路加福音 第五章 Luke Chapter 5
- 馬克牧師
- Feb 22
- 10 min read
Updated: Feb 22
各位弟兄姊妹，平安！
我們今天讀到的是《路加福音》第五章。路加是一個非常有趣的作者，接下來的記載充滿許多生動的故事，因此這一章讀起來別具趣味。
首先，我們看到耶穌呼召的第一批門徒——西門彼得和他的夥伴們。
這裡提到的革尼撒勒湖，其實就是加利利海。雖然被稱為「海」，但實際上它並不是一個非常大的湖，只是因為它位於加利利地區的中央，而且湖內盛產魚類，是當地重要的水源與漁業供應地。
在這裡，我們看到西門彼得與耶穌的第一次相遇。我想，耶穌必定看到了彼得一些特別的個性。彼得是一個記載最多，個性鮮明的角色。
彼得是一個健談且勇敢的人，在門徒當中經常擔任領頭的角色，可以說是學生中的「大師兄」。當然，他有時候話說得太快，卻未必能做到，但他的最大優點是——無論如何，他最終都會回來聽從耶穌的話。
也正是這份特質，使他在犯錯後能夠真正悔改，並最終成為大能的使徒。他的人生走向極大的勇敢，最終選擇像耶穌一樣，被釘十字架殉道，為主獻上生命。
一開始，我們就看到耶穌在講道時，因為人太多，所以祂決定上船，從湖上向眾人宣講。
講完之後，耶穌對西門說：「你去撒網打魚。」
身為一個專業的漁夫，西門和他的夥伴們已經努力了一整夜，卻什麼都沒有捕到。他對這片湖的情況非常熟悉，因此當他聽到耶穌這句話時，心裡或許會想：「你是在開玩笑嗎？我們忙了一整夜都沒抓到半條魚，現在你讓我再試一次？」
但這時候，我們就能看見彼得的優點。雖然他並不完全相信，也不確定會有什麼結果，但他仍然說：「夫子，但因為你說了，我就去做。」
彼得有一個極大的優勢——即使他的信心不足，他仍然願意行動。
在當時，當耶穌被捉拿審判時，雖然彼得後來三次不認主，但至少他還有膽量跟著耶穌和差役，想看看接下來會發生什麼事。相比之下，其他門徒早已四散逃跑。
後來，我們看到彼得在宣教的事工上，雖然對猶太人仍抱持一些保守的看法，也有一些掙扎，但最終，他從未放棄自己作為使徒的職責，他是一個有始有終的人。
許多時候，當上帝要使用我們做奇妙的事情時，我們也會面對類似的挑戰。
當上帝說：「去做這件事。」我們的回應會是：「上帝啊，這辦不到！我們已經試過了，沒成功！」還是說：「主啊，我們確實試過了，但因為是你的話，我就願意再試一次！」
很多時候，我們靠自己努力，或許做不成功，但當上帝親自介入時，事情就會完全不一樣！
人最偉大的能力，就是能突破舊有的觀念，能突破自我。
然而，這並不容易。因為我們都有自己的看法、經驗，甚至累積了許多失敗的經歷。我們從失敗中學習，但我們不應該讓失敗的經驗成為我們不敢嘗試的藉口。
今天，耶穌告訴彼得：「當我讓你去做的時候，當我介入、與你同工時，一切都會不同！」
路加接下來記載的四個故事，其實有一個很重要的共同點——這些都是當時傳統猶太人極為厭惡的事情。
第一件事：耶穌觸碰長大麻風的人
我們都還記得，過去幾年全球爆發了嚴重的疫情，當時普遍採取的防疫措施就是隔離。當我們聽到某人確診感染病毒，例如肺炎，所有人都會像對待病毒一樣避而遠之，甚至連家人、親戚朋友之間，也突然出現了難以跨越的隔閡。
這樣的情況與當年的大麻風患者極為相似。大麻風被認為是高度傳染性的疾病，因此，當一個人染上大麻風，人們會極度恐懼並急著遠離他。然而，耶穌卻違反常理，主動觸碰這個人，這在當時的社會來說，是一件極不可思議的事情。
第二件事：治好癱瘓的病人
在猶太人的觀念中，先天殘疾或患有重病的人，通常被認為是因罪受到上帝懲罰。因此，這位癱子不僅是身體上的無助者，還被社會視為有罪之人，讓人避之唯恐不及。
然而，耶穌不僅醫治了這名癱子，甚至對他說：「你的罪赦了！」 這對於當時的猶太宗教領袖來說，簡直是大逆不道，因為他們認為，只有上帝才能赦罪。但耶穌的行動，顯明了祂擁有赦罪的權柄，也讓我們看到，祂看重的不是人的外在狀況，而是內心真正的需要。
第三件事：呼召稅吏利未（馬太）
利未，也就是《馬太福音》的作者馬太，原本是一名稅吏。在當時的猶太社會，稅吏是最被痛恨的一群人。他們為羅馬人效力，向自己的百姓徵收重稅，甚至剝削同胞，貪污敛財。在猶太人眼中，這些人就是賣國賊、民族的叛徒，比罪人還可惡。
然而，耶穌卻主動呼召利未，不僅如此，祂還到利未的家中與他一同吃飯。不僅是利未，還有許多其他的稅吏和罪人也一起參加了這場宴席。這對猶太宗教人士來說，是極大的冒犯，因為他們認為：「敬虔之人怎能與這些罪人同桌吃飯？」
第四件事：關於禁食的問題
這是對傳統宗教觀念的挑戰。當時，法利賽人和約翰的門徒都守禁食的律法，但耶穌的門徒卻沒有照著傳統禁食，這讓宗教人士感到極為不滿。
祂的意思是，現在是恩典的時代，耶穌——新郎——正在與他們同在，他們應當歡喜快樂，而不是拘泥於傳統律法的要求。這也顯示出，耶穌的來臨帶來了新的時代，不再是靠行律法得救，而是憑信心得救。
耶穌所做的每一件事，對於猶太宗教領袖和傳統人士來說，不僅極具挑戰性，更是大不敬的行為。耶穌所看見的是人的真正需要，但當時的法利賽人和宗教人士只看律法的要求。
然而，他們忽略了一個重要的真理——律法的核心是上帝的愛。
耶穌首先看到人的需要，祂滿有憐憫與慈愛，這正是祂與那些守律法卻無愛心的宗教人士最大的不同。
最後，路加所記載的「新酒與舊皮袋」的比喻，與彼得的故事前後呼應。
彼得願意放下自己舊有的觀念，順服耶穌的話語，因此他成為了新皮袋，可以被聖靈使用。如果他堅持自己過去的想法，不願改變，那麼他就無法被上帝所使用。許多時候，上帝並不是不願意使用我們，而是我們是否願意被祂使用。
當上帝要使用我們時，祂一定會要求我們放下自己的舊觀念，放下我們自以為是的對錯標準，讓我們成為一個新皮袋，能夠順服耶穌的話語，跟隨聖靈的帶領。
如果我們想要領受新的工作、新的恩典，那麼我們必須成為新的人，才能夠承載上帝所賜的更新與祝福。
今日的屬靈反思：我們今天的認知，是否被過去的經驗所主宰？因為過去失敗，我們就認定未來同樣的事情也一定會失敗？還是我們願意相信，當上帝介入時，一切都會不同，因此因著祂的話，勇敢再試一次？
感謝各位的聆聽，我們明天繼續分享路加福音第六章的故事。
Dear brothers and sisters, peace be with you!
Today, we are reading Luke, Chapter 5. Luke is a fascinating author, and the stories he records are vivid and engaging, making this chapter particularly interesting to read.
The Calling of the First Disciples
First, we see Jesus calling His first disciples—Simon Peter and his companions.
The Lake of Gennesaret mentioned here is actually the Sea of Galilee. Although it is called a “sea,” it is not a very large lake. However, because it is centrally located in the Galilean region, it is rich in fish, making it an important source of water and a major supplier of fish for the region.
Here, we witness Simon Peter’s first encounter with Jesus. I believe Jesus must have seen something special in Peter’s character. Among all the disciples, Peter is one of the most prominent and frequently mentioned figures, with a strong and distinct personality.
Peter was talkative and courageous, often acting as the leader among the disciples. In a way, he was like the "big brother" of the group. Of course, sometimes he spoke too quickly and could not always follow through with his words. However, his greatest strength was that—no matter what happened, he would always return to listen to Jesus.
It was this very characteristic that enabled him to truly repent after his failures and ultimately become a powerful apostle. His life was marked by increasing courage, and in the end, he chose to be crucified like Jesus, offering his life for the Lord.
Peter’s First Test of Faith
At the beginning of this passage, we see that Jesus, due to the large crowd, decided to get into a boat and preach from the water.
After finishing His sermon, Jesus said to Simon: “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
As a professional fisherman, Simon and his companions had worked all night without catching anything. He knew this lake very well, and upon hearing Jesus’ request, he might have thought:
"Are you serious? We have been working all night and caught nothing, and now you want me to try again?"
But at this moment, we see Peter’s remarkable quality. Even though he did not fully believe or know what the result would be, he still said:
"Master, because You say so, I will let down the nets."
This demonstrates Peter’s greatest strength—even when his faith was weak, he was still willing to act.
Peter’s Boldness and Perseverance
Later, when Jesus was arrested and put on trial, Peter denied Him three times. However, at least he had the courage to follow Jesus and see what would happen, whereas the other disciples had already fled.
Later in his ministry, Peter had some struggles and hesitations regarding preaching to the Gentiles, yet he never abandoned his calling as an apostle. He remained a man of perseverance—one who saw things through to the end.
Our Response to God’s Calling
Many times, when God calls us to do something extraordinary, we face similar challenges.
When God says, “Go and do this,”do we respond with:“God, it’s impossible! I’ve tried, and it didn’t work.”Or do we say:“Lord, I have tried, but because You say so, I will try again.”
Often, our own efforts may not succeed, but when God intervenes, everything changes!
One of the greatest abilities we can have is the ability to break free from old mindsets and personal limitations.
However, this is not easy. We all have our own perspectives, past experiences, and failures. While it is wise to learn from failure, we should never let failure define our future or stop us from trying again.
Today, Jesus tells Peter:“When I ask you to do something, when I intervene and work with you, everything will be different!”
Four Stories That Challenged Jewish Traditions
Luke follows this with four key stories, all of which challenged traditional Jewish beliefs and practices.
1. Jesus Touches a Man with Leprosy
We all remember the global pandemic in recent years, when strict isolation measures were enforced. When someone was diagnosed with the virus—like pneumonia—people treated them as if they were the virus itself, staying as far away as possible. Even family and close friends suddenly became distant.
This is exactly how society viewed leprosy in Jesus' time. Leprosy was considered highly contagious, and when someone contracted it, people fled in fear, avoiding them at all costs.
But Jesus did the unthinkable—He touched the leper. This was a shocking act in that society, something completely unimaginable.
2. Healing the Paralyzed Man
In Jewish culture, people with congenital disabilities or severe illnesses were often believed to be cursed by God due to sin.
Thus, a paralyzed person was seen not only as physically weak but also as a sinner whom others avoided.
However, Jesus not only healed this paralyzed man but also declared, “Your sins are forgiven!”
For the Jewish religious leaders, this was blasphemy, because they believed only God could forgive sins. Yet, Jesus’ actions revealed His divine authority to forgive sins, showing that He cared not only about external conditions but also about people’s deepest spiritual needs.
3. Calling Levi (Matthew) the Tax Collector
Levi, also known as Matthew, the author of the Gospel of Matthew, was originally a tax collector.
In Jewish society, tax collectors were despised. They worked for the Roman government, extorting their own people by overcharging taxes and keeping the extra for themselves. To the Jews, they were traitors and betrayers of their nation—even worse than ordinary sinners.
Yet, Jesus called Levi to follow Him. Not only that, but He went to Levi’s house and ate with him.
Many other tax collectors and sinners also joined this gathering, which deeply offended the Jewish religious leaders.
They questioned, “How can a righteous person eat with such sinners?”
Jesus replied:“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:31-32)
This shows Jesus’ true mission—He did not come for those who think they are righteous, but for those who truly need Him.
4. The Question of Fasting
This was a direct challenge to Jewish religious traditions. The Pharisees and the disciples of John strictly observed fasting, but Jesus’ disciples did not.
Jesus explained:“Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them?” (Luke 5:34)
He was saying that this was a time of joy because He, the Bridegroom, was with them. The coming of Jesus marked a new era—one in which people are saved not by keeping the law, but by faith.
Jesus vs. Religious Legalism
Everything Jesus did was deeply offensive to the Jewish religious leaders.
Jesus focused on people’s true needs, but the Pharisees only cared about laws and rituals.
They forgot the real purpose of the Law—which was to express God’s love.
Jesus was full of compassion and mercy, and this is what set Him apart from the religious leaders who kept the law but had no love.
Becoming New Wineskins
Finally, Luke records the parable of new wine and old wineskins, which connects back to Peter’s transformation.
Peter let go of his old way of thinking and obeyed Jesus, becoming a new wineskin that could be used by the Holy Spirit.
If he had held onto his past ideas, he would not have been used by God.
Spiritual Reflection
Are we letting our past experiences control our mindset?Are we assuming that because we failed before, we will always fail in the future?
Or, do we believe that when God intervenes, everything changes—and because of His word, we are willing to try again?
Thank you for listening, we’ll be sharing Luke chapter 6 tomorrow.
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