LUKE 6:12-19 APOSTLES APPOINTED BY JESUS THE ANOINTED

APOSTLES APPOINTED

BY JESUS THE ANOINTED

Luke 6:12-19

Luke 6:12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

Susan: Jesus spent dedicated, lengthy times of prayer prior to major decisions and events in His ministry. Concerning the selection of the Apostles, Jesus prayed all night long.

Luke 6:13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;

Susie: When the next day dawned, he called His disciples (learners) and chose twelve of them to be His Apostles (emissaries or sent ones). These twelve would be given special duties and authority. You can read an account of the initial calling of some of these Apostles at John 1:35-51.

Luke 6:14 Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,

Susan: The two teams of brothers, Simon and Andrew and James and John (sons of Zebedee), had been fishing partners on the Sea of Galilee when Jesus called them (Luke 5:4-11).

Susie: Philip and Bartholomew are mentioned together many times. It is believed that Bartholomew is the same person as Nathanael, who Philip brought to Jesus (John 1:45).

Luke 6:15 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,

Susan: Matthew, also known as Levi, had been a tax collector when he received the call to follow Jesus. In Mark, Levi is called the son of Alphaeus which leads some to believe that he and James the son of Alphaeus may have been brothers. Other commentators disagree.  Thomas called Didymus (the twin) in John 11:16 is most famous doubting that Jesus had risen (John 20:27).

Susie: After Jesus’s resurrection and the filling of the Holy Spirit, the apostles went out to evangelize. Thomas, once known as the doubter, went various places. There is evidence to confirm that he evangelized in India and was martyred there by being thrust through with a spear. He is buried in Mylapore, India, now a suburb of Madras. You can read more about this once doubter turned fearless evangelist at http://www.biblepath.com/thomas.html.

Susan: Simon called Zelotes (Zealot) must have been a part of the political movement of that name.

Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary:

Zealot - . . . the term Zealot refers to a violent Jewish sect in NT times that opposed Roman domination . . .

Susie: At first Simon the Zealot may have seen Jesus as the King who would finally overthrow Rome, but in time his zeal would be focused not on the earthly kingdom of Israel but being an Apostle of the Kingdom of God.

Luke 6:16 And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.

Susie: Judas the brother of James was also known as Thaddeus (Matthew 10:3 and Mark 3:18). The biblical writers were always careful to differentiate between this faithful Judas and Judas from Iscariot who betrayed Jesus. For more information on what happened to the apostles after the resurrection, read Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. I personally believe it should be read by every believer.

Luke 6:17-18 And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.

Susie: After appointing the twelve apostles, Jesus came down the mountain a bit and stood on a plain or plateau. His other disciples were there as well as a great crowd of people from the city of Jerusalem, the surrounding province of Judea, and even from as far away as the coastal towns of Tyre and Sidon.

Susan: All those people came to hear dynamic teaching and to be delivered of their diseases and maladies by the power that radiated from Jesus. Those who were oppressed or even possessed by unclean spirits (demons) were delivered as well.

Luke 6:19 And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.

Luke 6:19 (MSG) Everyone was trying to touch him—so much energy surging from him, so many people healed!

Susan: The healing power of Jesus was unmistakable and obvious to all who heard Him that day.

Ponder this: We are infused with the power of Jesus because His Holy Spirit lives in and through us. We have the power to share the gospel with people and watch the Lord change their lives forever. Listen to the following song by Jeremy Camp: https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?hsimp=yhs-att_001&hspart=att&p=The+Same+Power+song#id=1&vid=b8021a05bd1cfaff50b6f14efcf43a5c&action=click

Luke 6:6-11 - WITHERED HAND MADE WHOLE

WITHERED HAND MADE WHOLE

Luke 6:6-11

Luke 6:6-7 And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.

Susie: Jesus taught in synagogues on a regular basis, so there was nothing unusual about that. But in this congregation, there was a man whose hand was contracted and possibly atrophied due to an injury.

Susan: Those who know me well, realize I can relate to this man, although it is my left hand that is contracted due to Cerebral Palsy. The spiritual elite in attendance were glaring at Jesus, critiquing His every move. They were poised to pounce on any infraction of the Law concerning the Sabbath. They defined healing on the Sabbath wrongly as performing work which was prohibited on the Sabbath.

Luke 6:8 But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.

Susie: Jesus, being God and having the power of omniscience (being all-knowing), knew exactly what the Scribes and Pharisees were thinking. However, this did not prevent Him from taking care of the man, nor did He do so quietly. He told the injured man to stand up near Him where he could be seen by everyone in attendance that Sabbath.

Luke 6:9 Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?

Susie: Jesus turned to the Scribes and Pharisees and posed a rhetorical question.

Susan: The Scribes and the Pharisees interpretation of the Sabbath Law had become so drilled down to the microscopic detail that they had forgotten that the reason for the Sabbath was for man to rest and not worry about the minutia (fine points) of their traditions concerning the day.

MacArthur Study Bible note:

6:9 to do good. The Sabbath laws forbade labor for profit, frivolous diversions, and things extraneous to worship. Activity per se was not unlawful. Good works were especially appropriate on the Sabbath—particularly deeds of charity, mercy, and worship. Works necessary for the preservation of life were also permitted. To corrupt the Sabbath to forbid such works was a perversion of God’s design. to do evil. Refusal to do good is tantamount to doing evil (James 4:17).

Susie: These religious leaders who had the responsibility of apply the Law for the people had strayed from God’s intent for the Sabbath to be a day of rest and worship, and had made it a day that prohibited even doing good works as a form of worship and source of joy.

Susan: The Scribes and Pharisees had taken a day designed for freedom and celebration and focused only on prohibition and restraint.

Luke 6:10 And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

Susie: The Voice translation of this verse says, “He turned His gaze to each of them, one at a time.”

Susan: He gave them the look of authority as the One who is the Law fulfilled.

Susie: After looking them all in the eye, Jesus instructed the man to stretch out his “shriveled” hand. The man obeyed, and was probably pleasantly surprised to find that he could do just that. His hand was returned to its normal, healthy state.

Susan: “Pleasantly surprised” doesn’t even begin to express the exuberant joy and genuine gratitude that he felt in that moment.

Susie: You would think everyone present would shout praises to God for the man’s restoration to wholeness. However, that was not the case with the Scribes and Pharisees.

Luke 6:11 And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.

Susan: The Scribes and Pharisees were fearful that Jesus would oust them from their seat of importance. They were not as beloved of the people as Jesus was. Many of them were feared but not admired. They Scribes and Pharisees were angry because Jesus unmasked them for the hypocrites they were. There were those among them such as Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea who turned to Jesus, recognizing that He was the Son of God; but they were few.

Susie: We constantly find the religious leaders, the very ones who should have recognized that Jesus fulfilled the prophecies concerning the Messiah, were plotting His death rather than praising Him as Lord.

Ponder this and apply it: Let us bring this into our own time and traditions. Suppose one Sunday morning as you are getting ready to leave for church, you see that your neighbor is struggling to remove a tree that has fallen across her driveway. Do wave and wish her luck, get in your car and head off to worship. Or do you get out, tell her you will be right back, change into work clothes and help her remove the tree that is blocking her in. Is it permissible to do good instead of going to church? Could this be an opportunity to share the Gospel? What do you think Jesus would have you do?

LUKE 6:1-5 - SON OF MAN (MESSIAH) is LORD OF THE SABBATH

SON OF MAN (MESSIAH) is

LORD OF THE SABBATH

LUKE 6:1-5

Luke 6:1 And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.

Susie: Once again, Jesus is going to be accused of violating the Sabbath laws. He and His disciples were walking through a field of corn (some translations say wheat which seems to make more sense). They were taking the heads of wheat and rubbing them between their hands to remove the outer husk and then eating them raw. Think cereal for breakfast.

Luke 6:2 And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?

Susan: Regarding the law of the Sabbath as interpreted by them, the Pharisees exhibited tunnel vision. They considered what the disciples were doing to be reaping and threshing, two of the thirty-nine works prohibited on the Sabbath by the time of Jesus. However, the disciples were within the rules according to the Talmud (Jewish commentary on the Old Testament - https://www.gotquestions.org/Talmud.html):

“Bundles which can be taken up with one hand may be handled on the Sabbath . . . and he may break it with his hand and eat thereof” Complete Jewish Study Bible note on Matthew 12:2

Luke 6:3 And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him; How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?

Susie: By asking this question, Jesus is basically asking them if they are ignorant of a passage in the Scriptures of which they claimed to be the experts. The account of David and his men eating the “show bread” or “Bread of the Presence” is found in 1 Samuel 21:2-6. It is no coincidence that God’s presence was symbolized by bread since Jesus said, “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst” (John 6:35). This bread was set out on a table with pure frankincense and was to be eaten only by Aaron and his sons (i.e. Levitical priests) according to Leviticus 24:5-9. This was a much more blatant violation of the Law than munching on a few heads of grain on the Sabbath.  

Luke 6:5 And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

Susan: You may want to read another account of this same incident in Matthew 12:1-8. Jesus concluded by saying, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath,” which was a clear declaration of His deity, that He was the Messiah.

MacArthur Study Bible note on Matthew 12:8

12:8 the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath. Christ has the prerogative to rule over not only their man-made sabbatarian rules, but also over the Sabbath itself—which was designed for worshiping God. Again, this was an inescapable claim of deity—and as such it prompted the Pharisees’ violent outrage

Susan: Mark’s gospel includes this truth from Jesus:

Mark 2:27-28 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

Susie: The Sabbath was designed as a day for people to rest from their labor and worship the Lord, trusting Him to provide for their needs. It was not for the purpose of enslaving mankind to a list of rules. The Israelites were predominantly farmers, so taking a day off from raising their food took faith that God would provide for their needs. However, in other passages, Jesus points out that it was permitted to save an animal who had fallen into a pit on the Sabbath.

Susan: The Sabbath was a gift from God to humanity so that we could have a specific day set aside to commune with Him. Humanity was not a gift to the Sabbath, to be a slave to it.

Ponder this and apply it: Like me (Susie), you may have been raised in a church that was extremely legalistic about working on Sundays. Basically, one could go to church in the morning and evening, visit relatives, read your Bible, or go for a “Sunday drive.” My pastor did not even go out to eat because that would cause others to work and possibly even miss church! However, his wife cooked a huge fried chicken dinner for new members on Sunday. I’ve been told that gardening on Sunday is work even though to me it is pure enjoyment to nurture the plants that God so miraculously grows. God has shown me many truths while working in my garden. Perhaps I am working right now by writing this. However, I believe Jesus taught that our day of worship is a day to fix our minds on Him, trust Him to provide our needs (rather than being workaholics), and enjoy the life He has given us. Ponder how you spend your Sundays, and ask the Lord if there are any changes you need to make. Perhaps, your day of worship is Saturday because you are required to work on Sundays, and that is OKAY as long as you set aside time for the Lord on a consistent basis. Spend time worshipping, praising, studying the Bible, and doing things you enjoy. Do all to the glory of God the Father. 

Luke 5:27-39 - FACTS ABOUT FEASTING, FASTING, AND FAITH

FACTS ABOUT

FEASTING, FASTING, AND FAITH

Luke 5:27-39

Luke 5:27 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.

Susie: Most Jewish rabbis probably would not have given a tax-collector the time of day, let alone asked him to be their disciple. Tax-collectors were Jews who worked for the Romans collecting taxes. Many times, besides working for the Gentile oppressors, these men would demand more than the government had them collect, lining their pockets by robbing their own people.

Susan: However, Jesus is not swayed by public opinion or a person’s station in life. He could see Matthew’s heart. Jesus not only asked Matthew to travel with Him and learn from Him, but chose him to be one of the twelve who made up His apostles.

 1 Samuel 16:7b . . . for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

Luke 5:28 And he left all, rose up, and followed him.

Susan: Levi’s obedience to the call of Jesus was immediate and complete.

Susie: Levi (better known as Matthew) had certainly heard of all the miracles Jesus had performed and perhaps had heard Him teach. He did not hesitate to accept the invitation to be His disciple.

Luke 5:29 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.

Susan: Levi had a banquet celebrating his job promotion with his new Master (boss), Jesus, as the guest of honor.

Susie: After enjoying the feeling of acceptance himself, Levi invited many of his friends, including other tax collectors to meet the rabbi from Nazareth who was growing in popularity and respect among the common people.

Luke 5:30 But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?

Susan: But the religious elite, the Scribes and Pharisees, judgmentally questioned His disciples about the company Jesus kept—tax-collectors and other garden variety sinners.

Luke 5:31-32 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Susie: Jesus did not wait for His disciples to field this question, but took it Himself. He explained to the naysayers that those who are well do not need the doctor. The doctor sees those who are sick.

Susan: Jesus meant that those people broken in spirit, soul, and body were the ones in need of a physician, a healer of hearts.

Susie: Jesus clarified His analogy by stating that He came to call not the righteous, but the sinners in need of repentance. Matthew records another thing Jesus said at this time:

Matthew 9:13 (CJB) As for you, go and learn what this means: ‘I want compassion rather than animal-sacrifices.’ For I didn’t come to call the ‘righteous,’ but sinners!”

Hosea 6:6 (CJB) For what I desire is mercy, not sacrifices, knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

Susan: When it comes right down to it, everyone is a sinner in need of a Savior. Jesus would later die to make salvation from sin available to all who repent and trust in Him.

Luke 5:33 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?

Susie: Since Jesus had an answer for their first question, the Pharisees and Scribes confronted Him on another issue. They pointed out that John the Baptist’s disciples and their own as well fasted and prayed often, but His own did not. They were accusing Jesus and disciples of being partyers.

Susan: It baffles me that the supposed leaders of Judaism, those who should have known God’s word, were busy creating conundrums to try to trip Jesus up instead of sitting at His feet and learning from Him.

Susie: Jesus did fast when the Holy Spirit led Him into the wilderness to be tempted (Matthew 4:2). Fasting was required by the Law only on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:29-31, 23:27). The Pharisees made their fasting public in order to be seen by others as being devout. Later, Jesus would later teach on fasting. Note that He did not say “if” you fast, but “when” you fast.

Matthew 6:16-18  Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Luke 5:34-35 And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

Susie: The guests at a wedding feast and are merry. The bride and groom are with them, and it is a happy occasion, not a time to deprive themselves. Jesus is the Bridegroom and his disciples had no reason to fast while He was right there with them.

Susan: However, the day was rapidly approaching when Jesus, the Bridegroom, would sacrifice Himself as the final Passover Lamb. After His resurrection, He would return to the Father in Heaven, and His disciples would be without His physical presence. This would be a time for fasting and praying.

Luke 5:36 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.

Susie: If you sew a patch made of new cloth onto something that has been washed many times, the new patch will shrink, tearing away from the old and ripping them both. Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection began a New Covenant wherein salvation and righteousness comes not through Jewish tradition of piety and the sacrificial system but through faith in His finished work on the cross. You cannot sew salvation by faith onto the works-based righteousness of the Old Testament Law.

Luke 5:37-38 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. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.

Susie: The New Covenant fulfills what the Old Covenant sacrificial system foreshadowed. Salvation by grace, a redemption that cannot be earned, cannot be poured into requirements such as circumcision and the constant need for sacrifices found in the Old Testament. In the book of Acts, the elders in Jerusalem came to that realization when the question of circumcising Gentile believers was brought before them (Acts 15).

Luke 5:39 No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.

Luke 5:39 (VOICE) Anyway, those who’ve never tasted the new wine won’t know what they’re missing; they’ll always say, “The old wine is good enough for me!”

Susan: Jesus, being omniscient (all-knowing), knew that most of the Pharisees would be resistant to His message, rejecting change all together.

Susie: For a good commentary on verses 36-39, go to www.biblegateway.com and look up this passage. Then click on “study this” and scroll down to IVP New Testament Commentary Series. We found this to be one of the most understandable explanations of the passage we have ever read.

Ponder and apply this: Jesus was known for associating with the poor, the outcast, and even the sinful in order to minister to them and offer them repentance. If we surround ourselves only with other Christians, are we truly following in His steps? In order to obey the Great Commission—to make disciples as we are going about our business—we must have interaction with those in need of Jesus. However, Jesus also had twelve close disciples, three of which seemed to serve as His inner circle, into which He poured His life and entrusted with His message. We must minister to people as Jesus did, but we must have close friends who minister to us and keep us accountable. 

Luke 5:17-26 - FORGIVENESS FOLLOWED BY HEALING, SON OF MAN’S AUTHORITY REVEALING

FORGIVENESS

FOLLOWED BY HEALING,

SON OF MAN’S AUTHORITY REVEALING

Luke 5:17-26

Luke 5:17 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.

Susie: Pharisees and scribes had come from as far away as Jerusalem because Jesus was becoming well known as a teacher and healer, and possibly a prophet.

Susan: They did not come to listen to Him with an open heart and mind, but to critique Him, trying to find fault.

Susie: On this particular day, the power to heal was flowing from Jesus mightily. The mammoth crowd of people desiring to be cured of sicknesses overflowed the house where He was teaching.

Luke 5:18-19 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. 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.

Susie: Some men, believing Jesus was able to heal, brought their paralyzed friend hoping to take him in the house and place Him before Jesus. When they could not get through the press of the crowd, they decided to think outside the box and find another way. They carried him up to the roof, removed some of the roofing tiles, and lowered him between the support beams in such a way that he landed right at Jesus’s feet where he would be certain to gain His attention!

Susan: I wonder if this man was paralyzed from birth or something had injured him later. Perhaps he even had cerebral palsy like me. Regardless, he and I are alike in that he had faithful, loving friends. However, I’m not sure I want any of my friends to take me up on a roof. Though if I knew that I knew that Jesus was below, I might change my tune and allow myself to be lowered through a hole in the roof!

Luke 5:20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

Susan: Jesus did not address the man’s friends . . .

Susie: . . . however, He did praise their faith.

Susan: Jesus addressed the man with the problem who must have had great faith as well to allow himself to be lowered on a mat through the roof. I can assure from personal experience that trusting others to lift and carry you is no easy task. Surely, he had faith in Jesus’s ability to heal him to go to such drastic measures.

Susie: Jesus did not immediately heal his paralysis. Instead He said, “Man, thy sins are forgiven thee” (Luke 5:20b).

Susan: Jesus first addressed the man’s greatest need—his sin problem, which created a chasm between he and the Father. He solidified the man’s relationship to God before meeting his physical need.

Luke 5:21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

Susie: The scribes and Pharisees, the Jewish religious elite, were thinking to themselves that the man Jesus was committing blasphemy because only God could forgive sins.

Susan: Blasphemy is accrediting what only God can do to anyone or anything other than God.

Luke 5:22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?

Susie: Jesus knew exactly what they were thinking, and in a display of that omniscience, asked them a question that would reveal this to them. He asked whether it was easier to tell the man his sins were forgiven or to command him to rise up and walk.

Susan:  Of course, they would think it was easier to say his sins were forgiven. However, for Jesus to say the man’s sins were forgiven, He knew that would require Him to meet the cross head on, satisfying the demands of the Father requiring His death as the perfect sacrificial Lamb to atone for sin.

Susie: Even though He knew He would ultimately be raised from the dead, Jesus understood the physical, emotional, and spiritual pain our forgiveness, as well as that of this man, would cost Him.

Susan: The paralyzed man probably thought the harder thing would have been for him to get up off that bed, especially if he had been there his entire life.

Susie: True. But only he and Jesus knew the magnitude of his sin. I am sure he realized both forgiveness and physical healing were a gracious gift from God.

Luke 5:24 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.

Susie: Whenever Jesus referred to Himself as the “Son of Man” He was quoting the Old Testament prophet Daniel and clearly claiming to be the Messiah as this was widely accepted as a Messianic prophecy:

Daniel 7:13-14 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

Susie: For an article explaining the term “Son of Man,” click on the link below.

https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-Son-of-Man.html

Susan: Jesus addressed the Pharisees saying so that you will have no doubt that I, Jesus, have the authority and power to forgive sins, I will now demonstrate.

MacArthur Study Bible note:

5:24 that you may know. His ability to heal anyone and everyone at will—totally and immediately (v. 25)—was incontrovertible proof of His deity. As God, He had all authority to forgive sins. This was a decisive moment and should have ended once and for all the Pharisees’ opposition. Instead, they began to try to discredit Him by charging Him with violating their Sabbath rules

Susie: Then, turning to the paralyzed man, Jesus commanded him to get up, pick up the mat he had been lying on, and go home.

Susan: The tasks Jesus gave him were progressive—1. Get up, demonstrate ability to stand, 2. Pick up your mat, demonstrate upper body strength, and 3. Go home, demonstrate coordination and strength to walk while carrying his bedding. This would prove that he was completely healed.

Luke 5:25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.

Susan: I know that in my own case, simply moving my weaker left arm into position to give Susie a hug takes tremendous effort on my part because she wants both arms to hug her. I suspect she is using hugs as occupational therapy (LOL)! This man instantly, with apparently little or no effort, rose to his feet, picked up his mat, and walked home glorifying God. He had no doubt where Jesus got His power. If he entered the house with doubt, he certainly did not leave with it. He knew better than anyone else the condition he arrived in, and the miraculous transformation he had undergone both physically and spiritually!

Luke 5:26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

Susie: Even the Pharisees and scribes were amazed at the healing power displayed that day.

Susan: They were left with their mouths hanging open, and no disdain could come out for the moment.

Susie: However, even though they were compelled to testify that they had “seen extraordinary things today,” (Luke 5:26b CJB) this was a non-committal statement. They were in awe but not in true belief that Jesus was the Messiah.

Ponder this and apply it: What do you see as your greatest need? Is it healing from sickness or weakness? Is it financial security? Is it the need for the friendship of a kindred spirit? No matter what our perceived needs are, the greatest need of any person is to be forgiven of sin and welcomed into the family of God. All other needs are secondary. God cares about them all, but prioritizes your relationship with Him. If you already have that relationship with Jesus, praise Him and share Him with others. He wants to use His children to spread the Good News that He can meet a person’s greatest need. Tell the Good News!

LUKE 5:12-16 - LEPER HEALED! POWER REVEALED!

LEPER HEALED!

POWER REVEALED!

LUKE 5:12-16

Luke 5:12 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.

Susie: Jesus had just called Peter, Andrew, James, and John to leave their business fishing on the Sea of Galilee and follow Him. Therefore, we know this particular city was in the region of Galilee.

Susan: A man whose body had been completely overtaken with the disease of leprosy approached Jesus. Although I was not contagious, I can relate to this man’s anguish and plight because for seven years, both of my legs were covered with painful, necrotic sores from the soles of my feet up to my knees. My mother, grandmother, and even several doctors had tried various treatments giving little to no relief.

Susie: At the time that Jesus was here as a man, Susan would have had to shout “unclean” everywhere she went just as the man in these verses did. Since this man’s leprosy was so obvious, the crowd would have immediately known not to touch him or even go near.

Susan: In humility, the man fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Sir, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” (verse 12b CJB)

Luke 5:13 And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.

Susie: The crowd probably shrank back at Jesus’s next move. He TOUCHED the unclean leper. You could not have paid me enough money to touch Susan’s legs without examination gloves! In the case of the man with leprosy, even touching him could render another person “unclean” and unable to enter the temple until a certain amount of time had passed, they had gone to the priest, and had been ceremonially cleansed. Yet, Jesus, in compassion, reached out and touched this leper.

Susan: As Jesus touched the man, He said, ““I am willing! Be cleansed!” We don’t know how long the man had dealt with the horror of leprosy, but immediately when Jesus spoke, he was healed. Jesus told him not to announce his healing to everyone he knew.

Luke 5:14 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.

Susie: Jesus explained that the man’s testimony would be to go be examined by the priest as the law given through Moses commanded. Then he would give a sacrifice required and be officially pronounced “clean,” meaning he could participate in corporate worship, return to his loved ones, and be touchable once more.

Susan: In other words, he could resume a normal life and be received back into the community once again. Although, I beg to venture that among people who knew his story, he would always be a topic of perplexing wonder.

Susie: As Jesus had said, being declared clear of leprosy would be his testimony. I am sure he would always include the fact that it was Jesus of Nazareth who had healed him. Note that in all of this, Jesus urged the man to be obedient to the Law given through Moses.

Matthew 5:17 (NASB) “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.”

Luke 5:15 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.

Susan: We do not know if the man obeyed Jesus’s instruction not to say anything, but those who witnessed the man’s healing, and perhaps the priest he went before, must have spread the word about this man’s healing. The priest had probably seen nothing like it in his entire time of ministering in the temple.

Susie: After this miraculous healing, huge crowds came to Jesus bringing their sick people to be healed. The news of this Rabbi with the power to heal spread far and wide.

Susan: It is a wonder that Jesus had any time to teach at all with so many desiring to be healed. It was certainly difficult for Him to find time to be alone with the Father in prayer.

Luke 5:16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

Susie: Nevertheless, Jesus MADE time to find a quiet place to pray and, as a human, to refuel. I like the way this verse reads in the Complete Jewish Study Bible:

Luke 5:16 (CJB) However, he made a practice of withdrawing to remote places in order to pray.

Susie: Jesus made a habitual, intentional choice . . .

Susan: . . . to steal Himself away to pray.

Ponder this and apply: Jesus, the Son of God, deity incarnate, NEEDED time alone in the presence of the Father. How much more do we need a time to praise and worship our Lord, lay our needs before Him, and be refreshed. We all lead busy lives, but like Jesus, we can MAKE time to pray. Make an intentional choice right now to steal away to pray on a regular basis—not just a quick, “Help me, Jesus,” but a dedicated time to be alone with God. 

Luke 5:1-11 - FLABBERGASTED FISHERMEN FORSAKE ALL TO FOLLOW JESUS

FLABBERGASTED FISHERMEN

FORSAKE ALL TO FOLLOW JESUS

Luke 5:1-11

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,

Susie: Jesus was teaching on the shore of Lake Gennesaret, also called Lake Tiberius or the Sea of Galilee. It was a large freshwater lake.

Susan: The multitude that came with eager anticipation to hear Jesus speak the word of God were crowding in so close it was almost claustrophobic.

Susie: Jesus was looking for a platform from which to teach.

Luke 5:2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

Susie: Jesus noticed a couple of empty boats pulled up on shore. The owners had finished fishing for the night and were cleaning and mending their nets to go back out that evening.

Luke 5:3 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.

Susan: Jesus proceeded to borrow Simon’s boat in order to get out of the press of the crowd and employ the boat as a floating platform.

Susie: He asked Simon to push off the beach and anchor close enough for Him to be heard by the people on the shore. Then Jesus sat down to teach. Did He sit just because it was safer than standing in the boat.

Susan: It was customary that after the reading of the Scripture, for the Rabbi to sit down to wax eloquent on the explanation of the truth therein.

Luke 5:4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

Susan: When Jesus had finished teaching the people, He told Simon to pull up anchor and row out to deeper waters and toss his nets to catch some fish.

Susie: Simon realized that Jesus was not an experienced fisherman because nets are used in shallow waters, and the best time to fish is at night. The fish move into waters too deep for nets during the heat of the day.

Luke 5:5 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.

Susan: Simon told Jesus, “I’ve been fishing here all night and didn’t catch a single fish, but because You have said to try again, I will do it.” Note that Simon obeyed Jesus even though it made no sense to him.

Luke 5:6-7 And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.  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.

Susan: Amazingly, the catch of fish was a net-breaking, boat-sinking load! What a reward for Simon’s obedience to a command that made no sense to him at all!

Susie: Simon and Andrew had to call James and John to help haul all the fish into the boats. One boat could not hold the tremendous amount of fish.

Luke 5:8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

Susan: When Simon Peter realized the catch was a miracle, he felt overwhelmed by his sin, exposed, and not worthy to be in the presence of Jesus.

Susie: This was one of those moments when Simon Peter caught of glimpse of the fact that Jesus was the Son of God. He appropriately prostrated himself before Him.

Luke 5:9-10 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: 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.

Susan: All the fishermen were flabbergasted at the fantastic catch of fish. Jesus addressed Simon letting him know that he would still be fishing, but instead drawing in nets full of fish, he would be drawing in souls hungry to hear and obey the message of God.

Luke 5:11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

Susie: When they beached the boats back on shore. Simon Peter, Andrew his brother, and brothers James and John, the sons of Zebedee, left everything to do with their fishing business and followed Jesus. To follow a teacher was to dedicate oneself to learning from Him constantly. They abandoned what had been their livelihood and moved forward with complete trust in Jesus. The song “For the Sake of the Call” by Stephen Curtis Chapman expresses the abandonment with which the early disciples followed Jesus and the abandonment we need to experience as well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sb4RrF9VxI

Ponder this: Are you living your life in total abandonment to Jesus, forsaking your right to yourself and seeking His will first? (Matthew 6:33)