Welcome!

By registering with us, you'll be able to discuss, share and private message with other members of our community.

SignUp Now!
  • Welcome to Talk Jesus Christian Forums

    Celebrating 20 Years!

    A bible based, Jesus Christ centered community.

    Register Log In

Luke 5: 4 The Significance of Fishing

james1523

Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2013
Messages
1,719
The significance of fishing in the Bible, or catching fish, is of course to save sinners (Matt 4:19).

But the nets also have some significance.

The Bible says that Peter let down the nets for a catch:
Luke 5:4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."

Luke 5:5
Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."

In Luke 5:6, they caught so many fish that the net began to break.

The Bible says that James and John were preparing (or mending) the nets:
Matt 4:21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them,


These things have great significance in the Bible. Peter was predominantly a catcher, he saved many through his ministry. Whilst James and John were predominantly fixers of nets.

After we are saved we are like a caught fish. But what some may not realize is that after salvation we are caught in a net, and we are caught in a net with many other fish, and we are not released, but stay in the net. We may even feel, trapped? We cannot do what we want to do, or go where we want to go, e,g, on Sunday I'd love to go watch sport or go shopping, but I cannot because I have to go to church. Also, people from church keep calling me and bothering me, I feel like a caught fish. And all the other people I meet with, this are smelly and slimy, and fishy? Why do we have to put up with this? It's not a nice thing to be called a fish actually.

The net is a container for catching and holding fish. The net in Scripture must symbolize the church. The church is what which Christ established to catch and hold people. We need the net (church) - we all know how hard it is to catch and hold a fish by our selves, our own hands. For this reason we need a big strong net, the church.

Tears in the net represent the offenses, and troubles that may result and cause fish to fall out of the net - if a person is offended they may leave church. For this we need people like James and John who "mend the net". It is predominantly John, in the gospel of John and 1 John, who reminds us to love one another and remain in unity.

In Luke 5:6 catching so many fish that causes the net to break also has some significance. There have been times in the past when so many people become saved (e.g. by a great revival), that the church cannot hold them. For this reason many people have been saved but only a small proportion of those saved people continue to fellowship in church Sunday after Sunday. For this reason it's important for a church to have a strong net, and we need people like James and John, not only to fix the nets when they have tears, but also to strengthen the net so that it can hold a greater amount of fish.



 
Last edited:
Yes, interesting. An interesting note here is Ephesians 4:11-18 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
It's interesting because the word used in v.12 "perfecting" is the same word translated in your Matt.4:21 text as preparing which you said it means repairing the nets. And you are right. We are to be knit together in love that comes from the Holy Spirit shading it abroad in our hearts, Rom.5:5 This perfecting is an ongoing work of assemblies so they be adequate to the fishing the LORD would have them do in this age. Good thoughts.
 
Religion can be life or death to one's faith in Jesus. A church that's led by a pastor that sees a God of the Old Testament who judges and disciplines them will be spiritually dead and painfully boring. Then, there are churches so awesome, you feel the presence of God and want to be there every time the doors are open. Sunday and Wednesday you can't get enough; you leave on-fire for Jesus!

God is love. 1 John 4:8

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Psalm 136:1
 
Back
Top