Luke 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,
Such a large crowd, they were being pressed against Him.
2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
It's the end of the day and these fishermen were cleaning up from their day on the lake.
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.
Christ is finding a place to teach the people on shore creating an amphitheater.
4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
They had been at it for quite awhile and had caught nothing.
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.
Faith †
6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
When we follow the things of God, blessings flow in abundance. Remember though, it's on His time the blessings come, not ours.
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.
James and John were called over to gather as much as they could fit on their ships.
8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
When you can't make things work and The Lord shows up giving you all need, you had better understand what just happened. Accept The Lord and be blessed.
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.
Christ will have them net humans from now on. They will put forth The Truth and capture many.
11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
They left the world they had been living in behind. A new way of life has begun and with it would come a life that would change them FOREVER.
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.
FAITH!
13 And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.
RESULT!
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.
Here Christ tells him not tell say anything about what just took place, but He referenced Leviticus 14:4-8 to be done. Leviticus 14:4-8 4 Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: 5 And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water: 6 As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water: 7 And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field. 8 And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days.
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.
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.
They're not coming because they believe in His work, they're coming to find ways to discredit His work.
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.
They're seeking means because it's so crowed they can't get to Christ.
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.
The friends of the crippled man raised him up to the roof, cut a hole in the roof and lowered him down to Christ.
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?
This chapter jumps around a bit, but the points are clear. These scribes and pharisees are jealous and their evil can't be contained.
22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?
Christ reads their minds. He knows their evil.
23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?
Actions always speak louder. Forgiveness is recorded in Heaven, but to see the power of God right before your eyes becomes something witnessed and told to others as the blessing it is, blesses others.
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.
Christ is showing His power to these scribes and pharisees. By showing He can heal, He shows them Who can forgive sins.
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.
What had happened in front of their eyes wasn't something they have witnessed before. Each day we have as Christians, should be seen the same way. Praise God†
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.
Levi was also named Matthew, the writer of The Book of Matthew.
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.
Christ Jesus, Peter, James, John and Andrew all went to Matthews house with the other government officials to have a meal.
30 But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?
Dinner is one thing, hanging out with evil people everyday is another matter. The scribes and pharisees lack that understanding.
31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
satan doesn't go after evil people, he already has them. The same idea in reverse is Christ gives to those in need of Him. I went to a strip club to handout Christian literature. I didn't go in, but handed them out in the lot. How else would you know who went to the strip clubs, if you don't stand in the lot?
32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Christians already know Christ, we must reach those that don't. At the same time though, don't waste time with those that refuse Him. There are those waiting to hear that may miss out because you're arguing with those that hate Him.
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?
The scribes and pharisees refuse to understand.
34 And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?
The Groom is there with them now and the feast is right in front of them.
35 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
We fast now. Our Bridegroom = Christ was taken from us the day He rose to the Father and is of His right hand. We wait for His return on that 7th trump.
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.
You can't give The Truth to those that refuse it. They will just get bent out of shape just as a new piece of cloth used as a patch on an old garment. Once washed, it will pucker it up.
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.
Old skin bottles aren't flexible. They've hardened and when wine ferments it will burst the bag.
38 But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.
Many are so locked in their minds with junk, they just can't handle the truth of God's Word. Only when we empty self, can we hear and accept Truth.
39 No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.
It's just too hard for those that have made their minds up to not accept Truth. Church's teaching traditions = old wine and lies have made people comfortable and cozy, conforming with the world. Only The new wine = God's Word chapter by chapter, verse for verse, taken in by those who hunger for it, will be strong in it. We are to be salt, not sugar!