8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats
up on shore, left everything and followed him. At least Simon had a small
understanding of who Jesus was when he said go away from me, Lord. I am a
sinful man. We are all sinful, Thank God he doesn't go away from us because of
our sin.
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Commentary:
Their
net brake - Or, began to break, διερῥηγνυτο, or, was likely to be broken. Had
it broke, as our version states, they could have caught no fish. Grammarians
give the following rule concerning words of this kind. Verba completiva
inchoative intelligenda. Verbs which signify the accomplishment of a thing, are
often to be understood as only signifying the beginning of that accomplishment.
Raphelius gives some very pertinent examples of this out of Herodotus.
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.
They
beckoned unto their partners - Had not these been called in to assist, the net
must have been broken, and all the fish lost. What a pity there should be such
envious separation among the different sects that profess to believe in Christ
Jesus! Did they help each other in the spirit of Christian fellowship, more
souls would be brought to the knowledge of the truth. Some will rather leave
souls to perish than admit of partners in the sacred work. It is an intolerable
pride to think nothing well done but what we do ourselves; and a diabolic envy
to be afraid lest others should be more successful than we are.
They - filled both the ships -
Both the boats had as many as they could carry, and were so heavily laden that
they were ready to sink. As one justly observes, "There are fish plenty to
be taken, were there skillful hands to take, and vessels to contain them. Many
are disputing about the size, capacity, and goodness of their nets and their
vessels, while the fish are permitted to make their escape." Did the
faithful fishers in both the vessels in these lands (the established Church,
and the various branches of the dissenting interest) join heartily together,
the nations might be converted to God; but, while the ridiculous disputes for
and against particular forms last, there can be no unity. Were men as zealous
to catch souls, as they are to support their particular creeds, and forms of
worship, the state of Christianity would be more flourishing than it is at
present. But the wall of separation is continually strengthened, each party
fortifying it on his own side.
When
Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from
me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
Depart
from me; for I am a sinful man - Εξελθε απ' εμου, Go out from me, i.e. from my
boat. Peter was fully convinced that this draught of fish was a miraculous one;
and that God himself had particularly interfered in this matter, whose presence
and power he reverenced in the person of Jesus. But as he felt himself a
sinner, he was afraid the Divine purity of Christ could not possibly endure
him; therefore he wished for a separation from that power, which he was afraid
might break forth and consume him. It seems to have been a received maxim among
the Jews, that whoever had seen a particular manifestation of God should
speedily die. Hence Jacob seemed astonished that his life should have been
preserved, when he had seen God face to face, Genesis 32:30. So the nobles
of Israel saw God, and yet did eat and drink; for on them he had laid not his
hand, i.e. to destroy them, though it appears to have been expected by them, in
consequence of this discovery which he made of himself. See Exodus 24:10, Exodus 24:11 (note), and the notes
there. This supposition of the Jews seems to have been founded on the authority
of God himself, Exodus 33:20
: There shall no man see my Face and Live. So Moses, Deuteronomy 5:26 : Who is
there of all flesh that hath heard the voice of the living God, speaking out of
the midst of the fire as we have, and Lived? So Gideon expected to be
immediately slain, because he had seen an angel of the Lord, and a miracle
performed by him. See Judges
6:21-23. So likewise Manoah and his wife, Judges 13:22 : We shall surely
Die, for we have Seen God. These different passages sufficiently show in what
sense these words of Peter are to be understood.
For
he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes
which they had taken:
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.
Thou
shalt catch men - Ανθρωπους εσῃ ζωγρων, Thou shalt catch men alive; this is
the proper signification of the word. Fear not: these discoveries of God tend
to life, not to death; and ye shall become the instruments of life and
salvation to a lost world. These fish are taken to be killed and fed on; but
those who are converted under your ministry shall be preserved unto eternal
life. See on Matthew 4:18
(note), etc., where this subject is considered more at large.
And
when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
They
forsook all, and followed him - God expects this from every person, and
especially from those in whose hearts, or in whose behalf, he has wrought a
miracle of grace or of providence. Jesus intended to call Peter, James, and
John, to become his disciples; and that they might see the propriety and
importance of the call, he: -
1st. Teaches in their presence,
that they may know his doctrine.2dly. He Works a Miracle before their eyes, that they might see and be convinced of his power.
3dly. He Calls them to go forth with this doctrine, and through this power, that they might teach the ignorant, and be successful in their work.
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Tomorrow’s reading for 5:12-16
13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.
14 Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
15 Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
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