Luke
Verse 1. What Saint Luke here gives till verse 10, is mentioned purposely to shew on what occasion, and by what miracle, Peter, Andrew, James, and John, were called. Maldon.
EXPLANATIONS
Luke 5
Historical chapter commentary
Luke
Verse 2. Washing their nets. See S. Matthew 4:18. and Saint Mark 1:16, where it is said, that Christ saw them when they were casting their nets; that is some of them were casting, others washing, or mending, their nets. A.
Luke
Verse 20. Great is the Lord, who pardons men on account of the merits of others. If you are diffident of the pardon of your grievous sins, have recourse to the Church. She will pray for you; and the Almighty, at her intercession, will grant you that pardon he might have denied to your prayers. Saint Ambrose, l. v. in Luc.
Luke
Verse 21. How great is the madness of this unbelieving people, who confessing that God alone can forgive sins, will not believe God when he grants pardon. Saint Ambrose.—They indeed spoke the truth, for none can forgive sins but God only, who forgives our offences by the ministry of others, to whom he has committed this power, both in baptism and penance. But Christ, by forgiving sins as God, that is with his own power, clearly proves to all his divinity. Ven. Bede.
Luke
Verse 24. The Son of man … on earth. By which act, says S. Cyril, it is clear that the Son of man hath power on earth to remit sins; which he said both for himself and us. For he, as God-man, the Lord of the law, forgiveth sins; and we also have obtained by him that wonderful grace when he said to his disciples: Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them. John 20:23. And how should he not be able to remit sins, who gave others the power to do the same? B.
Luke
Verse 26. At the sight of the exertion of divine power, the Jews would rather fear than believe; for had they believed they would never have feared, but rather loved; for perfect love excludes fear. Saint Ambrose.
Luke
Verse 28. The profane Julian charged Saint Matthew with levity, in leaving all and following a stranger at one word. But hereby is seen the marvellous efficacy of Christ’s word and internal working, which in a moment can alter the heart of man, and cause him to despise what before was most near and dear to him. And this was done not only whilst Christ was living on earth, but daily in his Church. Thus S. Anthony, S. Francis, and others, hearing this word in the Church, forsook all and followed Jesus. Saint Jerome in Matt. ix. Saint Athanasius in vita. S. Anton. August. Confess. l. viii. chapter 11. Bonav. in vit. S. Francisci.
Luke
Verse 29. And Levi made him a great feast, to testify his gratitude to Jesus for the favour he had done him. It appears that both Saint Mark and Saint Luke affect, through consideration for Saint Matthew, to designate him here by his less known name of Levi; whereas he designates himself, through humility, in this same circumstance, by his more known appellation of Matthew. See Matthew 9:9. V.
Luke
Verse 31. Jesus Christ gives them here to understand, that they were of the number of those who languished under a severe indisposition, and that he was come to act as their Physician. S. Chrysos. hom. xxxi in Matt.
Luke
Verse 33. S. Matt. says, it was Saint John’s disciples themselves that objected this to Christ. Most probably both they and the Pharisees endeavoured all they could to press this objection. Saint Augustine de cons. Evang. l. ii. chapter 27.—Why do you not fast, as is customary with all that wish to regulate their lives according to the law? The reason why the saints fasted was, that they might, by afflicting their bodies, subdue their passions. Jesus Christ, therefore, had no need of fasting, being God, and of course free from every, the least, disorderly motion of concupiscence. Neither did his attendants stand in need of fasting, for being enriched with his grace, they were strengthened in virtue, without the help of fasting. When, therefore, Christ fasted forty days, he fasted to set an example to carnal men. S. Cyril.—As long as the Spouse is with us, we are in joy, we cannot fast, we cannot mourn. But when he has been driven away by sin, then we must both fast and weep. Ven. Bede.