SUMMARY.--Christ Teaching from Peter's Boat.
The Miraculous Draught of Fishes.
Called to Be Fishers of Men.
Cleansing the Leper.
Palsied Man Healed.
Matthew Called.
Eateth with Publicans.
Persecution Foretold.
New Wine in Old Bottles.
1. The people pressed . . . to hear the word of God. When the
people are not prejudiced by false teachers they are usually eager to
hear the Word.
Lake of Gennesaret. Another name for the Sea of Galilee.
[241]
2. Saw two boats standing. Those of Peter and Andrew, and of
James and John. See
Matt. 4:18-22,
for
notes;
also
Mark 1:16-20.
3. Which was Simon's. Simon Peter.
Taught the people out of the ship. So that they could not press
upon him. The "ship" was a fishing boat.
4, 5. Put out into the deep. Deep water.
For a draught. He thus promises one.
At thy word. Though he had fished all night in vain, at
Christ's word he would try again. He already was a disciple of Christ
(John 1:40-42).
6. Their net brake. Tristam (Land of Israel) says of the
fish in the Sea of Galilee: "The shoals are marvelous, black masses,
many hundred yards long, with their black fins projecting out of the
water as thick as they could pack. Any net would break that enclosed
such a shoal."
8. Fell down at Jesus' knees. Filled with awe and reverence at
the miracle that had drawn the shoal to their net.
10. Said unto Simon. Not to him alone
(Matt. 1:19).
Simon, Andrew, James and John were all told to become "fishers of
men."
11. They forsook all. The four just named. Before this all were
disciples; henceforth they follow Jesus personally. These all together
cast the gospel net on Pentecost and had a mighty draught. [242]
17-26. There were Pharisees and doctors. See notes on
Matt. 9:2-8
and
Mark 2:1-12.
[243]
27-39. Saw a publican named Levi. See notes on
Matt. 9:9-17
and
Mark 2:14-22.
Levi. Matthew Levi. He was the fifth called to attend the
footsteps of Jesus. Like the others, at the call, he rose and followed
at once.
Made a great feast. To let Jesus meet with his
fellow-publicans.
Why do the disciples of John fast? Intended as a rebuke for
their attendance at a great feast. Jesus shows that fasting ought not
to be a form, but to have a meaning. [244]
