mh_parser/vol_split/42 - Luke/Chapter 5.xml

<div2 id="Luke.vi" n="vi" next="Luke.vii" prev="Luke.v" progress="51.03%" title="Chapter V">
<h2 id="Luke.vi-p0.1">L U K E.</h2>
<h3 id="Luke.vi-p0.2">CHAP. V.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Luke.vi-p1">In this chapter, we have, I. Christ preaching to
the people out of Peter's ship, for want of a better pulpit,
<scripRef id="Luke.vi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.1-Luke.5.3" parsed="|Luke|5|1|5|3" passage="Lu 5:1-3">ver. 1-3</scripRef>. II. The
recompence he made to Peter for the loan of his boat, in a
miraculous draught of fishes, by which he intimated to him and his
partners his design to make them, as apostles, fishers of men,
<scripRef id="Luke.vi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.4-Luke.5.11" parsed="|Luke|5|4|5|11" passage="Lu 5:4-11">ver. 4-11</scripRef>. III. His
cleansing the leper, <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.12-Luke.5.15" parsed="|Luke|5|12|5|15" passage="Lu 5:12-15">ver.
12-15</scripRef>. IV. A short account of his private devotion and
public ministry, <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.16-Luke.5.17" parsed="|Luke|5|16|5|17" passage="Lu 5:16,17">ver. 16,
17</scripRef>. V. His cure of the man sick of the palsy, <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.18-Luke.5.26" parsed="|Luke|5|18|5|26" passage="Lu 5:18-26">ver. 18-26</scripRef>. VI. His calling Levi
the publican, and conversing with publicans on that occasion,
<scripRef id="Luke.vi-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.27-Luke.5.32" parsed="|Luke|5|27|5|32" passage="Lu 5:27-32">ver. 27-32</scripRef>. VII. His
justifying his disciples in not fasting so frequently as the
disciples of John and the Pharisees did, <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.33-Luke.5.39" parsed="|Luke|5|33|5|39" passage="Lu 5:33-39">ver. 33-39</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Luke.vi-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5" parsed="|Luke|5|0|0|0" passage="Lu 5" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Luke.vi-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.1-Luke.5.11" parsed="|Luke|5|1|5|11" passage="Lu 5:1-11" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Luke.5.1-Luke.5.11">
<h4 id="Luke.vi-p1.10">The Call of Peter, James, and
John.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Luke.vi-p2">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,   2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but
the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing <i>their</i>
nets.   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.
  4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch
out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.   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.   6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a
great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.   7 And they
beckoned unto <i>their</i> 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.   8 When Simon Peter
saw <i>it,</i> he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from
me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.   9 For he was astonished,
and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they
had taken:   10 And so <i>was</i> 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.  
11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all,
and followed him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p3">This passage of story fell, in order of
time, before the two miracles we had in the close of the foregoing
chapter, and is the same with that which was more briefly related
by Matthew and Mark, of Christ's calling Peter and Andrew to be
<i>fishers of men,</i> <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.4.18 Bible:Mark.1.16" parsed="|Matt|4|18|0|0;|Mark|1|16|0|0" passage="Mt 4:18,Mk 1:16">Matt.
iv. 18, and Mark i. 16</scripRef>. They had not related this
miraculous draught of fishes at that time, having only in view the
calling of his disciples; but Luke gives us that story as one of
the many signs which Jesus did in the presence of his disciples,
which <i>had not been written</i> in the foregoing books, <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:John.20.30-John.20.31" parsed="|John|20|30|20|31" passage="Joh 20:30,31">John xx. 30, 31</scripRef>. Observe
here,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p4">I. What vast <i>crowds</i> attended
Christ's preaching: <i>The people pressed upon him to hear the word
of God</i> (<scripRef id="Luke.vi-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.1" parsed="|Luke|5|1|0|0" passage="Lu 5:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>),
insomuch that no house would contain them, but he was forced to
draw them out to the <i>strand,</i> that they might be reminded of
the promise made to Abraham, that his seed should be <i>as the sand
upon the sea shore</i> (<scripRef id="Luke.vi-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.22.17" parsed="|Gen|22|17|0|0" passage="Ge 22:17">Gen. xxii.
17</scripRef>), and yet of them but <i>a remnant shall be
saved,</i> <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Rom.9.27" parsed="|Rom|9|27|0|0" passage="Ro 9:27">Rom. ix. 27</scripRef>. The
people <i>flocked about him</i> (so the word signifies); they
showed respect to his preaching, though not without some rudeness
to his person, which was very excusable, for they <i>pressed upon
him.</i> Some would reckon this a discredit to him, to be thus
cried up by the vulgar, when none of the <i>rulers</i> or of <i>the
Pharisees believed in him;</i> but he reckoned it an honour to him,
for their souls were as precious as the souls of the grandees, and
it is his aim to bring not so much the mighty as the <i>many
sons</i> to God. It was foretold concerning him that <i>to him
shall the gathering of the people be.</i> Christ was a popular
preacher; and though he was able, at <i>twelve,</i> to
<i>dispute</i> with the <i>doctors,</i> yet he chose, at
<i>thirty,</i> to preach to the capacity of the <i>vulgar.</i> See
how the people relished <i>good preaching,</i> though under all
external disadvantages: they pressed to <i>hear the word of
God;</i> they could perceive it to be the <i>word of God,</i> by
the divine power and evidence that went along with it, and
therefore they coveted to hear it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p5">II. What poor <i>conveniences</i> Christ
had for preaching: <i>He stood by the lake of Gennesareth</i>
(<scripRef id="Luke.vi-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.1" parsed="|Luke|5|1|0|0" passage="Lu 5:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>), upon a level
with the crowd, so that they could neither see him nor hear him; he
was lost among them, and, every one striving to get near him, he
was crowded, and in danger of being crowded into the water: what
must he do? It does not appear that his hearers had any contrivance
to give him advantage, but <i>there were two ships,</i> or
<i>fishing boats,</i> brought ashore, one belonging to Simon and
Andrew, the other to Zebedee and <i>his sons,</i> <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.2" parsed="|Luke|5|2|0|0" passage="Lu 5:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. At first, Christ saw Peter
and Andrew fishing at some distance (so Matthew tells us, <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Luke.4.18" parsed="|Luke|4|18|0|0" passage="Lu 4:18"><i>ch.</i> iv. 18</scripRef>); but he waited till
they came to land, and till the <i>fishermen,</i> that is, the
servants, were <i>gone out of them</i> having washed their nets,
and thrown them by for that time: so Christ <i>entered</i> into
that <i>ship</i> that belonged to Simon, and begged of him that he
would lend it him for a pulpit; and, though he might have commanded
him, yet, for love's sake, he rather <i>prayed him</i> that he
would <i>thrust out a little from the land,</i> which would be the
worse for his being <i>heard,</i> but Christ would have it so, that
he might the better be <i>seen;</i> and it is his being <i>lifted
up</i> that <i>draws men to him.</i> Wisdom cries <i>in the top of
high places,</i> <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Prov.8.2" parsed="|Prov|8|2|0|0" passage="Pr 8:2">Prov. viii.
2</scripRef>. It intimates that Christ had a strong voice (strong
indeed, for he made the <i>dead</i> to hear it), and that he did
not desire to favour himself. There he <i>sat down,</i> and
<i>taught the people</i> the good knowledge of the Lord.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p6">III. What a particular acquaintance Christ,
hereupon, fell into with these fishermen. They had had some
conversation with him before, which began at John's baptism
(<scripRef id="Luke.vi-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:John.1.40-John.1.41" parsed="|John|1|40|1|41" passage="Joh 1:40,41">John i. 40, 41</scripRef>); they
were with him at <i>Cana of Galilee</i> (<scripRef id="Luke.vi-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:John.2.2" parsed="|John|2|2|0|0" passage="Joh 2:2">John ii. 2</scripRef>), and in Judea (<scripRef id="Luke.vi-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:John.4.3" parsed="|John|4|3|0|0" passage="Joh 4:3">John iv. 3</scripRef>); but as yet they were not called
to attend him constantly, and therefore here we have them at their
calling, and now it was that they were called into a more intimate
fellowship with Christ.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p7">1. When Christ had done preaching, he
ordered Peter to apply himself to the business of his calling
again: <i>Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets,</i>
<scripRef id="Luke.vi-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.4" parsed="|Luke|5|4|0|0" passage="Lu 5:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>. It was not the
sabbath day, and therefore, as soon as the lecture was over, he set
them to work. Time spent on week-days in the public exercises of
religion may be but little hindrance to us <i>in time,</i> and a
great furtherance to us in <i>temper of mind,</i> in our worldly
business. With what cheerfulness may we go about the duties of our
calling when we have been <i>in the mount</i> with God, and from
thence fetch a double blessing into our worldly employments, and
thus have them sanctified to us by the word and prayer! It is our
wisdom and duty so to manage our religious exercises as that they
may befriend our worldly business, and so to manage our worldly
business as that it may be no enemy to our religious exercises.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p8">2. Peter having <i>attended</i> upon Christ
in his <i>preaching,</i> Christ will <i>accompany</i> him in his
<i>fishing.</i> He staid with Christ at the shore, and now Christ
will <i>launch out</i> with him <i>into the deep.</i> Note, Those
that will be constant followers of Christ shall have him a constant
guide to them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p9">3. Christ ordered Peter and his ship's crew
to <i>cast their nets into the sea,</i> which they did, in
obedience to him, though they had been hard at it all night, and
had <i>caught nothing,</i> <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.4-Luke.5.5" parsed="|Luke|5|4|5|5" passage="Lu 5:4,5"><i>v.</i>
4, 5</scripRef>. We may observe here,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p10">(1.) How melancholy their business had now
been: "<i>Master, we have toiled all the night,</i> when we should
have been asleep in our beds, <i>and have taken nothing,</i> but
have had our labour for our pains." One would have thought that
this should have excused them from hearing the sermon; but such a
love had they to the word of God that it was more refreshing and
reviving to them, after a wearisome night, than the softest
slumbers. But they mention it to Christ, when he bids them go a
fishing again. Note, [1.] Some <i>callings</i> are much more
<i>toilsome</i> than others are, and more perilous; yet Providence
has so ordered it for the common good that there is no useful
calling so discouraging but some or other have a genius for it.
Those who follow their business, and get abundance by it with a
great deal of ease, should think with compassion of those who
cannot follow theirs but with a great fatigue, and hardly get a
bare livelihood by it. When we have <i>rested all night,</i> let us
not forget those who have <i>toiled all night,</i> as Jacob, when
he kept Laban's sheep. [2.] Be the calling ever so laborious, it is
good to see people diligent in it, and make the best of it; these
fishermen, that were thus <i>industrious,</i> Christ singled out
for his favourites. They were fit to be preferred as good soldiers
of Jesus Christ who had thus learned to <i>endure hardness.</i>
[3.] Even those who are most diligent in their business often meet
with disappointments; they who <i>toiled all night</i> yet
<i>caught nothing;</i> for the <i>race</i> is not always <i>to the
swift.</i> God will have us to be diligent, purely in duty to his
command and dependence upon his goodness, rather than with an
assurance of worldly success. We must do our duty, and then leave
the event to God. [4.] When we are tired with our worldly business,
and crossed in our worldly affairs, we are welcome to come to
Christ, and spread our case before him, who will take cognizance of
it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p11">(2.) How ready their obedience was to the
command of Christ: <i>Nevertheless, at thy word, I will let down
the net.</i> [1.] Though they had <i>toiled all night,</i> yet, if
Christ bid them, they will renew their toil, for they know that
they who <i>wait on him shall renew their strength,</i> as work is
renewed upon their hands; for every fresh service they shall have a
fresh supply of <i>grace sufficient.</i> [2.] Though they have
<i>taken nothing,</i> yet, if Christ bid them <i>let down for a
draught,</i> they will hope to take <i>something.</i> Note, We must
not abruptly quit the callings wherein we are called because we
have not the success in them we promised ourselves. The ministers
of the gospel must continue to <i>let down</i> that <i>net,</i>
though they have perhaps <i>toiled long</i> and <i>caught
nothing;</i> and this is thank-worthy, to continue unwearied in our
labours, though we see not the success of them. [3.] In this they
have an eye to the <i>word of Christ,</i> and a dependence upon
that: "<i>At thy word, I will let down the net,</i> because thou
dost enjoin it, and thou dost encourage it." We are <i>then</i>
likely to speed well when we follow the guidance of Christ's
word.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p12">4. The draught of fish they caught was so
much beyond what was ever known that it amounted to a miracle
(<scripRef id="Luke.vi-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.6" parsed="|Luke|5|6|0|0" passage="Lu 5:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>): They
<i>enclosed a great multitude of fishes,</i> so that <i>their net
broke,</i> and yet, which is strange, they did not lose their
draught. It was so great a <i>draught</i> that they had not hands
sufficient to draw it up; but they were obliged to beckon to their
partners, who were at a distance, out of call, to come and help
them, <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.7" parsed="|Luke|5|7|0|0" passage="Lu 5:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. But the
greatest evidence of the vastness of the draught was that they
filled both the ships with fish, to such a degree that they
overloaded them, and they <i>began to sink,</i> so that the fish
had like to have been lost again with their own weight. Thus many
an overgrown estate, raised out of the water, returns to the place
whence it came. Suppose these ships were but five or six tons a
piece, what a vast quantity of fish must there be to <i>load,</i>
nay to <i>over-load,</i> them both!</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p13">Now by this vast draught of fishes, (1.)
Christ intended to show his <i>dominion</i> in the <i>seas</i> as
well as on the <i>dry land,</i> over its <i>wealth</i> as over its
<i>waves.</i> Thus he would show that he was that <i>Son of man</i>
under whose feet all things were put, and particularly the <i>fish
of the sea</i> and <i>whatsoever passeth through the paths of the
sea,</i> <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.8.8" parsed="|Ps|8|8|0|0" passage="Ps 8:8">Ps. viii. 8</scripRef>. (2.) He
intended hereby to confirm the doctrine he had just now preached
out of Peter's ship. We may suppose that the people on shore, who
heard the sermon, having a notion that the preacher was a prophet
sent of God, carefully attended his motions afterward, and staid
halting about there, to see what he would do next; and this miracle
immediately following would be a confirmation to their faith, of
his being at least <i>a teacher come from God.</i> (3.) He intended
hereby to repay Peter for the loan of his boat; for Christ's gospel
now, as his ark formerly in the house of Obed-edom, will be sure to
make amends, rich amends, for its kind entertainment. None shall
<i>shut a door or kindle a fire</i> in God's house <i>for
nought,</i> <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Mal.1.10" parsed="|Mal|1|10|0|0" passage="Mal 1:10">Mal. i. 10</scripRef>.
Christ's recompences for services done to his name are abundant,
they are superabundant. (4.) He intended hereby to give a specimen,
to those who were to be his ambassadors to the world, of the
success of their embassy, that though they might for a time, and in
one particular place, <i>toil</i> and <i>catch nothing,</i> yet
they should be instrumental to bring in many to Christ, and enclose
many in the gospel net.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p14">5. The impression which this miraculous
draught of fishes made upon Peter was very remarkable.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p15">(1.) All <i>concerned</i> were
<i>astonished,</i> and the more <i>astonished</i> for their being
<i>concerned.</i> All the boat's crew were <i>astonished at the
draught of fishes which they had taken</i> (<scripRef id="Luke.vi-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.9" parsed="|Luke|5|9|0|0" passage="Lu 5:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>); they were all surprised; and the
more they considered it, and all the circumstances of it, the more
they were <i>wonder-struck,</i> I had almost said
<i>thunder-struck,</i> at the thought of it, <i>and so were also
James and John, who were partners with Simon</i> (<scripRef id="Luke.vi-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.10" parsed="|Luke|5|10|0|0" passage="Lu 5:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>), and who, for aught that
appears, were not so well acquainted with Christ, before this, as
Peter and Andrew were. Now they were the more <i>affected</i> with
it, [1.] Because they <i>understood</i> it better than others did.
They that were well acquainted with this sea, and it is probable
had plied upon it many years, had never seen such a draught of
fishes fetched out of it, nor any thing like it, any thing near it;
and therefore they could not be tempted to diminish it, as others
might, by suggesting that it was accidental at this <i>time,</i>
and what might as well have happened at <i>any time.</i> It greatly
corroborates the evidence of Christ's miracles that those who were
best <i>acquainted</i> with them most <i>admired</i> them. [2.]
Because they were most <i>interested</i> in it, and
<i>benefited</i> by it. Peter and his part-owners were gainers by
this great draught of fishes; it was a rich booty for them and
therefore it transported them, and their <i>joy</i> was a
<i>helper</i> to their <i>faith.</i> Note, When Christ's works of
wonder are to us, in particular, works of grace, then especially
they command our faith in his doctrine.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p16">(2.) Peter, above all the rest, was
astonished to such a degree that he <i>fell down at Jesus's
knees,</i> as he sat in the stern of his boat, and said, as one in
an ecstasy or transport, that knew not where he was or what he
said, <i>Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord,</i>
<scripRef id="Luke.vi-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.8" parsed="|Luke|5|8|0|0" passage="Lu 5:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>. Not that he
feared the weight of the fish would sink him because he was a
sinful man, but that he thought himself unworthy of the favour of
Christ's presence in his boat, and worthy that it should be to him
a matter rather of terror than of comfort. This word of Peter's
came from the same principle with theirs who, under the
Old-Testament, so often said that they did <i>exceedingly fear and
quake</i> at the extraordinary display of the divine glory and
majesty. It was the language of Peter's humility and self-denial,
and had not the least tincture of the devils' dialect, <i>What have
we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God?</i> [1.] His
acknowledgment was very just, and what it becomes us all to make:
<i>I am a sinful man, O Lord.</i> Note, Even the <i>best men</i>
are <i>sinful men,</i> and should be ready upon all occasions to
own it, and especially to own it to Jesus Christ; for to whom else,
but to him who came into the world to <i>save sinners,</i> should
<i>sinful men</i> apply themselves? [2.] His inference from it was
what <i>might have been</i> just, though really it was not so. If I
be a <i>sinful man,</i> as indeed I am, I ought to say, "<i>Come to
me, O Lord,</i> or let me come to thee, or I am undone, <i>for ever
undone.</i>" But, considering what reason <i>sinful men</i> have to
tremble before the holy Lord God and to dread his wrath, Peter may
well be excused, if, in a sense of his own sinfulness and vileness,
he cried out on a sudden, <i>Depart from me.</i> Note, Those whom
Christ designs to admit to the most <i>intimate acquaintance</i>
with him he first makes sensible that they deserve to be set at the
<i>greatest distance</i> from him. We must all own ourselves
<i>sinful men,</i> and that therefore Jesus Christ might justly
<i>depart from us;</i> but we must <i>therefore fall down at his
knees,</i> to pray him that he would not depart; for <i>woe unto
us</i> if he <i>leave us,</i> if the Saviour depart from the sinful
man.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p17">6. The occasion which Christ took from this
to intimate to Peter (<scripRef id="Luke.vi-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.10" parsed="|Luke|5|10|0|0" passage="Lu 5:10"><i>v.</i>
10</scripRef>), and soon after to James and John (<scripRef id="Luke.vi-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Matt.4.21" parsed="|Matt|4|21|0|0" passage="Mt 4:21">Matt. iv. 21</scripRef>), his purpose to make
them his apostles, and instruments of planting his religion in the
world. He <i>said unto Simon,</i> who was in the greatest surprise
of any of them at this prodigious draught of fishes, "Thou shalt
both see and do greater things than these; <i>fear not;</i> let not
this astonish thee; be not afraid that, after having done thee this
honour, it is so great that I shall never do thee more; no,
<i>henceforth thou shalt catch men,</i> by enclosing them in the
gospel net, and that shall be a greater instance of the Redeemer's
power, and his favour to thee, than this is; that shall be a more
<i>astonishing</i> miracle, and infinitely more <i>advantageous</i>
than this." When by Peter's preaching <i>three thousand souls</i>
were, <i>in one day,</i> added to the church, then the type of this
great draught of fishes was abundantly answered.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p18"><i>Lastly,</i> The fishermen's farewell to
their calling, in order to their constant attendance on Christ
(<scripRef id="Luke.vi-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.11" parsed="|Luke|5|11|0|0" passage="Lu 5:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>): <i>When they
had brought their ships to land,</i> instead of going to seek for a
market for their fish, that they might make the best hand they
could of this miracle, they <i>forsook all and followed him,</i>
being more solicitous to serve the interests of Christ than to
advance any secular interests of their own. It is observable that
they <i>left all to follow Christ,</i> when their calling prospered
in their hands more than ever it had done and they had had uncommon
success in it. When <i>riches increase,</i> and we are therefore
most in temptation to <i>set our hearts</i> upon them, then to quit
them for the service of Christ, this is <i>thank-worthy.</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="Luke.vi-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.12-Luke.5.16" parsed="|Luke|5|12|5|16" passage="Lu 5:12-16" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Luke.5.12-Luke.5.16">
<h4 id="Luke.vi-p18.3">A Leper Cleansed.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Luke.vi-p19">12 And it came to pass, when he was in a certain
city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on
<i>his</i> face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou
canst make me clean.   13 And he put forth <i>his</i> hand,
and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the
leprosy departed from him.   14 And he charged him to tell no
man: but go, and show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy
cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
  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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p20">Here is, I. The cleansing of a leper,
<scripRef id="Luke.vi-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.12-Luke.5.14" parsed="|Luke|5|12|5|14" passage="Lu 5:12-14"><i>v.</i> 12-14</scripRef>. This
narrative we had both in Matthew and Mark. It is here said to have
been <i>in a certain city</i> (<scripRef id="Luke.vi-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.12" parsed="|Luke|5|12|0|0" passage="Lu 5:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>); it was in Capernaum, but the
evangelist would not name it, perhaps because it was a reflection
upon the government of the city that a leper was suffered to be
<i>in it.</i> This man is said to be <i>full of leprosy;</i> he had
that distemper in a high degree, which the more fitly represents
our natural pollution by sin; we are <i>full of that leprosy, from
the crown of the head to the sole of the foot there is no soundness
in us.</i> Now let us learn here,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p21">1. What we must do in the sense of our
spiritual leprosy. (1.) We must <i>seek Jesus,</i> enquire after
him, acquaint ourselves with him, and reckon the discoveries made
to us of Christ by the gospel the most acceptable and welcome
discoveries that could be made to us. (2.) We must humble ourselves
before him, as this leper, seeing Jesus, <i>fell on his face.</i>
We must be <i>ashamed</i> of our pollution, and, in the sense of
it, blush to lift up our faces before the <i>holy Jesus.</i> (3.)
We must earnestly desire to be <i>cleansed</i> from the defilement,
and cured of the disease, of sin, which renders us unfit for
communion with God. (4.) We must firmly believe Christ's ability
and sufficiency to cleanse us: Lord, <i>thou canst make me
clean,</i> though I be <i>full of leprosy.</i> No doubt is to be
made of the merit and grace of Christ. (5.) We must be importunate
in prayer for pardoning mercy and renewing grace: <i>He fell on his
face and besought him;</i> they that would be cleansed must reckon
it a favour worth wrestling for. (6.) We must refer ourselves to
the good-will of Christ: <i>Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst.</i>
This is not so much the language of his <i>diffidence,</i> or
<i>distrust</i> of the good-will of Christ, as of his submission
and reference of himself and his case to the will, to the
good-will, of Jesus Christ.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p22">2. What we may expect from Christ, if we
thus apply ourselves to him. (1.) We shall find him very
<i>condescending</i> and forward to take cognizance of our case
(<scripRef id="Luke.vi-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.13" parsed="|Luke|5|13|0|0" passage="Lu 5:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>): <i>He put
forth his hand and touched him.</i> When Christ visited this
leprous world, unasked, unsought unto, he showed how low he could
stoop, to do good. His <i>touching</i> the leper was wonderful
condescension; but it is much greater to us when he is himself
<i>touched with the feeling of our infirmities.</i> (2.) We shall
find him very <i>compassionate,</i> and ready to relieve us; he
said, "<i>I will,</i> never doubt of that; whosoever comes to me to
be healed, <i>I will in no wise cast him out.</i>" He is as willing
to cleanse leprous souls as they can be to be cleansed. (3.) We
shall find him all-sufficient, and able to heal and cleanse us,
though we be ever so full of this loathsome leprosy. One word, one
touch, from Christ, did the business: <i>Immediately the leprosy
departed from him.</i> If Christ saith, "I will, be thou
<i>justified,</i> be thou <i>sanctified,</i>" it is done; for he
has power on earth to <i>forgive</i> sin, and power to give the
Holy Spirit, <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p22.2" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.6.11" parsed="|1Cor|6|11|0|0" passage="1Co 6:11">1 Cor. vi.
11</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p23">3. What he requires from those that are
cleansed, <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p23.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.14" parsed="|Luke|5|14|0|0" passage="Lu 5:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>. Has
Christ sent his word and healed us? (1.) We must be very
<i>humble</i> (<scripRef id="Luke.vi-p23.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.14" parsed="|Luke|5|14|0|0" passage="Lu 5:14"><i>v.</i>
14</scripRef>): <i>He charged him to tell no man.</i> This, it
should seem, did not forbid him telling it to the honour of Christ,
but he must not tell it to his own honour. Those whom Christ hath
healed and cleansed must know that he hath done it in such a way as
for ever excludes boasting. (2.) We must be very <i>thankful,</i>
and make a grateful acknowledgment of the divine grace: <i>Go, and
offer for thy cleansing.</i> Christ did not require him to give him
a fee, but to bring the sacrifice of praise to God; so far was he
from using his power to the prejudice of the law of Moses. (3.) We
must <i>keep close to our duty;</i> go <i>to the priest,</i> and
those that attend him. The man whom Christ had made whole he
<i>found in the temple,</i> <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p23.3" osisRef="Bible:John.5.14" parsed="|John|5|14|0|0" passage="Joh 5:14">John v.
14</scripRef>. Those who by any affliction have been detained from
public ordinances should, when the affliction is removed, attend on
them the more diligently, and adhere to them the more
constantly.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p24">4. Christ's <i>public serviceableness</i>
to men and his <i>private communion</i> with God; these are put
together here, to give lustre to each other.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p25">(1.) Though never any had so much
<i>pleasure</i> in his <i>retirements</i> as Christ had, yet he was
<i>much in a crowd,</i> to do good, <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p25.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.15" parsed="|Luke|5|15|0|0" passage="Lu 5:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>. Though the leper should
altogether hold his peace, yet the thing could not be hid, <i>so
much the more went there a fame abroad of him.</i> The more he
sought to conceal himself under a veil of humility, the more notice
did people take of him; for honour is like a shadow, which flees
from those that pursue it (<i>for a man to seek his own glory is
not glory),</i> but follows those that decline it, and draw from
it. The less good men say of themselves, the more will others say
of them. But Christ reckoned it a small honour to him that his
<i>fame went abroad;</i> it was much more so that hereby multitudes
were brought to receive benefit by him. [1.] By his preaching. They
came together to <i>hear</i> him, and to receive instruction from
him concerning the kingdom of God. [2.] By his miracles. They came
<i>to be healed by him of their infirmities;</i> that invited them
to come to hear him, confirmed his doctrine, and recommended
it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p26">(2.) Though never any did so much <i>good
in public,</i> yet he found time for <i>pious</i> and <i>devout
retirements</i> (<scripRef id="Luke.vi-p26.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.16" parsed="|Luke|5|16|0|0" passage="Lu 5:16"><i>v.</i>
16</scripRef>): <i>He withdrew himself into the wilderness, and
prayed;</i> not that he needed to avoid either distraction or
ostentation, but he would set us an example, who need to order the
circumstances of our devotion so as to guard against both. It is
likewise our wisdom so to order our affairs as that our public work
and our secret work may not intrench upon, nor interfere with, one
another. Note, Secret prayer must be performed secretly; and those
that have ever so much to do of the best business in this world
must keep up constant stated times for it.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Luke.vi-p26.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.17-Luke.5.26" parsed="|Luke|5|17|5|26" passage="Lu 5:17-26" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Luke.5.17-Luke.5.26">
<h4 id="Luke.vi-p26.3">Cure of a Paralytic.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Luke.vi-p27">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
Judæa, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was <i>present</i>
to heal them.   18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man
which was taken with a palsy: and they sought <i>means</i> to bring
him in, and to lay <i>him</i> before him.   19 And when they
could not find by what <i>way</i> they might bring him in because
of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down
through the tiling with <i>his</i> couch into the midst before
Jesus.   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?   22 But
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.  
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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p28">Here is, I. A general account of Christ's
preaching and miracles, <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p28.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.17" parsed="|Luke|5|17|0|0" passage="Lu 5:17"><i>v.</i>
17</scripRef>. 1. He was <i>teaching on a certain day,</i> not on
the sabbath day, then he would have said so, but on a <i>week-day;
six days shalt thou labour,</i> not only for <i>the world,</i> but
for <i>the soul,</i> and the welfare of that. Preaching and hearing
the word of <i>God</i> are <i>good works,</i> if they be <i>done
well,</i> any day in the <i>week,</i> as well as on sabbath days.
It was not in the <i>synagogue,</i> but in a <i>private house;</i>
for even there where we ordinarily converse with our friends it is
not improper to give and receive good instruction. 2. There he
<i>taught,</i> he <i>healed</i> (as before, <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p28.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.15" parsed="|Luke|5|15|0|0" passage="Lu 5:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>): <i>And the power of the Lord
was to heal them</i>—<b><i>en eis to iasthai autous</i></b>. It
was <i>mighty</i> to heal them; it was <i>exerted</i> and <i>put
forth</i> to heal them, to heal those whom he <i>taught</i> (we may
understand it so), to heal their souls, to cure them of their
spiritual diseases, and to give them a new life, a new nature.
Note, Those who receive the word of Christ in faith will find a
divine power going along with that word, to <i>heal them;</i> for
Christ came with his comforts to <i>heal the broken-hearted,</i>
<scripRef id="Luke.vi-p28.3" osisRef="Bible:Luke.4.18" parsed="|Luke|4|18|0|0" passage="Lu 4:18"><i>ch.</i> iv. 18</scripRef>. The power
of the Lord is <i>present</i> with the word, <i>present to
those</i> that pray for it and submit to it, <i>present to heal
them.</i> Or it may be meant (and so it is generally taken) of the
healing of those who were <i>diseased in body,</i> who came to him
for cures. Whenever there was occasion, Christ had not <i>to
seek</i> for his power, it was <i>present to heal.</i> 3. There
were some grandees present in this assembly, and, as it should
seem, more than usual: <i>There were Pharisees, and doctors of the
law, sitting by;</i> not sitting <i>at his feet,</i> to learn of
him; then I should have been willing to take the following clause
as referring to those who are spoken of immediately before (the
<i>power of the Lord was present to heal them</i>); and why might
not the word of Christ reach their hearts? But, by what follows
(<scripRef id="Luke.vi-p28.4" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.21" parsed="|Luke|5|21|0|0" passage="Lu 5:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>), it appears
that they were <i>not healed,</i> but cavilled at Christ, which
compels us to refer this to others, not to them; for they <i>sat
by</i> as <i>persons unconcerned,</i> as if the word of Christ were
nothing to them. They sat by as spectators, censors, and spies, to
pick up something on which to ground a reproach or accusation. How
many are there in the midst of our assemblies, where the gospel is
preached, that do not <i>sit under</i> the word, but <i>sit by!</i>
It is to them as a <i>tale</i> that is <i>told them,</i> not as a
<i>message</i> that is <i>sent them;</i> they are willing that we
should preach <i>before them,</i> not that we should preach <i>to
them.</i> These Pharisees and scribes (or doctors of the law)
<i>came out of every town of Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem;</i>
they came from all parts of the nation. Probably, they appointed to
meet at this time and place, to see what remarks they could make
upon Christ and what he said and did. They were in a confederacy,
as those that said, <i>Come, and let us devise devices against
Jeremiah,</i> and agree to <i>smite him with the tongue,</i>
<scripRef id="Luke.vi-p28.5" osisRef="Bible:Jer.18.18" parsed="|Jer|18|18|0|0" passage="Jer 18:18">Jer. xviii. 18</scripRef>. <i>Report,
and we will report it,</i> <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p28.6" osisRef="Bible:Jer.20.10" parsed="|Jer|20|10|0|0" passage="Jer 20:10">Jer. xx.
10</scripRef>. Observe, Christ went on with his work of
<i>preaching</i> and <i>healing,</i> though he saw these Pharisees,
and doctors of the Jewish church, <i>sitting by,</i> who, he knew,
<i>despised</i> him, and watched to <i>ensnare him.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p29">II. A particular account of the cure of the
man <i>sick of the palsy,</i> which was related much as it is here
by both the foregoing evangelists: let us therefore only observe in
short,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p30">1. The doctrines that are taught us and
confirmed to us by the story of this cure. (1.) That sin is the
fountain of all sickness, and the forgiveness of sin is the only
foundation upon which a recovery from sickness can comfortably be
built. They presented the <i>sick man</i> to Christ, and he said,
"<i>Man, thy sins are forgiven thee</i> (<scripRef id="Luke.vi-p30.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.20" parsed="|Luke|5|20|0|0" passage="Lu 5:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>), that is the blessing thou art
most to prize and seek; for if thy sins be forgiven thee, though
the sickness be continued, it is in mercy; if they be not, though
the sickness be removed, it is in wrath." The cords of our iniquity
are the bands of our affliction. (2.) That Jesus Christ has power
on earth to <i>forgive sins,</i> and his healing diseases was an
<i>incontestable</i> proof of it. This was the thing intended to be
proved (<scripRef id="Luke.vi-p30.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.24" parsed="|Luke|5|24|0|0" passage="Lu 5:24"><i>v.</i> 24</scripRef>):
<i>That ye may know</i> and believe <i>that the Son of man,</i>
though now upon earth in his state of humiliation, <i>hath power to
forgive sins,</i> and to release sinners, upon gospel terms, from
the eternal punishment of sin, he <i>saith to the sick of the
palsy, Arise, and walk;</i> and he is cured immediately. Christ
claims one of the prerogatives of the King of kings when he
undertakes to <i>forgive sin,</i> and it is justly expected that he
should produce a good proof of it. "Well," saith he, "I will put it
upon this issue: here is a man struck with a palsy, and <i>for his
sin;</i> if I do not with a word's speaking cure his disease in an
instant, which cannot be done by nature or art, but purely by the
immediate power and efficacy of the God of nature, then say that I
am not entitled to the prerogative of forgiving sin, am not the
Messiah, am not the Son of God and King of Israel: but, if I do,
you must own that <i>I have power to forgive sins.</i>" Thus it was
put upon a fair trial, and one word of Christ determined it. He did
but say, <i>Arise, take up thy couch,</i> and that <i>chronical</i>
disease had an <i>instantaneous</i> cure; <i>immediately he arose
before them.</i> They must all own that there could be no cheat or
fallacy in it. They that brought him could attest how perfectly
<i>lame</i> he was before; they that saw him could attest how
perfectly <i>well</i> he was now, insomuch that he had strength
enough to take up and carry away the bed he lay upon. How well is
it for us that this most comfortable doctrine of the gospel, that
<i>Jesus Christ,</i> our <i>Redeemer and Saviour,</i> has <i>power
to forgive sin,</i> has such a full attestation! (3.) That Jesus
Christ is God. He appears to be so, [1.] By <i>knowing the
thoughts</i> of the scribes and Pharisees (<scripRef id="Luke.vi-p30.3" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.22" parsed="|Luke|5|22|0|0" passage="Lu 5:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>), which it is God's prerogative
to do, though these scribes and Pharisees knew as well how to
conceal their thoughts, and keep their countenances, as most men,
and probably were industrious to do it at this time, for they
<i>lay in wait secretly.</i> [2.] By doing that which their
thoughts owned none could do but God only (<scripRef id="Luke.vi-p30.4" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.21" parsed="|Luke|5|21|0|0" passage="Lu 5:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>): <i>Who can forgive sins,</i>
say they, <i>but only God?</i> "I will prove," saith Christ, "that
I can forgive sins;" and what follows then but that <i>he is
God</i>? What horrid wickedness then were <i>they</i> guilty of who
charged him with speaking the <i>worst</i> of <i>blasphemies,</i>
even when he spoke the <i>best</i> of <i>blessings, Thy sins are
forgiven thee!</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p31">2. The duties that are taught us, and
recommended to us, by this story. (1.) In our applications to
Christ, we must be very <i>pressing</i> and <i>urgent:</i> that is
an evidence of faith, and is very pleasing to Christ and prevailing
with him. They that were the friends of this sick man <i>sought
means to bring him in before Christ</i> (<scripRef id="Luke.vi-p31.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.18" parsed="|Luke|5|18|0|0" passage="Lu 5:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>); and, when they were baffled in
their endeavour, they did not give up their cause; but when they
could not get in by <i>the door,</i> it was so crowded, they
untiled the house, and let the poor patient down through the roof,
<i>into the midst before Jesus,</i> <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p31.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.19" parsed="|Luke|5|19|0|0" passage="Lu 5:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>. In this Jesus Christ <i>saw
their faith,</i> <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p31.3" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.20" parsed="|Luke|5|20|0|0" passage="Lu 5:20"><i>v.</i>
20</scripRef>. Now here he has taught us (and it were well if we
could learn the lesson) to <i>put the best construction</i> upon
words and actions that they <i>will bear.</i> When the centurion
and the woman of Canaan were in no care at all to bring the
patients they interceded for into Christ's presence, but believed
that he could cure them <i>at a distance,</i> he commended <i>their
faith.</i> But though in <i>these</i> there seemed to be a
<i>different</i> notion of the thing, and an apprehension that it
was requisite the <i>patient</i> should be <i>brought into his
presence,</i> yet he did not <i>censure</i> and <i>condemn</i>
their weakness, did not ask them, "Why do you give this disturbance
to the assembly? Are you under such a degree of infidelity as to
think I could not have cured him, though he had been out of doors?"
But he made the best of it, and even in <i>this</i> he saw <i>their
faith.</i> It is a comfort to us that we serve a Master that is
willing to <i>make the best</i> of us. (2.) When we are sick, we
should be more in care to get our sins pardoned than to get our
sickness removed. Christ, in what he said to this man, taught us,
when we seek to God for health, to begin with seeking to him for
pardon. (3.) The mercies which we have the comfort of God must have
the praise of. The man <i>departed to his own house, glorifying
God,</i> <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p31.4" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.25" parsed="|Luke|5|25|0|0" passage="Lu 5:25"><i>v.</i> 25</scripRef>. To
him belong the escapes from death, and in them therefore he must be
<i>glorified.</i> (4.) The miracles which Christ wrought were
<i>amazing</i> to those that saw them, and we ought to
<i>glorify</i> God in them, <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p31.5" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.26" parsed="|Luke|5|26|0|0" passage="Lu 5:26"><i>v.</i>
26</scripRef>. They said, "<i>We have seen strange things
to-day,</i> such as we never saw before, nor our fathers before us;
they are altogether new." But they <i>glorified</i> God, who had
sent into their country such a benefactor to it; and were <i>filled
with fear,</i> with a reverence of God, with a jealous persuasion
that this was the Messiah and that he was not treated by their
nation as he ought to be, which might prove in the end the ruin of
their state; perhaps they were some such thoughts as these that
<i>filled them with fear,</i> and a concern likewise for
themselves.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Luke.vi-p31.6" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.27-Luke.5.39" parsed="|Luke|5|27|5|39" passage="Lu 5:27-39" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Luke.5.27-Luke.5.39">
<h4 id="Luke.vi-p31.7">The Call of Matthew; Watchfulness
Inculcated.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Luke.vi-p32">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.   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.   30 But their scribes and Pharisees
murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink
with publicans and sinners?   31 And 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.   33 And they said unto him, Why do the disciples
of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise <i>the
disciples</i> of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?   34
And 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.   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 <i>taken</i> 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
<i>wine</i> straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is
better.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p33">All this, except the last verse, we had
before in Matthew and Mark; it is not the story of any <i>miracle
in nature</i> wrought by our Lord Jesus, but it is an account of
some of the <i>wonders of his grace,</i> which, to those who
understand things aright, are no less cogent proofs of Christ's
being sent of God than the other.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p34">I. It was a wonder of his grace that he
would call a <i>publican,</i> from the <i>receipt of custom,</i> to
be his disciple and follower, <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p34.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.27" parsed="|Luke|5|27|0|0" passage="Lu 5:27"><i>v.</i>
27</scripRef>. It was wonderful condescension that he should admit
poor fishermen to that honour, men of the <i>lowest rank;</i> but
much more wonderful that he should admit <i>publicans,</i> men of
the <i>worst reputation,</i> men of <i>ill fame.</i> In this Christ
<i>humbled himself,</i> and appeared <i>in the likeness of sinful
flesh.</i> By this he <i>exposed himself,</i> and got the invidious
character of a <i>friend of publicans and sinners.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p35">II. It was a wonder of his grace that the
call was made <i>effectual,</i> became immediately so, <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p35.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.28" parsed="|Luke|5|28|0|0" passage="Lu 5:28"><i>v.</i> 28</scripRef>. This publican, though
those of that employment commonly had little inclination to
religion, for his religion's sake left a good place in the
custom-house (which, probably, was his livelihood, and where he
stood fair for better preferment), and <i>rose up, and followed
Christ.</i> There is no heart too hard for the Spirit and grace of
Christ to work upon, nor any difficulties in the way of a sinner's
conversion insuperable to his power.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p36">III. It was a wonder of his grace that he
would not only admit a converted publican into his family, but
would keep company with unconverted publicans, that he might have
an opportunity of doing their souls good; he justified himself in
it, as agreeing with the great design of his coming into the world.
Here is a wonder of grace indeed, that Christ undertakes to be the
Physician of souls <i>distempered</i> by sin, and ready to
<i>die</i> of the distemper (he is a Healer by office, <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p36.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.31" parsed="|Luke|5|31|0|0" passage="Lu 5:31"><i>v.</i> 31</scripRef>)—that he has a
particular regard to the sick, to sinners as his patients,
convinced awakened sinners, that see their need of the
Physician—that he came to call <i>sinners,</i> the worst of
sinners, to repentance, and to assure them of pardon, upon
repentance, <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p36.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.32" parsed="|Luke|5|32|0|0" passage="Lu 5:32"><i>v.</i> 32</scripRef>.
These are glad tidings of great joy indeed.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p37">IV. It was a wonder of his grace that he
did so patiently bear the <i>contradiction of sinners</i> against
himself and his disciples, <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p37.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.30" parsed="|Luke|5|30|0|0" passage="Lu 5:30"><i>v.</i>
30</scripRef>. He did not express his resentment of the cavils of
the scribes and Pharisees, as he justly might have done, but
answered them with reason and meekness; and, instead of taking that
occasion to show his displeasure against the Pharisees, as
afterwards he did, or of recriminating upon them, he took that
occasion to show his compassion to poor publicans, another sort of
sinners, and to encourage them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p38">V. It was a wonder of his grace that, in
the discipline under which he trained up his disciples, he
<i>considered their frame,</i> and proportioned their services to
their strength and standing, and to the circumstances they were in.
It was objected, as a blemish upon his conduct, that he did not
make <i>his disciples</i> to <i>fast</i> so often as those of the
<i>Pharisees</i> and John Baptist did, <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p38.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.33" parsed="|Luke|5|33|0|0" passage="Lu 5:33"><i>v.</i> 33</scripRef>. He insisted most upon that which
is the <i>soul</i> of fasting, the mortification of sin, the
crucifying of the flesh, and the living of a life of self-denial,
which is as much better than fasting and corporal penances as
<i>mercy</i> is better than <i>sacrifice.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p39">VI. It was a wonder of his grace that
Christ reserved the trials of his disciples for their latter times,
when by his grace they were in some good measure better prepared
and fitted for them than they were at first. Now they were as the
<i>children of the bride-chamber,</i> when the <i>bridegroom is
with them,</i> when they have plenty and joy, and every day is a
festival. Christ was welcomed wherever he came, and they for his
sake, and as yet they met with little or no opposition; but this
will not last always. <i>The days will come</i> when the
<i>bridegroom shall be taken away from them,</i> <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p39.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.35" parsed="|Luke|5|35|0|0" passage="Lu 5:35"><i>v.</i> 35</scripRef>. When Christ shall leave them
with their hearts full of sorrow, their hands full of work, and the
world full of enmity and rage against them, <i>then shall they
fast,</i> shall not be so well fed as they are now. <i>We both
hunger and thirst and are naked,</i> <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p39.2" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.4.11" parsed="|1Cor|4|11|0|0" passage="1Co 4:11">1
Cor. iv. 11</scripRef>. Then they shall keep many more <i>religious
fasts</i> than they do now, for Providence will call them to it;
they will then serve the Lord <i>with fastings,</i> <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p39.3" osisRef="Bible:Acts.13.2" parsed="|Acts|13|2|0|0" passage="Ac 13:2">Acts xiii. 2</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vi-p40">VII. It was a wonder of his grace that he
proportioned their exercises to their strength. He would not put
<i>new cloth upon an old garment</i> (<scripRef id="Luke.vi-p40.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.36" parsed="|Luke|5|36|0|0" passage="Lu 5:36"><i>v.</i> 36</scripRef>), nor <i>new wine into old
bottles</i> (<scripRef id="Luke.vi-p40.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.37-Luke.5.38" parsed="|Luke|5|37|5|38" passage="Lu 5:37,38"><i>v.</i> 37,
38</scripRef>); he would not, as soon as ever he had called them
out of the world, put them upon the strictnesses and austerities of
discipleship, lest they should be tempted to <i>fly off.</i> When
God brought Israel out of Egypt, he would not bring them <i>by the
way of the Philistines,</i> lest they should <i>repent,</i> when
they <i>saw war,</i> and <i>return to Egypt,</i> <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p40.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.13.17" parsed="|Exod|13|17|0|0" passage="Ex 13:17">Exod. xiii. 17</scripRef>. So Christ would train up his
followers gradually to the discipline of his family; for no man,
having <i>drank old wine,</i> will <i>of a sudden,</i> straightway,
<i>desire new,</i> or relish it, but will say, <i>The old is
better,</i> because he has been <i>used to it,</i> <scripRef id="Luke.vi-p40.4" osisRef="Bible:Luke.5.39" parsed="|Luke|5|39|0|0" passage="Lu 5:39"><i>v.</i> 39</scripRef>. The disciples will be
tempted to think their old way of living better, till they are by
degrees trained up to this way whereunto they are called. Or, turn
it the other way: "Let them be <i>accustomed</i> awhile to
religious exercises, and then they will <i>abound</i> in them as
much as you do: but we must not be too hasty with them." Calvin
takes it as an admonition to the Pharisees not to boast of their
fasting, and the noise and show they made with it, nor to despise
his disciples because they did not in like manner <i>signalize</i>
themselves; for the profession the Pharisees made was indeed
<i>pompous</i> and <i>gay,</i> like <i>new wine</i> that is brisk
and sparkling, whereas all wise men say, <i>The old is better;</i>
for, though it does not give its colour so well in the cup, yet it
is more warming in the stomach and more wholesome. Christ's
disciples, though they had not so much of the <i>form of
godliness,</i> had more of the <i>power of it.</i></p>
</div></div2>