Luke 5

King James Version

Full text for Luke Chapter 5

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,

2And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing [their] nets.

3And 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.

4Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, ‹Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.›

5And 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.

6And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

7And 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.

8When Simon Peter saw [it], he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

9For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:

10And 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.›

11And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

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.

13And he put forth [his] hand, and touched him, saying, ‹I will: be thou clean.› And immediately the leprosy departed from him.

14And 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.›

15But 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.

16And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

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.

18And, 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.

19And 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.

20And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, ‹Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.›

21And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

22But 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.›

25And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.

26And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

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.›

28And he left all, rose up, and followed him.

29And 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.

30But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?

31And 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.›

33And 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?

34And 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.›

36And 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.›

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Jesus calls Simon Peter, James, and John after a miraculous catch of fish, promising they will catch men. He then demonstrates His divine authority by cleansing a leper and forgiving the sins of a paralytic, healing him despite the skepticism of religious leaders. Following this, Jesus calls Levi, a publican, and teaches about His mission to call sinners to repentance, using parables about new wine and old wineskins to explain His new covenant.

Medium Summary

The chapter begins with Jesus teaching by the Lake of Gennesaret, where He instructs Simon Peter to cast nets into the deep after a fruitless night. A miraculous catch of fish ensues, leading Peter to acknowledge his sinfulness, and Jesus calls him, James, and John to become "fishers of men," which they immediately obey. Subsequently, Jesus cleanses a leper, demonstrating His power over disease, and instructs him to fulfill Mosaic law. Later, a paralytic is lowered through a roof, and Jesus, perceiving the faith of those who brought him, declares his sins forgiven, provoking questioning from the scribes and Pharisees regarding His authority. To prove His power to forgive sins, Jesus commands the paralytic to rise and walk, which he does, astonishing the onlookers. Jesus then calls Levi, a publican, who hosts a feast for Him and many sinners. When questioned by religious leaders about eating with such company, Jesus declares that He came to call sinners to repentance, like a physician tending to the sick. He further explains His new ministry through parables of the bridegroom and new cloth and new wine, indicating that His teachings represent a new dispensation not compatible with old traditions.

Long Summary

Luke chapter 5 details several significant events in Jesus' early ministry, highlighting His divine authority, call to discipleship, and the nature of His new covenant. It opens with Jesus teaching by the Lake of Gennesaret, where He uses Simon Peter's boat as a pulpit. After teaching, He commands Simon to launch into the deep for a catch, despite Simon's protestations of a night of fruitless toil. Obedience leads to an astonishing, miraculous haul of fish that fills two boats to the point of sinking, causing Simon Peter to fall at Jesus' knees, acknowledging his own sinfulness. Jesus reassures him, declaring that from henceforth he and his partners, James and John, would "catch men," leading them to forsake all and follow Him. Next, Jesus encounters a man full of leprosy, who, believing in Jesus' power, requests cleansing. Jesus touches him, an act forbidden by Mosaic law, and immediately cleanses him, instructing him to show himself to the priest and offer the commanded sacrifice for a testimony, while also charging him to tell no one, though Jesus' fame continued to spread. He then withdraws to the wilderness for prayer. Later, while teaching before a gathering of Pharisees and doctors of the law, a paralytic is brought to Him. Due to the dense crowd, the man's friends lower him through the roof on his bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus declares the man's sins forgiven, which sparks inward questioning among the religious leaders about His perceived blasphemy, as only God can forgive sins. Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, challenges them by asking whether it is easier to say "Thy sins be forgiven thee" or "Rise up and walk," then commands the paralytic to rise, take his bed, and go home. The man immediately obeys, glorifying God, and the crowd is filled with amazement and fear. The narrative continues with Jesus calling Levi, a publican, from his tax booth to follow Him. Levi responds by leaving everything and hosting a great feast for Jesus, attended by many publicans and sinners. This draws criticism from the scribes and Pharisees, who question Jesus' disciples about eating with such company. Jesus responds with the analogy of a physician, stating He came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. Finally, Jesus addresses questions about fasting, explaining that the companions of the bridegroom do not fast while he is present, but will when he is taken away. He further illustrates the incompatibility of His new teachings with old traditions through parables of new cloth on old garments and new wine in old wineskins, concluding that those accustomed to the old may not readily embrace the new.

Core Concepts

  • Miraculous PowerJesus demonstrates divine power through an extraordinary catch of fish, the instant cleansing of a leper, and the immediate healing of a paralytic, showcasing His authority over nature, disease, and physical infirmity.
  • Call to DiscipleshipJesus calls ordinary fishermen (Simon Peter, James, John) and a publican (Levi) to leave their former lives and follow Him, signifying a radical commitment and a new purpose of "catching men."
  • Authority to Forgive SinsJesus explicitly claims and demonstrates the power to forgive sins, a prerogative traditionally attributed only to God, which challenges the religious leaders and establishes His divine identity.
  • Mission to SinnersJesus declares His purpose is to call "sinners to repentance," not the righteous, likening Himself to a physician for the sick, thereby justifying His association with publicans and other marginalized individuals.
  • New Covenant vs. Old TraditionsThrough parables of the bridegroom, new cloth on old garments, and new wine in old wineskins, Jesus illustrates that His teachings and ministry represent a new dispensation that cannot be contained within or reconciled with rigid, outdated religious traditions.
  • Faith and HealingThe chapter highlights the role of faith, both from the leper who believed Jesus could cleanse him and from the friends who brought the paralytic, as a catalyst for divine intervention and healing.
  • Opposition from Religious LeadersThe scribes and Pharisees repeatedly question Jesus' actions and authority, particularly His claim to forgive sins and His association with sinners, revealing their resistance to His new message and methods.