The Great Catch of Fish

51 And it came to pass, as the crowd pressed on him to hear the word of God, that he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret: 2 and he saw two ships standing by the lake, but the fishermen, having come down from them, were washing their nets. 3 And getting into one of the ships, which was Simon's, he asked him to draw out a little from the land; and he sat down and taught the crowds out of the ship. 4 But when he ceased speaking, he said to Simon, Draw out into the deep [water] and let down your nets for a haul. 5 And Simon answering said to him, Master, having laboured through the whole night we have taken nothing, but at thy word I will let down the net. 6 And having done this, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes. And their net broke. 7 And they beckoned to their partners who were in the other ship to come and help them, and they came, and filled both the ships, so that they were sinking. 8 But Simon Peter, seeing it, fell at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord. 9 For astonishment had laid hold on him, and on all those who were with him, at the haul of fishes which they had taken; 10 and in like manner also on James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, Fear not; henceforth thou shalt be catching men. 11 And having run the ships on shore, leaving all they followed him.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 5:1-11

Commentary on Luke 5:1-11

(Read Luke 5:1-11)

When Christ had done preaching, he told Peter to apply to the business of his calling. Time spent on week days in public exercises of religion, need be but little hinderance in time, and may be great furtherance to us in temper of mind, as to our worldly business. With what cheerfulness may we go about the duties of our calling, when we have been with God, and thus have our worldly employments sanctified to us by the word and prayer! Though they had taken nothing, yet Christ told them to let down their nets again. We must not abruptly quit our callings because we have not the success in them we desire. We are likely to speed well, when we follow the guidance of Christ's word. The draught of fishes was by a miracle. We must all, like Peter, own ourselves to be sinful men, therefore Jesus Christ might justly depart from us. But we must beseech him that he would not depart; for woe unto us if the Saviour depart from sinners! Rather let us entreat him to come and dwell in our hearts by faith, that he may transform and cleanse them. These fishermen forsook all, and followed Jesus, when their calling prospered. When riches increase, and we are tempted to set our hearts upon them, then to quit them for Christ is thankworthy.