Picture this: a bustling crowd by the Lake of Gennesaret, eager to hear the words of Jesus. As fishermen wash their nets, little do they know, their lives are about to change forever.
The Reading: Luke 5
World English Bible1 Now while the multitude pressed on him and heard the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret.
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2 He saw two boats standing by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
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3 He entered into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.
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4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch.”
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5 Simon answered him, “Master, we worked all night, and took nothing; but at your word I will let down the net.”
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6 When they had done this, they caught a great multitude of fish, and their net was breaking.
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7 They beckoned to their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. They came, and filled both boats, so that they began to sink.
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8 But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord.”
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9 For he was amazed, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had caught;
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10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will be catching people alive.”
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11 When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything, and followed him.
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12 While he was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man full of leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell on his face, and begged him, saying, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.”
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13 He stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.” Immediately the leprosy left him.
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14 He commanded him to tell no one, “But go your way, and show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing according to what Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.”
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15 But the report concerning him spread much more, and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.
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16 But he withdrew himself into the desert, and prayed.
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17 On one of those days, he was teaching; and there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every village of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. The power of the Lord was with him to heal them.
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18 Behold, men brought a paralyzed man on a cot, and they sought to bring him in to lay before Jesus.
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19 Not finding a way to bring him in because of the multitude, they went up to the housetop, and let him down through the tiles with his cot into the middle before Jesus.
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20 Seeing their faith, he said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”
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21 The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?”
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22 But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, answered them, “Why are you reasoning so in your hearts?
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23 Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you;’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk?’
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24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (he said to the paralyzed man), “I tell you, arise, and take up your cot, and go to your house.”
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25 Immediately he rose up before them, and took up that which he was laying on, and departed to his house, glorifying God.
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26 Amazement took hold on all, and they glorified God. They were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today.”
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27 After these things he went out, and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and said to him, “Follow me!”
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28 He left everything, and rose up and followed him.
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29 Levi made a great feast for him in his house. There was a great crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining with them.
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30 Their scribes and the Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?”
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31 Jesus answered them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do.
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32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
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33 They said to him, “Why do John’s disciples often fast and pray, likewise also the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink?”
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34 He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast, while the bridegroom is with them?
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35 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them. Then they will fast in those days.”
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36 He also told a parable to them. “No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old garment, or else he will tear the new, and also the piece from the new will not match the old.
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37 No one puts new wine into old wine skins, or else the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed.
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38 But new wine must be put into fresh wine skins, and both are preserved.
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39 No man having drunk old wine immediately desires new, for he says, ‘The old is better.’”
What This Chapter Is Really Saying
Teaching from a Boat
As Jesus is preaching to a large crowd, he notices two boats by the lake. He hops into Simon Peter's boat and asks him to row a bit out to teach the people from the water. This clever move helps him reach the crowd without being overwhelmed.
The Miraculous Catch
After his teaching, Jesus tells Simon to venture into deeper waters and drop his nets again. Though Simon is skeptical, having caught nothing all night, he agrees. Miraculously, they catch so many fish that their nets nearly break! The catch is so massive that both boats nearly sink when they try to bring it ashore. Peter is overwhelmed and falls at Jesus' feet, feeling unworthy, but Jesus reassures him, saying he will now be a fisher of men.
Healing the Leper
Next, Jesus encounters a man with leprosy, who pleads for healing. With compassion, Jesus touches him and says, "I want to. Be made clean," and instantly the man is healed! Jesus instructs him to show himself to the priest and keep the miracle quiet, but word spreads quickly, leading to large crowds seeking healing from Jesus.
The Paralyzed Man
One day, while teaching, a group of friends brings a paralyzed man to see Jesus. Unable to get through the crowd, they creatively lower him through the roof. Jesus sees their faith and forgives the man's sins, stirring controversy among the religious leaders present. To prove his authority, He tells the man to stand up and walk. The man does just that, leaving everyone in awe.
Calling Levi
After these miracles, Jesus calls Levi, a tax collector, to follow him. Levi instantly leaves his lucrative job and throws a feast at his home, inviting others like him. The Pharisees criticize Jesus for mingling with sinners, but Jesus retorts that he came to help those in need, not the righteous.
New Wine, New Cloth
Concluding this chapter, Jesus shares a parable about new wine needing new wineskins and old garments not accommodating new patches. He implies that his message represents a transformative new covenant, which can't be mixed with old ways.
Why It Matters
Embracing the Unexpected
Luke 5 teaches us about faith and the unexpected ways God can work in our lives. Just like Peter, we might doubt what is possible, but when we step out in faith, amazing things can happen.
Healing and Compassion
Jesus demonstrates that compassion and healing go hand in hand. His interaction with the leper reminds us that everyone deserves kindness and a second chance, no matter their past.
Following the Call
Levi's response to Jesus's call prompts us to reflect on our own lives. Are we willing to leave behind what holds us back to pursue a greater purpose? Jesus invites each of us to follow him, just as he did with his first disciples.
Discover more about what it means to follow Jesus and connect with a community of faith by using Sancta to find a church near you.
Coming Up Next: Luke 6
In Luke 6, we continue our journey as Jesus teaches about the Sabbath, calling his disciples to deeper understanding and compassion. Get ready for more powerful lessons and miracles!