Biblical commentary on the New Testament - The Christian ...

Luke V. 5-10. 355
being known to his Greek readers. But lie uses diSdoKaXog, teacher,
for it also—e. g., vii. 40.)
Ver. 6, 7.—Peter complies with the Saviour's desire, and they
enclose a multitude of fishes in their net, so that it broke, and their
companions were obliged to bring the other boat along-side, in order
to take in the abundance bestowed. (BvOii^eaOai occurs only in this
passage with the signification of " sinking deeper," " sinking." The
wca'd is used figuratively in 1 Tim. vi. 9.)
According to the conception of the historian, the abundant produce
of this draught, which forms a contrast with the unsuccessful
fishing through the night, when Peter toiled alone, are to be viewed
as the result of Christ's presence, and the effect of his power.
Christ is, therefore, here set j^rth as the Sovereign of nature, who,
Jby the secret magic of his will, had power to direct even what is
unconscious, according to his purposes ; just as the same power of
the unsearchable Grod, v.lio governs the universe, year by year con-
ducts the fish of the sea and the birds of the air in their migra-
tions by invisible clues. Phenomena, analogous to the great
miracles of nature, appear clustered around our Lord, %s around
their centre ; he rules as a visible, personally present Grod, in
the wide realm of existence ; by invisible, mysterious ties, all is
connected with the word of his mouth—the expression of his holy
will. And what are apparently unconscious movements and im-
pulses of nature, appear, when controlled by his will, directed to the
highest moral ends.
Ver. 8, 9.—The sense of a special divine agency, which proclaimed
itself to them as emanating from Jesus, overwhelmed them
all with astonishment (Odi^ifiog) and fear ; but in the excitable Peter,
expressed itself at once in act and word. His sinfulness appeared
to him in such glaring contrast to the heavenly power displayed be-
fore him in tlie Sa\'iour, that he fell down, partly adoring and partly
praying : Depart from me {t^eXde utt' tnov). In all this is evidently
involved the idea that what is divine, and what is not so, are incom-
patible Avith each other. He who beholds God must die (Judges vi. 23 ;
xiii. 22 ; Dan. x. 17)—an idea which is perfectly true of the revelation
of the divine character in the law—on whose level Peter still stood —
made in the thunders of Sinai, Exod. xix. 12. But in God's gracious
revelation in the Saviour, his nearness to sinful man is not only en
durable, but even animating and refreshing ; since, not on a sudden,
but gradually, it makes old things pass away, and creates things
that are new. For this reason also our Lord quiets his anxiety, and
calls upon him to be a fellow-worker for the kingdom which he had
come to establish.
Ver. 10.—The words " henceforth thou shalt catch men" {dnb rod
vvv tar] c^o)ypu)v dvOpwrrovg), express the main point in the whole transac-