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Summary

Luke 5:1–11 – Calling the First Disciples

What happens:
Jesus is teaching by the Lake of Gennesaret and gets into Simon’s boat to teach the crowd. Afterward he tells Simon to let down the nets for a catch. Simon, weary from fishing all night, obeys and they catch so many fish that their nets begin to break. They signal to their partners in the other boat to help and both boats fill and nearly sink. Simon Peter falls at Jesus’ knees, saying he is a sinful man. Jesus tells him not to be afraid and that from now on he will fish for people. They bring the boats to shore and leave everything to follow him.

What it means:
Jesus invites his followers into a new kind of work that transforms ordinary lives. Even those who doubt can experience abundance when they obey his word. His call replaces old priorities with a mission to draw others into God’s kingdom.


Luke 5:12–16 – Healing a Man with Leprosy

What happens:
A man covered with leprosy approaches Jesus, falls with his face to the ground, and begs to be made clean. Jesus reaches out his hand, touches him, and says “I am willing. Be clean.” The leprosy leaves immediately. Jesus instructs him to show himself to the priest and offer the sacrifices required by Moses. Despite crowds pressing around him, Jesus often withdraws to lonely places to pray.

What it means:
Jesus demonstrates that compassion drives his healing power and that no condition is beyond his touch. His adherence to the law shows respect for God’s order, and his commitment to prayer models the need for communion with the Father.


Luke 5:17–26 – Healing a Paralytic Lowered Through the Roof

What happens:
On a crowded day, Pharisees and teachers of the law sit by while people press in to hear Jesus. Four men carry a paralyzed friend on a mat but cannot reach Jesus. They remove part of the roof and lower the man before Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus says “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” The teachers of the law accuse him of blasphemy. To prove his authority, Jesus tells the man to get up, take his mat, and go home. He does so, and the crowd is amazed and glorifies God.

What it means:
Jesus claims authority to forgive sins, showing that spiritual restoration is his priority. He honors the faith of friends whose perseverance brings people to him. His healing validates his divine authority and reveals that forgiveness and wholeness go hand in hand.


Luke 5:27–32 – Calling of Levi and Eating with Sinners

What happens:
Jesus sees Levi son of Alphaeus at the tax collector’s booth and says “Follow me.” Levi stands up, follows him, and later hosts a banquet for Jesus at his house with many tax collectors and sinners. The Pharisees and teachers of the law complain, but Jesus responds “It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

What it means:
Jesus crosses social barriers to include those shunned by society. His mission is to bring repentance and new life to the spiritually needy. He redefines righteousness as a matter of grace rather than lineage or status.


Luke 5:33–39 – Question About Fasting

What happens:
People ask Jesus why his disciples do not fast as John’s disciples and the Pharisees do. Jesus replies that wedding guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them but will fast when he is taken away. He adds that no one tears a patch from an old garment to patch a new one or pours new wine into old wineskins because it will burst. New cloth and new wineskins are needed for new things.

What it means:
Jesus introduces a new era that cannot be contained by old religious forms. His presence brings fresh life that demands appropriate structures. Holding onto outdated practices hinders the growth and vitality of God’s kingdom.


Application

  • Respond to Jesus’ invitation with obedience and trust to participate in his mission
  • Approach Jesus with humility and faith, knowing his compassion extends to every need
  • Persevere in faith and community support to bring others to Jesus for healing and forgiveness
  • Embrace Jesus’ grace that reaches beyond social boundaries to offer repentance and new life
  • Welcome the newness of Jesus’ kingdom by cultivating practices that foster spiritual growth

Bible

1And 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.

12And 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.

17And 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?

23Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?

24But 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.

27And 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.

32I 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?

35But 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.

37And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.

38But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.

39No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.

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