A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Luke · Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
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 Geneſareth. 2. And ſaw two ſhips ſtanding by the lake: but the fiſhermen were gone out of them, and were waſhing their nets. 3. And he entred into one of the ſhips, which was Simons, 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.
1, 2, 3. That he might not be crowded.
4. Now when he had left ſpeaking, he ſaid unto Simon, Lanch out into the deep, and let down your netts 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 encloſed a great multitude of fiſhes; and their net brake. 7. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ſhip, that they ſhould come and help them. And they came and filled both the ſhips, ſo that they began to ſink.
4, 5, 6, 7. Note; The Sea, and Earth, and all therein are at Chriſt's command.
8. When Simon Peter ſaw it, he fell down at Jeſus knees, ſaying, Depart from mo, for I am a ſinful man, O Lord. 9. For he was aſtoniſhed, and all that were with him, at the draught of fiſhes which they had taken: 10. And ſo was alſo James and John the ſons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jeſus ſaid unto Simon, Fear not, from henceforth thou ſhalt catch men.
8, 9, 10. Note; The miracle and danger made him afraid.
11. And when they had brought their ſhips to land, they forſook all and followed him.
11. Note; It was not only by his bare Command [Follow me,] but by this Miracle that they were moved.
12. And it came to paſs, when he was in a certain city, behold, a man full of leproſie; who ſeeing Jeſus, fell on his face, and beſought him, ſaying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canſt make me clean. 13. And he put forth his hand, and touched him, ſaying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately the leproſie departed from him. 14. And he charged him to tell no man: but go and ſhew thy ſelf to the prieſt, and offer for thy clenſing, according as Moſes commanded, for a teſtimony unto them.
12, 13.14. Note; A Miracle that the Prieſts themſelves were to have notice of. See Matth. 8.
15. But ſo much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. 16. And he withdrew himſelf into the wilderneſs, and prayed. 17. And it came to paſs on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were phariſees and doctors of the law ſitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judea, and Jeruſalem: and the power of the Lord was preſent to heal them. 18. And behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palſie; and they ſought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. 19. And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in, becauſe of the multitude, they went upon the houſe-top, and let him down through the tiling with his couch, into the midſt before Jeſus.
15, 16, 17, 18, 19. Note; O that we were all as diligent and believing for the healing of our Souls!
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?
20, 21, 22, 23. To forgive the puniſhment, is to forgive the ſin; which you ſhall ſee I have power to do.
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 palſie) 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.
24, 25, 26. The Glory of all great things, is due only to God, whoever is the Agent.
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.
27, 28. Levi is Matthew.
29. And Levi made him a great feaſt in his own houſe: and there was a great company of Publicans, and of others that ſat down with them. 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.
29, 30, 31. Note; It is none of the meaning of God's Law, to be againſt Charity, or man's good, but to keep us from encouraging evil.
32. I came not to call the righteous, but ſinners to repentance.
32. It is ſinners that need me for a Saviour, and the unconverted that need converſion.
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?
33. The Diſciples of John, and the Phariſees, uſed more ſtrictneſs in taſks of faſting, and making prayers, and in bodily auſterities, than Chriſt's Diſciples did.
34. And he ſaid unto them, Can ye make the children of the bride-chamber faſt, while the bridegroom is with them? 35. But the days will come, when the bridegroom ſhall be taken away from them, and then they faſt in thoſe days.
34, 35. Then ſhall they have days of ſadneſs.
36. And he ſpake alſo a parable unto them, No man putteth a piece of new garment upon an old: if otherwiſe, then the new maketh a rent, and the piece, that was taken out of the new, agreeth not with the old. 37. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles, elſe the 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.
36, 37, 38. Doctrines and Precepts muſt be ſuited to mens capacity. See Matth. 9.
39. No man alſo having drunk old wine, ſtraightway deſireth new: for he ſaith, The old is better.
39. They that have been uſed to a freer life, will not ſuddenly like auſterities.