And
so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will be catching people alive.” When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything, and followed him.
Luke 5:10-11
Luke 5 [1.] Now while the multitude pressed on him and heard the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats standing by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them, and were washing their nets. He entered into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch.”
Luke 5 [5.] Simon answered him, “Master, we worked all night, and took nothing; but at your word I will let down the net.” When they had done this, they caught a great multitude of fish, and their net was breaking. They beckoned to their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. They came, and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord.” For he was amazed, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had caught; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.
Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will be catching people alive.”
Luke 5 [11.] When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything, and followed him. While he was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man full of leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell on his face, and begged him, saying, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.”
Luke 5 [13.] He stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.”
Immediately the leprosy left him. He commanded him to tell no one, “But go your way, and show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing according to what Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.” But the report concerning him spread much more, and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. But he withdrew himself into the desert, and prayed.
Meaning:
At Jesus’ word Simon had let down his nets after a night of catching nothing (Luke 5:1-5). The nets filled until they began to break, both boats were so full that they began to sink, and Simon fell at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord” (Luke 5:7-9). These verses complete the story. Jesus answers Simon’s fear with a call, and the fishermen leave everything to follow him. Mark and Matthew describe the same call more briefly (Mark 1:16-17; Mark 1:18-20; Matthew 4:18-22).
- “And so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon”
James and John shared in the amazement. Mark tells us that their father Zebedee had hired servants, so the family was not poor. These three, Peter, James and John, would become Jesus’ closest companions. Only they went with him into the house of Jairus when he raised the dead girl (Luke 8:51), and only they saw his glory on the mountain (Luke 9:28-36). Partners in fishing became partners in the gospel.
- “Don’t be afraid”
Simon had been overwhelmed by a sense of his own sinfulness in the presence of Jesus’ holiness, much as Isaiah cried out, “Woe is me! For I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:5). Jesus does not deny that Simon is a sinner, nor does he leave him. He speaks the same words that angels spoke to Zacharias, Mary and the shepherds: “Don’t be afraid” (Luke 1:13; Luke 2:10). The holy Lord who exposes our sin is also the gracious Lord who forgives and calls. Like Isaiah, who was cleansed and then sent, Simon is reassured and then given a mission.
- “From now on you will be catching people alive”
“From now on” marks a turning point; Simon’s life would never be the same. The word Luke uses means to take alive. Fish caught in a net die, but people caught by the gospel are rescued from death into life. Mark records the call as “I will make you into fishers for men” (Mark 1:16-17). The great catch of fish was a picture of what was to come. At Pentecost Peter preached and “there were added that day about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41).
- “They left everything, and followed him”
At the very moment of their greatest success as fishermen, with two boats full of fish, they walked away from it. They had seen that Jesus was worth more than any reward their trade could give. Later Peter could say, “Look, we have left everything, and followed you” (Luke 18:28), and Jesus promised that no one who leaves house or family for God’s Kingdom will fail to receive much more (Luke 18:29-30). Levi the tax collector would respond to Jesus in the same way (Luke 5:28). Following Jesus means a new loyalty that comes before work, possessions and security: “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).
The Significance of Luke 5:10-11
- Grace answers our sense of sin
When we see ourselves honestly before God, we may want to say, “Depart from me.” Jesus answers, “Don’t be afraid.” He does not cast away those who know they are sinners; he calls them to himself.
- Called to bring others to life
Every disciple shares in the work of catching people alive. It is Jesus who gives the catch.
- Following means leaving
The disciples left their boats and the greatest catch of their lives. Jesus still calls people to put him first, above success and comfort.
Cross-References:
Luke 5:7-9: “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord.” Simon’s confession just before these verses.
Mark 1:16-17: “Come after me, and I will make you into fishers for men.” Mark’s account of the call.
Acts 2:41: “There were added that day about three thousand souls.” Peter catching people alive at Pentecost.
Luke 9:23: “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” The cost of following.
Conclusion: In Luke 5:10-11 James and John share Simon’s amazement at the great catch, and Jesus tells Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will be catching people alive.” The fishermen bring their boats to land, leave everything, including the catch, and follow Jesus. The passage shows how Jesus meets a sinner’s fear with grace, turns ordinary skills into service for his Kingdom, and calls his disciples to put him above all else.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible