Luke 5:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The act of casting the net symbolizes the message of the gospel. Scripture tells us that fishermen were engaged in “washing their nets” out of discouragement over their lack of success. A fisherman who still believes in the possibility of a catch would not clean his nets. While Peter and Andrew, along with James and John, were on the Lake of Gennesaret, laboring in a venture fraught with uncertainties, often retrieving damaged nets and arguing over the meager catches from the ocean’s depths, unsure of their sustenance, resorting to trickery instead of honest toil, as capturing fish often requi

Let us appreciate the skillful strategy employed to ensnare those who were destined to ensnare all of creation. This includes the revered apostles, who, despite being adept fishers themselves, became caught in Christ's net. Through their apostolic ministry, they were entrusted to cast the net of the Gospel, drawing the entire world to Him. As it is written by one of the holy prophets, “Behold I send many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall catch them as fish; and then I will send many hunters, and they shall hunt them as game.” The term "fishers" refers to the holy apostles, while "hunters" signifies those who would come to lead and teach within the sanctified churches.

Let us reflect upon the two fishing expeditions of the disciples commanded by our Lord Jesus Christ: one prior to His passion and the other following His resurrection. These two events illustrate the entirety of the Church: as it exists now and as it will be at the resurrection of the dead. Presently, it comprises a multitude that includes both the righteous and the wicked; however, after the resurrection, it will consist solely of the righteous. Therefore, we should focus on the initial fishing expedition, wherein we observe the Church in its current state. When the Lord Jesus first called His disciples, He discovered them engaged in fishing. These two boats symbolize two distinct groups: the Jews and the Gentiles, representing the synagogue and the Church, as well as the circumcised and the uncircumcised.

On a certain occasion, as the crowd gathered to listen to the teachings of God, Jesus stood by the shore of the lake of Gennesaret and noticed two boats on the water. One belonged to Simon and Andrew, while the other was owned by James and John, who were all partners in fishing, as we will see later (Luke 5:10). After they had returned from their fishing, the fishermen were engaged in cleaning their nets. Simon, Andrew, James, and John. Matthew notes that they left all their fishing equipment at the start of the sermon and chose to follow Christ (Matt. 4:18-22). However, they accompanied Him during the day, returning to their fishing by night, not yet fully close to Him due to their hesitance. It is likely that this arrangement lasted for a day or two at most.

By the shores of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus Christ proclaimed the message of God. A crowd had gathered in such large numbers that they pressed upon Him, eager to absorb His divine instruction. As the esteemed Luke recounts, “a multitude that was laid upon Him, that they might hear the word of God: and He stood by the lake Gennesaret” (Luke 5:1). At the water’s edge, He noticed two boats belonging to Peter and the sons of Zebedee, as well as fishermen who, having abandoned their vessels, were engaged in washing their nets.

A large crowd gathered, creating an unstable situation for the Divine Teacher by the edge of the lake. Fortunately, He noticed two fishing boats nearby, one belonging to His disciples who had not yet received the final calling to abandon their worldly pursuits and follow their Master. He called Peter to approach the shore and invited him to take Him into the boat. Once aboard, He instructed Peter to set sail away from the bank so that He could share His teachings with the crowd from the boat. In this serene and unobstructed platform, He imparted wisdom to the people, gently rocking on the shimmering surface of the lake, illuminated by the morning sun.

When they emerged from the water, they cleansed their nets, as recorded in the accounts of the Hebrews. In the narratives of Matthew and Mark, we see that Peter and Andrew were casting their nets, while John and James were repairing them. Mark also notes that the fathers of these men, along with the laborers, were present on the final boat. It is clear that there was a considerable number of fishermen; four are highlighted primarily because the focus is on their calling to apostleship. A comparison of all the evangelists reveals that among the fishermen present, some were casting nets, others were mending them, and some were washing them, which is typical after a successful fishing venture.

The initial action of Christ the Savior in Capernaum was to summon Simon, Andrew, and the sons of Zebedee to follow Him. As the Lord walked along the lakeshore, He noticed two boats on the water where fishermen had disembarked, some washing their nets while others were mending them. One boat belonged to Simon and his brother Andrew, while the other boat, positioned a little farther away, was owned by Zebedee, who was engaged in fishing alongside his employees and his sons James and John. The crowds followed Jesus, eager to listen to His teachings. He boarded Simon's boat, requested that he venture out from the land, and from the boat, He imparted His teachings to the gathered throngs.