Luke 5:15-16
But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The Greek word used for "to be healed" suggests that the crowds were actively seeking out healing for themselves, rather than passively receiving it. This highlights their personal desperation and eagerness for relief from their suffering, demonstrating a deep need that drew them to Jesus.
Jesus healed a man with leprosy, even after telling him to keep it quiet. However, the man's excitement led him to spread the news widely, causing even larger crowds to seek Jesus out for healing and teaching. This overwhelming popularity began to limit Jesus' ability to travel freely into towns, pushing him to seek quieter, more remote places.
Jesus had just healed a man with leprosy, but with a stern warning to keep it quiet. Yet, the very opposite happened!
An Unstoppable Report
The verse tells us, "But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him..." This phrase, "so much the more," is key. It indicates that despite Jesus’s command for silence, the report of His healing power only intensified and spread wider.
This wasn't just gossip; it was a powerful testament to the divine authority Jesus was demonstrating.
It wasn't just physical ailments that drew people to Jesus. Something deeper was at play.
Hearing and Healing
The verse continues, "...and great multitudes came together to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities." This shows a dual purpose for the crowds:
This combination is powerful. People were drawn by the tangible miracles, but they also recognized the profound wisdom and authority in Jesus's words. He met both their physical and spiritual needs, though the 'hearing' aspect often pointed toward the greater, eternal healing He offered.
Understand the original words
astheneia · Greek Noun
Physical sickness, weakness, or frailty. In the ministry of Jesus, these are often the objects of his healing power, demonstrating his authority over the consequences of the fall.
hypochōreō · Greek Verb
To move away, retire, or depart from a place, often to seek solitude or separation from the crowds. In Jesus' ministry, this act signifies deliberate removal to maintain communion with God.
erēmos · Greek Adjective/Noun
An uninhabited, solitary, or desert region. Biblically, these areas provided a place of quiet, away from human activity, ideal for spiritual discipline and communion with God.
proseuchomai · Greek Verb
This event highlights a tension in Jesus' ministry: while he compassionately healed the sick, the overwhelming demand for miracles sometimes threatened to overshadow his primary mission of teaching.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus' Public Ministry Begins
Following his baptism and temptation, Jesus begins his public ministry in Galilee, teaching and gathering disciples.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
Healing a Man Full of Leprosy
Jesus heals a man with leprosy, a physically and ritually isolating disease, but instructs him to keep the miracle quiet.
Early 1st century AD
The Man Disobeys Jesus' Command
Despite Jesus' specific instruction for silence, the healed leper spreads the news of his miraculous cure widely.
Early 1st century AD
Crowds Gather for Jesus
The widespread report of Jesus' healing power draws large crowds who seek both to hear his teachings and be physically healed.
Early 1st century AD
This passage describes the Messiah as someone 'despised and rejected by men,' which contrasts sharply with the growing fame and crowds seeking Jesus in Luke 5:15. It highlights the spiritual blindness of those who would reject Him, even as His healing ministry drew attention.
Matthew 4:23-25This verse shows Jesus' ministry of teaching, preaching, and healing spreading throughout the region, setting the stage for the larger crowds and widespread fame mentioned in Luke 5:15. It emphasizes the broad impact of Jesus' miraculous and authoritative message.
John 12:19The Pharisees' exclamation that 'the whole world has gone after him' echoes the sentiment of Luke 5:15, where 'great multitudes' were drawn to Jesus. Both passages speak to the undeniable popularity and drawing power Jesus had, even amidst opposition.
Acts 2:22Peter declares that Jesus was 'attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs,' which directly relates to the crowds coming to be healed in Luke 5:15. This shows how Jesus' healing ministry served as proof of His divine identity.
pulpitLuke 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."
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 resort…
jfbLuke 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."
- But so, &c.—(See Mr 1:45).
The Greek word used for "to be healed" suggests that the crowds were actively seeking out healing for themselves, rather than passively receiving it. This highlights their personal desperation and eagerness for relief from their suffering, demonstrating a deep need that drew them to Jesus.
Jesus healed a man with leprosy, even after telling him to keep it quiet. However, the man's excitement led him to spread the news widely, causing even larger crowds to seek Jesus out for healing and teaching. This overwhelming popularity began to limit Jesus' ability to travel freely into towns, pushing him to seek quieter, more remote places.
Jesus healed a man with leprosy, even after telling him to keep it quiet. However, the man's excitement led him to spread the news widely, causing even larger crowds to seek Jesus out for healing and teaching. This overwhelming popularity began to limit Jesus' ability to travel freely into towns, pushing him to seek quieter, more remote places.
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With such overwhelming attention, you might expect Jesus to embrace the spotlight. But His reaction was the opposite.
The Strategic Withdrawal
While the crowds surged, eager for His touch and His words, Jesus "withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed" (as seen in the following verse, Luke 5:16). This wasn't an avoidance of people, but a strategic choice:
His withdrawal teaches us that even the most compassionate and powerful figure needs moments of quiet dependence on God and strategic focus.
The act of communing with God, involving adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. It is a central discipline in the life of Christ, demonstrating dependence upon the Father.
Jesus Seeks Solitude and Prayer
To manage the overwhelming crowds and focus on his mission, Jesus withdraws to desolate places to pray.
"But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray." — The Greek word used for "to be healed" suggests that the crowds were actively seeking out healing for themselves, rather than passively receiving it. This highlights their personal desperation and ea…
