Charles Spurgeon Commentary Luke 5:16

"But he withdrew himself in the deserts, and prayed." — Luke 5:16 (ASV)

And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

That is just what you and I would probably not have done under such circumstances. We would have said, "We must seize this golden opportunity of publishing our message. There is a tide in the affairs of men which, taken at the flood, leads on to plenitude of blessing; and we must take advantage of it."

But our Saviour did not wish for fame; he cared nothing about excitement and popularity. So, he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed for more of that real power which touches the hearts of men so as to save them, caring nothing for that power which merely attracts a crowd and excites momentary attention.

O servant of God, when you are succeeding best in your service, imitate your Lord: withdraw yourself and pray!

And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed (Luke 5:16).

The tense of the verb implies that he often did this; it was his habit to withdraw himself for private prayer even in his busiest times, and when he could occupy every minute with great advantage to the people. Thus he gathered new strength from above for each day's work; and when there was most to be done, then he took most time to pray. It is an evil economy that tries to take time for other things that should be spent in prayer, for the shortening of prayer will be the weakening of our power.

And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

Just when there were such grand opportunities of doing good, just when everybody sought him, does he get right away from them into the wilderness to pray? Yes, because he felt what we ought to feel but often do not, that he needed fresh power, that as the servant of God he must wait upon God for fresh power for his great life-work: He withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

No doubt it was the constant habit of Christ to pray, but there were certain special times when he retired into lonely places, and his prayer was peculiarly fervent and prolonged.