Luc. 5, 1-11.
And it came to pass, when the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, that he stood by the sea of Galilee, and saw two ships standing by the sea; and the fishermen were gone out, and were washing their nets: and he entered into one of the ships, which was Simonis, and besought him that he would lead them a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. And when he had ceased speaking, he said unto Simon, Go up to the high place, and let down your nets, that ye may make a draught. And Simon answered and said unto him, Master, we have labored all night, and have caught nothing: but at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had done so, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was broken. And they beckoned to their companions that were in the other ship, that they should come and help them draw. And they came and filled both ships, so that they sank. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell to Jesus' knees and said, "Lord, go out from me; I am a sinful man. For he was sore afraid, and all that were with him, because of this fishing which they had done one with another; even Jacob and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simoni's companions. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not: for from henceforth thou shalt see men. And they led the ships to land, and left all, and followed him.
In this Historia Lucas shows how Peter and others were called and came to the apostleship. And the Historia is very fine. For the Lord wanted to show them how the gospel would go into the world by force, and how he would catch people from the devil's kingdom and bring them into God's kingdom. For the Lord Himself indicates at the last that Peter, Andrew, James and John are to catch men from now on.
2 This is a special comfort against the temptation that all pious preachers commonly have, that they worry that the world is too evil, that their preaching will be in vain and for nothing, and that no one will improve. Christ says that this may be the case with the sermon to Moses, but where my word goes and I am called to preach, it should be done as it was done here with the fish haul, which Peter did at my command.
Before the evangelist begins the story, he says how many devout people followed the Lord Christ with multitudes, so that they loved to hear him preach. With such an example he wants to provoke us that we should also gladly hear God's word and diligently adhere to it. For whoever hears God's
*) Held in the house, 1534.
If you listen diligently to the Word, you have two great advantages, which you can never attain without the Word.
The first is to learn to know God's will, how He is disposed toward us and what He wants to do with us after this life. It is impossible for a human being to know this apart from God's word. The contradiction is thought to be that God is angry with us and wants to punish us. But the Word teaches, as we will hear later, that God is not angry with us, even though we are sinners, but wants to be merciful to us and help us from sins and death to eternal life. This is a fruit that we have through the Word, and for this reason we should hear it gladly and diligently.
The other is that we learn from the word how our outward life, status and nature, put into the word and sanctified by the word, is a right service to God, since God is pleased with it; that it is not necessary for anyone who wants to serve God to do something special for the sake of his outward life, as the monks have done. He should stick to his profession, do what his authority, his office and status require and want him to do. This is called serving God rightly, and if he is particularly pleased with it, it will also bring happiness and salvation.
(6) This is a necessary teaching, since it is very important for us to put our calling in God's word, and for everyone to be sure that everything he does and leaves is done and left in God's name and by God's command. Then the heart can defy the devil, be in good spirits, and say: I have done this and that today, and have done it because I know that God has commanded me and commanded me in His word; therefore I know that it is a good work and pleasing to God etc. But he who cannot say these things, let him only cease in time, intending what he will; for it is sin, and God is displeased and displeased with it; as St. Paul says, "That which is not of faith is sin."
(7) But here we must know that whoever does not live in the air, as the Gentiles do, but wants to put his actions into the Word and do everything in faith, must first of all have and know the Word of God. For faith cannot be where there is no word. Then you may think to yourself what such a word is that encompasses all states and the entire outward life. But it can be told you very soon. For first of all there is the fourth commandment: You shall honor your father and your mother. This commandment covers all classes. For the marriage state is the source from which all states grow. And God has especially bound it together in this way: just as the married state must serve all other states (for where there should not be married couples, there could be no government nor civil life); so again all states should serve the united married state.
(8) Secondly, in addition to this word, which covers all states, we have another word which covers all works, namely, the word which is called and commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves. Let these two commands shine before our eyes forever, so live our lives according to God's word and command.*)
(9) Now if you count it by the work, it is a very small thing for a maid to cook, wash, sweep, carry children, wipe, and bathe in the house. For this is what the heathen do
*) See the appendix at the end of this sermon.
D. Red.
and unbelievers also; but they do it without God's word, that is, they do not believe that God requires service and obedience in such works, and do not know His command. But a maiden who is a Christian knows from the fourth commandment that God commands such works and wants us to do them, and sees that love for one's neighbor also requires them. Therefore, make a holy work of it, and do not need any Chresam for it. For the word is the true Chresam, which the Lord saith by St. Paul: "Ye servants, be obedient to your physical masters with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart"; item: "Ye children, be obedient to your parents in the Lord", Eph. 6, 5. 1. Such a word and faith make the bad works (which the pagans do as well) holy and pleasing to God, since they cannot please God where the word and faith are not. For on earth nothing is holy except the name and word of God. What is to be sanctified must be sanctified by such a name and word of God.
(10) The command of the fourth commandment passes through and over all ranks and works, blessing them so that they are holy and pleasing to God, provided you believe in Christ and obey in God's name. Die therefore in such a state, if God wills, and you die blessed and well; for you die in the right faith and obedience, and are a child of eternal life: not because of such works, but because of faith, from which such obedience and works follow.
(11) For a monk to put on a cap, to be given a present, to get up at night for matins, to say mass, to have his special rule with food, etc.: such works have a great appearance, for they make people angry: but all the fault is in the fact that such works are not done according to the word of our Lord God; therefore they are not holy works. But this is a holy work, and maketh holy, that thou believest on Jesus Christ, and afterward takest the fourth commandment before thee, and there doest thine obedience; because thou hearest that thy estate, wherein thou art, is adorned with the word of God, and therefore is a holy estate.
(12) Therefore, one must look first and foremost at the word. For he who looks only to the work itself sees no difference between Christians and unbelievers. For they do in both parts what father and mother, servants and maids, master and wife do in the home. But there you can see the difference. The heathen and unbelievers do it in sins and unbelief, for they know nothing of the word. But a Christian does it in faith, and considers such works according to the word of God to be obedient and pleasing to God. Therefore, this is a holy work, but that is an unholy work.
(13) Therefore, if we were to listen diligently and gladly to this example according to God's word, we could come to it this very day, together with Peter, that we would have a certain command for our actions, and after that there would be all the more happiness in everything we do; otherwise, where God's word is not, there must be no real blessing, but rather a curse and disgrace, and an evil conscience. That is enough of the example that the evangelist reports in the beginning, how this people diligently kept to the word, and Peter himself held the word in such high esteem, and did what Christ called him.
14.*) Now let us take the history before us. There are two parts in it: first, a bodily comfort and teaching that God will not let us die of hunger; then a spiritual one, that He will not let us be condemned for sin, but will accept us with grace. These are two doctrines that are very necessary and useful; therefore, we should remember them diligently and apply ourselves to them.
15 The comfort of the flesh is that Christ calls Peter to make a move, and Peter follows and catches an abundance of fish. This may be a fine householder: who only could have him in his profession and in his work, he would certainly have all things enough, and suffer no want. But the evangelist gives so much to understand that our dear Lord Christ does not want to do this to everyone; but only to those who labored in vain a whole night before, and afterwards
*) From a sermon preached in the house in 1533.
Have heard God's word. That is, he wants to help the pious and poor, who have suffered hardship before, with his blessing. For Christians must suffer and be tempted here on earth. But if they are tempted, and yet remain faithful to the word in their profession or work, then Christ will be there and help them with rich blessings.
(16) This is the one consolation which is held out to us, that we should believe; and though we sometimes lack, and have not all things, that we should not despair, nor be impatient, but hope that the blessing may yet come. For so it is with Petro and his companions: they labor all night in vain, and can catch nothing; but Christ our dear Lord comes, and first gives them his word, and makes Christians of them; after that he bids them go into the sea, and try themselves once more. Then Peter follows, and is very well pleased with him. It should be the same with us. God does not want to give us all fullness immediately at the beginning. For if he gave it as soon as we were baptized and became Christians, we would think we had it from ourselves. That is why he lets us lack for a while beforehand, so that a man has to despair and say to himself: "Who knows how I will fare in the end? Who knows how I will fare, how I will be provided for? If we then hold fast to hope and to the word, the dear Lord and good steward will be with us and say: Be content, make a move, do not be driven by work and wait for my blessing.
(17) For this is not to be the case with Christians, whether they are already in want or not, that they should be anxious, deny Christ, and become impatient about it; but they should hope that in time the Lord will still give them what they need, and for this reason they should continue and persevere in their work forever. For Christ does not give the fish to Petro in such a way that they jump into the boat by themselves: he must go up to the heights, prepare his net, and, like other fishermen, send himself to the trade, even though he has now become a Christian; and must let the Lord see to it that he catches something.
(18) So shall it be with us, in what estate God has placed each one. If you are a servant, a maid, a lord, a lady, a mayor, a prince, do what is your duty, for it does not hinder your faith, and in such a state you can serve God rightly and well; then let God take care of how he will feed you and provide for your needs; and do not be frightened by it, even if you have to suffer hardship and lack for a while. For a time may come, which thou knowest not, when happiness and blessing shall be found, as it is found here. But persevere faithfully, and do not be weary or impatient. But whoever does not do this, but wants to throw away the net as soon as he is tired of it, and in impatience abandon his profession and trade and start another, would have to remain a humbler all his life, and would neither get behind nor ahead of himself.
19 This is the first lesson, that we should be undaunted, even though we feel lack and God does not give us the blessing as soon as we need and would like it. For it would ever be unreasonable for God to give us a boost as soon as we want it. Work for a while in vain, as Peter did, and suffer yourself; say: I also have to have my night and get up, I also have to work in vain; in time my Father in heaven will probably do it differently. As it is said: Dat Deus omne bonum, sed non per cornua taurum. One must work, suffer something and dare; then God will also come with his blessing: but provided that one does not forget the first part, and with Petro lend the little ship to the Lord Christ, that he may sit in it and preach, and that we may diligently listen to the word and learn it well.
20) And here we see a special great virtue in Petro; he must have been a pious heart, that he can break himself so finely and hold to the word so stiffly. For here it is as usual that our Lord leads and pretends his commandments and works (as reason sees it) very foolishly. Otherwise it has such an opinion with the fishing that one does not catch much at noon, the night is much better.
*) From a sermon preached in the house in 1532.
to this. The fishermen also do not go into the middle of the sea, but stay on land, where there are plenty of fish. But the Lord turns this around and tells Peter to go up to the heights, that is, to go into the sea; and since they had caught nothing all night, he now tells them to cast their nets at noon. Peter senses that this is not a matter of skill, so he answers very politely, "Lord," he says, "we have worked all night and have caught nothing, and if it is to be according to our skill, there is little hope that we will catch anything now. But still, on your word I will dare; if it does not produce something special, it is lost.
(21) This is a very fine, courteous answer, for otherwise he would have gone out and said, "Dear, do not teach me; I certainly know better how to catch fish than you can teach me. Preaching and fishing are two different things. You can do that; I can do that. I will not teach thee to preach; neither teach thou me to catch fish; it will not do. So we might have answered the Lord. For this is our way and nature, that we always want to be wiser than our Lord God. But Peter is more pious, he drops all such thoughts and thinks: I can and know what I want about catching fish, but I will not despise this word, but follow it. So he clings to the word with all his heart and lets go of reason, experience and everything.
(22) This is a fine piece of faith, if only one could follow the example of our beloved Peter, and leave all that comes to mind, and keep his word alone. For this is what we learn: one man likes another to believe and follow him; and even if it should be a mistake, one is not angry about it. Again, it is very annoying when the master in the house commands something that the servant does not want to follow, saying, "Lord, it won't do; I tried it before and it didn't work out; therefore I won't do it. No one would like to have such a servant in the house. But indeed, we are always doing so against God in heaven, letting ourselves
reason errs, that we do not follow the word as we should. As is seen in the sacramental devotees. Christ says: "Take and eat, this is my body; drink, all of you, this is my blood." No, no, they say, it is not his body and blood, but only a sign of his body and blood; for Christ sits at the right hand of God. So they want to judge the word according to their reason. Fie on you! That is to teach the chickens to lay eggs and the cows to calve, if one wants to teach our Lord God to preach. How would we like it if our servant and maidservant behaved against us in such a way that what we said they wanted to do everything differently?
(23) Therefore God considers it a great honor when we act against Him and His word, as Peter does here: although reason wants to lead us elsewhere, that we nevertheless stick to ourselves and say: Reason this way, reason that way; there stands God's word and command, and I will keep it that way. So whoever can keep to the word, our Lord God and the whole heavenly host laughs. People also like such obedience. If a prince commands his servant to do something, and he quickly goes and does it, do not argue long about how it should be done, but think: My lord has commanded it this way, I will do it in the name of God; if it is right, it is right for him and for me; if it is not right, it is wrong for him; if it is foolishly commanded, it is foolishly done. What is it to me? I am there to follow etc. Whoever could do this against God and His word, as we are obliged to do, there would be greater peace on earth. Neither herds nor heretics would arise, but all churches would remain finely united and healthy in doctrine. But because they do not do so, and the wise part is puzzling and disputing, and does not merely want to follow the word, that is where all error and disunity comes from.
(24) It is true that it is important to be free from temptation. When it happens to us, as it does to Petro, that we work in vain even for one night, we do not fail to grieve and soon grumble about it, become impatient, and think that we want to leave it all behind and walk away. But such temptation shall
One must not give room, but remain in the profession, one way like the other, and let God take care of it. For we often see that there are fine, pious, obedient children, for whom nothing goes right, nor will go right; while other bad and disobedient boys are fine, and go out as they wish. But it does not last long, and in the end it is found that the evil in the beginning turns, and the good in the beginning finally goes out badly. Therefore, even if it happens to you that it does not always go well with you, only hold fast and do not let yourself be weary; for the evil is better where you remain in obedience than the good there. Cause, God finally pushes the disobedience to the ground with happiness, be it ever so great. But he finally helps out obedience and gives happiness to it.
(25) Therefore, we should take note of this and follow the beautiful example that Peter alone looks at the word and follows it; other thoughts that would have occurred to me and to you, and which undoubtedly also occurred to him, neither err nor hinder such obedience. For there is God's word and command, both over us and over St. Peter, that God commands us to work and do what our profession requires. Whoever now looks to such a profession, and diligently perseveres, even though fortune blocks and blessings fail to come for a time, will finally have to do well. For God cannot leave it alone, He takes pleasure in obedience and also gives happiness to it, even if He postpones it for a while, and tries us whether we also want to hold fast to His command. Therefore, let no one be displeased or unwilling, even if he fishes with Peter one night in vain. For if Peter had fished this rich haul by night, he would have thought it was due to his art and labor, not needing anyone else to do it. But because he fishes all night and catches nothing, and the Lord gives him the word first and tells him to try again, Peter must conclude that he did not fish alone; the word and the blessing of God did it, not his work at all. That is enough of the first comfort and teaching,
which is bodily and goes to food: that Christ will not always leave his Christians to labor in vain; he will be with his blessing at their work, and will not let them die of hunger.
26) The other comfort and teaching is spiritual. For there your love hears how Peter is frightened by the fish, and learns to know the Lord JEsum, that he is more than a common man. But because he knows himself to be a poor sinner, he falls at the feet of the Lord JEsu and says, "Lord, go out from me; I am a sinful man." This is a spiritual piece, which few people quite understand. For it has such an appearance, as if Peter were so devout and humble, that he would gladly flee from the Lord Christ. But it has a different opinion.
When God comes with His grace, promising forgiveness of sins and eternal life through Christ for nothing, the grace becomes so great that one thinks it is too much and cannot accept it. One can well believe that God is gracious and merciful, but that He wants to be so exceedingly gracious to us is hard to believe. Everyone thinks: If I were as pure and pious as the Virgin Mary, St. Peter, St. Paul, I would also want to comfort and accept such grace; but I am a sinner, I am not worthy of grace, but of disgrace and wrath. Then the devil also strikes, he blows up the sin in the heart in such a way that you can see nothing but your unworthiness, and so you must be frightened before the great, overflowing grace. This is a spiritual challenge, since raw people, as we all commonly are, know nothing about it, which one learns only in experience, and nowhere else. For most people live in such a way that they think neither of their sin nor of God's grace. But the true Christians are afraid of this, and they always think that it is too much that God should do this for their sake. What am I? they think; I am not worthy that God should be so gracious to me.
028 Now this comfort and teaching goes with Petro, that the Lord lets himself be heard here so kindly against him: Oh, Peter, I am not here to choke you or punish you for your sins; do not be afraid. If thou art a sinner, be thou content: I can and will save thee from it, and make thee a great man: therefore be thou content for my sake; there shall be no need.
29 So that this consolation may serve to teach us that where such thoughts try to frighten our hearts and make us fainthearted, we should reject them and not give them room. For it is not the opinion of Christ that he cannot suffer poor sinners. He came to earth for their sake. Therefore he comforts Peter here against such thoughts, and Luc. 12, 32. he says: "Fear not, little host; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Then the Lord also speaks to such fearful hearts as Peter is here, who think, Who? Should you go to heaven ? live with the dear angels in eternal joy and delight in heaven above? Yes, if you were pious and holy! But as you are now, nothing will come of it. Nay, saith Christ, ye fear me; but ye shall not. My Father will give you the kingdom; and will give it to you out of gracious good pleasure. For since you, poor sinners, are not worthy of it, it is his gracious will to give it to you freely and by grace. Therefore do not be afraid of it; accept it with love and thanksgiving. For if God should not give us something sooner, if we had earned it and were worthy of it, then he should hardly give us the dear bread and mere water. But he does not want to look at our merit and worthiness, but at our need and his grace and mercy, and above the bodily blessing also give eternal life.
(30) Peter is in such a challenge here. He realizes that it is the Lord's gift and blessing that he and his companions catch such a large number of fish in one go, but he considers himself unworthy of such a feat and wants to despair because of it. What," he says, "shall I, O Lord, do with you?
Keep to pious people, I am unfortunately a wicked, sinful man. But Christ comforts him, and holds himself far differently against him than he thinks; saying, Let him be without fear, and be content. As if he should say: It is a small thing about the fish; I will still make you a fisher of men. Now thou hast the office of a fisherman; but I will command thee another, that thou shalt go into other waters, and catch men, and make heaven full of fish, and fill my kingdom, as these fish fill thy little ship. For such fishing I will give thee another net, the gospel; by it thou shalt catch the elect, that they may be baptized, believe, and live for ever. And not in one place only, but in the whole world; and thou shalt catch and convert here a city, and there a whole country.
This is the spiritual comfort which the Lord gives to his disciples, not only that he will not let them die of hunger, but that he will put them in spiritual government, and send them out into the world, to rumble among kings and rulers through the gospel. Whether the devil is angry at this and opposes it with all his might, it does no harm; nevertheless the word, whether the devil is angry or laughing, shall break through and bring forth fruit, so that many may believe in the Son of God and thus receive forgiveness of sins, become righteous, blessed and heirs of eternal life. As a certain sign of this, God has given us His word, baptism, the Lord's Supper, and absolution, which are His nets, so that He may gather His own from the world, where the devil is prince and God, and thereby protect them from the devil's cunning and the world's tyranny, and keep and strengthen them in faith, so that they will not be condemned with the world. And though sin still stirs in them, and faith is weak, so that they think they are not worthy of the great and glorious treasure, yet Christ comforts them, as I said in Luke 12, saying, Fear not, neither consider whether ye be worthy or unworthy: but hear what I say unto you, that your Father's good pleasure is good.
is to give you the kingdom. If so, your Father will not let you go to hell, even though you deserve it. Therefore, only hold on to me, crawl into baptism, go to the holy sacrament, let yourselves be drawn and caught by my gospel, and there will be no need.
(32) So your love, besides the example that God's word should be gladly heard, has these two things: the first, that although God lets us suffer a time of lack and labor in vain, He will nevertheless be with us in due time with His blessing and help us; the second, that He will also help us against sin and not condemn us. For this reason he also gives us his word and comforts us with it, so that we may certainly believe that we are his children.
Such people also do righteous good works afterwards, if they know beforehand through the Word and faith that through Christ they have a gracious God and Father in heaven, of whom they are little fishes, who in his Word, as in his net, are well protected from all misfortune. They can be cheerful and of good cheer even in lack, hunger and sorrow, and say, "Though I suffer poverty here, it does me no harm; yet I know that my dear God will not let me suffer need. For he hath given me Christ, and all blessedness in him: he will also give me so much, that the body shall have its need during the short time of my life.
34 Therefore, it is most important for the Lord to comfort our hearts and make us certain that we firmly believe and do not doubt that we have a gracious God in heaven. Whoever believes this will not only not allow any temporal lack to be disputed, but will also not ask whether the devil and the world are angry: if only God is merciful to us, heaven and all the dear angels smile upon us. That we may firmly believe these things, and in all temptations, bodily and spiritual, comfort ourselves in this way, may our dear Father in heaven grant us this, through Jesus Christ, His Son and our dear Lord, amen.