16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
16 But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.
16 As often as possible Jesus withdrew to out-of-the-way places for prayer.
16 So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.
16 But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.
12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.
12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
12 In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.
12 At about that same time he climbed a mountain to pray. He was there all night in prayer before God.
12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
12 One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night.
(Read Luke 6:12-19)
We often think one half hour a great deal to spend in meditation and secret prayer, but Christ was whole nights engaged in these duties. In serving God, our great care should be not to lose time, but to make the end of one good duty the beginning of another. The twelve apostles are here named; never were men so privileged, yet one of them had a devil, and proved a traitor. Those who have not faithful preaching near them, had better travel far than be without it. It is indeed worth while to go a great way to hear the word of Christ, and to go out of the way of other business for it. They came to be cured by him, and he healed them. There is a fulness of grace in Christ, and healing virtue in him, ready to go out from him, that is enough for all, enough for each. Men regard the diseases of the body as greater evils than those of their souls; but the Scripture teaches us differently.
46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.
46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.
46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray.
46 After sending them off, he climbed a mountain to pray.
46 And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray.
46 After telling everyone good-bye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray.
(Read Mark 6:45-56)
The church is often like a ship at sea, tossed with tempests, and not comforted: we may have Christ for us, yet wind and tide against us; but it is a comfort to Christ's disciples in a storm, that their Master is in the heavenly mount, interceding for them. And no difficulties can hinder Christ's appearance for his people, when the set time is come. He silenced their fears, by making himself known to them. Our fears are soon satisfied, if our mistakes are set right, especially our mistakes as to Christ. Let the disciples have their Master with them, and all is well. It is for want of rightly understanding Christ's former works, that we view his present works as if there never were the like before. If Christ's ministers now could cure people's bodily diseases, what multitudes would flock after them! It is sad to think how much more most care about their bodies than about their souls.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 5:16
Commentary on Luke 5:12-16
(Read Luke 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.