cleansed) had to live outside the camp, separate from others. And if anyone approached the leper, he was to cry out "unclean, unclean!" (See Leviticus 13:45-47)

No one was supposed to touch a leper! But Jesus did!

The man had cried out in a tremendous show of faith. He said, "Lord, if thou WILT, thou CANST make me clean."

Jesus' response was coupled with His touch. And "IMMEDIATELY" the man was cleansed!

Now, here's the interesting part. WHY would Jesus tell the cleansed leper NOT to tell anyone, and to go present himself to the priest according to the law?
There was a good reason!

The law stated that a cleansed leper needed to see the priest and be pronounced cleansed (See Leviticus 13:17).

The pronouncing of the man "clean" was WITNESS to the fact of his cleansing.
That is why we should go to church and make a PUBLIC confession of our faith when we are saved!
WITNESSES are there to attest to the cleansing!

Further, Jesus did not forbid the man from telling about the miraculous cleansing.
Jesus simply wanted the man to be accepted when he told of his cleansing!

Jesus' "fame" spread because of the miraculous things He did.
The crowds overwhelmed Him with desires for healing.
This distracted Him from producing the GOOD NEWS -- "the WORD of GOD!"

Therefore, Jesus drew aside for awhile to pray.
Later, Jesus returned from the wilderness prayer interlude, and began teaching again to more controlled crowds.

For instance, in the next story Luke produces, Jesus is in a "house."

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.
18 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.
19 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.
20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?
23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?
24 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.
25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

Notice that Jesus is now in a "house" teaching the "Word of God."
This is a closed session, so to speak. Entry was limited, and even more so because of the crowd that was gathered.

The men who came bearing the lame "could not find by what way they might bring him in the house because of the multitude."

But they were TRUE FRIENDS!
They, after all, were doing the BEST they knew for their friend.
They were bringing him to JESUS!

Might I say also, they were determined to get the lame man to Jesus!
I preach a sermon called, "THE DAY THEY TORE THE ROOF OFF FOR THEIR FRIEND!"
Are YOU willing to go to such great lengths to get YOUR friends to Jesus?

These friends used ingenuity in getting the lame man to Jesus!
Perhaps, if Christians would be a little more innovative, they could bring more friends to Jesus!

I'm quite sure that while they were letting the man down into the place where Jesus was, the crowd was quite focused on this instance.

Once the man was before Jesus, our Lord noted TWO things:
First, He noted "their faith,"
Second, He noted (what many people miss) that the lame man was more concerned with his SINS than with his inability!
The reason I say the former, is because Jesus immediately let the man know that the actions of him and his friends had shown Him their faith, and comfort was first ministered to the spirit of the man!

Jesus did not immediately minister to the body of the man.

There was purpose in Jesus' actions. He heard the crowd. He knew the murmurings.
And, after He had ministered to the man's spirit, He also heard the UNbelief in the hearts of the "scribes and Pharisees!"

There is a REASON why Jesus ministers to our spirits first!
Part of that reason is to give us COMFORT! We immediatetly understand that He loves us, and that He forgives us!
But another part of that reason is that what Jesus does in US, awakens the broken spirits of OTHERS!

What Jesus had said awakened the spirits of the "scribes and Pharisees." But instead of praising God for the wonderful joy of forgiveness, their jealousy was aroused!

They asked, "Who can forgive sins, but God alone?"
In THAT question, they hit the nail on the head!
Jesus wanted the MAN to know he was forgiven.
He also wanted the scribes and Pharisees to know that He is GOD!
He HAS the authority to forgive sins!! (See verse 24 above)

Jesus also has the power to heal!
The Greek word for "couch" is klinidion, meaning little couch or pallet. Jesus, in response to the statement of the scribes and pharisees, told the man to take up his pallet and walk!

Now my understanding of verse 23 may be a little different than some others.
Seems to me Jesus was saying it was EASIER to say "be healed," than to say "be forgiven!"
He tackled the HARDEST problem FIRST!
Then, to show He has the authority to forgive sins, he healed the man!
Jesus USED the lesser to PROVE the more important!

The Scripture says "immediately" the man picked up his pallet and walked!

Then, ALL were "amazed," glorified God, and were "filled with FEAR!"
There is NOTHING like realizing you are standing in PRESENCE of Almighty God!!

And when a person meets Jesus, that's exactly what happens!

27 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.
28 And he left all, rose up, and followed him.
29 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.
30 But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?
31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Jesus left the house, and, as He was walking (with the crowd following), He saw a tax-collector named Levi (later called Matthew). Levi was actually sitting at a table collecting taxes when Jesus called him!

To all the other Hebrews, this man, Levi, was a TRAITOR! He was a Jew collecting taxes for the Romans!

Tax collectors were despised by the Jews of that day. Thus, this man - Matthew - was an outcast to his own people. Matthew, to the normal Jew, was the lowest of the lowest in human society! But not so to Jesus!

Jesus spoke to him and said, "Follow me." Jesus, being a teaching rabbi, was actually inviting Matthew to become a disciple! And, even though Matthew was thought of as a rapscallion by the upper echelon of Jews, he recognized the importance of being a disciple of Jesus! It doesn't matter how low on the echelon of human society a person is!
"Whosoever" may come to Jesus!

Matthew, being appreciative for forgiveness, acceptance and salvation, made a "feast" for Jesus. Several other tax-collectors were invited; and of course, some "scribes and Pharisees."

The Jewish upities couldn't understand how Jesus could actually eat with such people!
To them, eating with such people defiled a righteous man!

Jesus said, "I am not come to call the righteous."
If a man thinks within himself that he is good, then he probably will not listen to Jesus.
That's because Jesus will tell him he's not good, he's a LOST SINNER in need of a SAVIOR! So, Jesus did not come then (nor does He call now) for those who are convinced of their own goodness.

Jesus explained that He came to call "sinners to repentance." Matthew was the perfect example at that supper. He was, in the eyes of all Jews of that day, a VERY GREAT sinner! But he had surrendered to Jesus, and was following Him! This is the proof of genuine repentance.

How wonderful it is to know that Jesus came to call us from sin to Him!
How wonderful it is to know that He is STILL calling today!

33 And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?
34 And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?
35 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

Someone had noticed that John the Baptist's disciples, and even the disciples of the Pharisees, fasted OFTEN. And they wondered why Jesus' disciples didn't fast.

The purpose of fasting is to "draw nigh unto God."
Doing without food, causes the belly to growl. During fasting, each growl is supposed to be a reminder to pray and seek God's closeness.

Jesus used Old Testament prophecy to tell them Who He was, and why His disciples didn't NEED fasting at the present time. (See Isaiah 6:1-5)
Jesus IS the "Bridegroom!" He is the One to Whom the whole church is betrothed!

Later, Jesus said, "the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days."
Make no mistake, there is need for fasting TODAY! While in this earthly tabernacle we groan and yearn to be closer to our Lord. Though we have the promise of His presence to be always with us, we ourselves draw away at times. And we need to utilize fasting as a means to "draw nigh unto God."

36 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.
37 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.
38 But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.
39 No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.

This is a succinct message to the leaders of the Hebrew faith of that day.

New cloth shrinks when washed. Old cloth is weak. One doesn't put new cloth patches on an old cloth or it will tear from the shrinking pressure.

And new wine expands. Old wineskins are weak. One doesn't put new wine in an old wineskin or it will burst from the expanding pressure.

Jesus was pointing out that old religious forms could not hold the power and truth of the new covenant God was making with men through Jesus Christ!

God's Holy Spirit is constantly with believers. In the Old Testament one can note that God's Spirit "came upon" someone enabling them to special service. But with the New Covenant He is present ALWAYS! The difference is not that GOd's Holy Spirit is more available to the Christian than the Jewish people of old. For God's Spirit was ALWAYS available to them. But God's power THROUGH them was not as great as His power through Christians is today. The testimony of a Christian today is accompanied by power with the presence of God's Holy Spirit!

Thus, the New Covenant made through Christ could not be combined with the old religious form. The Old Covenant was filled with ritualistic and sacrificial practices which are not necessary now that the Savior has come. He has made the ULTIMATE sacrifice for sin, and the only sacrifice one can make that is acceptable to God today is the sacrifice of giving self totally over to the Lordship of Jesus. Once that is done, the power of witnessing or testifying to others is automatically accompanied by God's Holy Spirit.

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.