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.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(15) So much the more.—The statement agrees with St. Mark, St. Matthew closing his account with the command given to the leper. Both the verbs, “went” and “came together,” are in the tense that implies continuous action.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

5:12-16 This man is said to be full of leprosy; he had that distemper in a high degree, which represents our natural pollution by sin; we are full of that leprosy; from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot there is no soundness in us. Strong confidence and deep humility are united in the words of this leper. And if any sinner, from a deep sense of vileness, says, I know the Lord can cleanse, but will he look upon such a one as me? will he apply his own precious blood for my cleansing and healing? Yes, he will. Speak not as doubting, but as humbly referring the matter to Christ. And being saved from the guilt and power of our sins, let us spread abroad Christ's fame, and bring others to hear him and to be healed.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See the notes at Matthew 8:2-4.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

15. But so, &c.—(See Mr 1:45).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Luke 5:12"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him,.... For the more he charged the man to keep silence, the more he blazed it abroad, being elated with the cure he received, and filled with gratitude to his benefactor; Mark 1:45.

And great multitudes came together to hear: him, or from him, as the Syriac, Arabic, Persic, and Ethiopic versions add; to hear the doctrines of the Gospel preached by him: "and to be healed by him of their infirmities"; their bodily weaknesses and disorders.

Geneva Study Bible

{3} 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.

(3) Christ would rather be well known by his doctrine than by miracles, and therefore he departs from those that seek him as a physician of the body, and not as the author of salvation.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

Luke 5:15-16. Comp. Mark 1:45.

διήρχετο] The report ran throughout, was spread abroad. So absolutely, Thuc. vi. 46: ἐπειδὴ διῆλθεν ὁ λόγος, ὅτι κ.τ.λ.; Soph. Aj. 978; Xen. Anab. i. 4. 7; Plat. Ep. vii. p. 348 B.

μᾶλλ.] in a still higher degree than before; only all the more. Comp. Luke 18:39. See Stallbaum, ad Plat. Ap. p. 30 A; Nägelsbach on the Iliad, ed. 3, p. 227.

αὐτός] He, however, He on his part, in contrast with the multitudes who were longing for Him.

ἦν ὑποχωρῶν ἐν τοῖς ἐρημ.] i.e. He was engaged in withdrawing Himself into the desert regions (that were there), and in praying, so that He was therefore for the present inaccessible.

καὶ προσευχόμενος] This detail is given on several occasions by Luke alone. See Luke 3:21, Luke 6:12 f., Luke 9:18; Luke 9:29, and elsewhere.

Expositor's Greek Testament

Luke 5:15. ἀκούειν, to hear, but not the word as in Luke 5:1, rather to hear about the wonderful Healer and to get healing for themselves (θεραπεύεσθαι).

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

15. so much the more went there a fame abroad] It is clear therefore that the leper disobeyed his strict injunction. Such disobedience was natural, and perhaps venial; but certainly not commendable.

great multitudes came together … to be healed] Thus in part defeating our Lord’s purpose.

Bengel's Gnomen

Luke 5:15. Θεραπεύεσθαι, to be healed) The verb is middle [and therefore means more strictly, to have themselves healed].

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 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. It is evident that his wishes and commands were neglected, possibly out of a mistaken feeling of gratitude. The result was that his work of teaching was hindered by the crowds who resorted to him at once as a Physician of extraordinary power. But he had graver and much more important work before him than even the blessed task of relieving suffering. So he withdrew himself, says our evangelist, and again spent a short season in solitude and prayer. Luke 5:15

Vincent's Word Studies

Went abroad (διήρχετο)

Διά throughout the region. Wyc., the word walked about.

Came together (σηνήρχοντο)

Imperfect. Kept coming together, or were coming.

To be healed (θεραπεύεσθαι)

Originally, to be an attendant, to do service; and therefore of a physician, to attend upon, or treat medically. In classical writers it has also the meaning to heal, as undoubtedly in the New Testament, and in Luke (Luke 13:14; Acts 4:14, etc.). See on Matthew 8:7, and compare ἰαομαι, to heal, in Luke 5:17.

Infirmities (ἀσθενειῶν)

A strictly literal rendering; ἀ, not, and σθένος strength, exactly answering to the Latin in, not, and firmus, strong.