BURKITT : | Lu 5:1-3 | Lu 5:4-11 | Lu 5:12-15 | Lu 5:16 | Lu 5:17-26 | Lu 5:27-32 | Lu 5:33-39 |
Reference
4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. 6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: 10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. 11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him. (Luke 5:4-11 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Observe here, 1. Our Saviour, having delivered his doctrine to the people, confirms his doctrine with a miracle, and with such a miracle as did at once instruct and encourage his apostles; the miraculous number of fish which they caught did presage and prefigure their miraculous success in preaching, planting, and propagating, the gospel.
Observe, 2. Our Saviour’s command to Peter, and his ready compliance with Christ’s command: Let down your nets for a draught, says Christ: We have toiled all night, says St. Peter, and caught nothing: nevertheless, at thy word I will let down the net.
This mystically represents us. 1. That the fishers of men may labor all night, and all day too, and catch nothing.
This is sometimes the fisherman’s fault, but oftener the fishes’. It is the fisher’s fault that nothing is taken, if he doth only play upon the sands, and not launch out into the deep; deliver some superficial and less necessary truths, without opening to the people the great mysteries of godliness. If they fish with broken nets, they either deliver unsound doctrine or lead unexemplary lives. If they do not cast the net on the right side of the ship: that is, rightly divide the word, as workmen that need not to be ashamed.
And if they do not fish at Christ’s command, but run a fishing unsent, it is then no wonder that they labor all their days and catch nothing. But very often it is the fishes’ fault, rather than the fisherman’s: worldly men are crafty and cunning, they will not come near the net; hypocrites are slippery, like eels, the fishermen cannot long hold them, but they dart into their holes; priding themselves in their external performances and satisfying themselves with a round of duties.
The great men of the world break through the net, the divine commands cannot bind them. I will go to the great men, and speak to them; but they have broken the yoke, and burst the bonds. Jer 5:5
Observe, 3. The miraculous success which St. Peter had when at Christ’s command he let down the net: They inclosed such a multitude of fishes that their net brake.
Two things our Saviour aimed at in this miracle, 1. To manifest to his disciples the power of his Godhead, that they might not be offended at the poverty and meanness of his manhood.
2. To assure them of the great success that his apostles and their successors might expect in planting and propagating of the gospel. If the ministers of Christ, whom he calls fishers of men, be faithful in the cast, his power shall be magnified in the draught.
Some of our fish will cleave eternally to the rocks, others play upon the sands, more will wallow in the mud, and continue all their days in the filth of sin, if our Master at whose command we let down the net, does not enclose them in it, as well as assist us in the casting of it.
Observe, 4. What influence the sight of this miracle had upon St. Peter: it occasioned fear and amazement, and caused him to adore Christ, and declare himself unworthy of his presence; Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord. Not that the good man was weary of Christ’s presence, but acknowledged himself unworthy of it. It is a great discovery of our holiness, to revere God, and fear before him, when he does wonderful things before us, though they be wonders of love and mercy: here was a wonderful appearance of Christ’s power and mercy to St. Peter, but it affects him with reverential fear and awful astonishment.
Observe, 5. How St. Peter and the rest of the apostles, at Christ’s call, forsook all and followed him: they left father and friends, ships and nets, and followed Jesus. Whom Christ calls, he calls effectually; he draws whom he calls, and works their heart to a ready compliance to their duty. And although when they were first called to be disciples, they followed their trades of fishing for a time, yet upon their second call to the apostleship, they left off their trade, and forsook all to follow the ministry; teaching the ministers of the gospel, that it is their duty to give themselves wholly up to their great work, and not to encumber themselves with secular affairs and worldly business.
Nothing but an indispensable necessity in providing for a family can excuse a minister’s encumbering himself with worldly concerns and business: They forsook all, and followed Jesus.