In this narrative St. Luke tells us how Peter and others were called to the Apostolic office. And, indeed, the narrative is very appropriate. For by the extraordinary draught of fishes the Lord wanted to show them how the Gospel would be spread in the world with great power, and would catch men who are in the kingdom of the devil and bring them into the kingdom 696of God. For at the close the Lord Himself interprets it, that Peter, Andrew, James and John, from hence forth, shall catch men.

This is a great comfort in the temptations to which all pious ministers of the Gospel are generally exposed. They are apt to suppose the world to be too wicked, that all preaching will be useless and in vain, and that nobody will be converted thereby. This, Christ wishes to say, may be expected from the preaching of Moses; but wherever my Word is preached at my command, it shall accomplish its end, as was the case with the draught of fishes, in which Peter was engaged at my command.

Before, however, the Evangelist begins his narrative, he states that a multitude of pious people followed the Lord Jesus and was anxious to hear Him preach.  By this example He would incite us also willingly to hear His Word and zealously to continue in it. For whoever hears the Word of God diligently enjoys two great advantages, which could never be enjoyed without that Word. (Luther’s House Postil, Sermon for the Fifth Sunday after Trinity, Volume 3, p. 695-696)

So also with respect to other trials and difficulties. Let him fare as God pleases, his heart still always has the comfort that it is a matter of only a short time when it will become better; and better in such a way that no one will be able to take his joy from him; for he has through Christ a merciful God, who is his Father, and wants to grant him through Christ the eternal inheritance. In this way poor Lazarus also comforted himself. His body suffered from the pain, so that he often wept and cried out on account of it. So, too, no doubt, his heart often was saddened and burdened on account of the fact that, in addition to his sickness, he was forsaken and was not served with food and drink, although the rich godless man lived in affluence. This, I say, pained him; for it is not possible that the heart of a man should not be troubled by it. But against this he finally kept this comfort in his heart, saying: I see that my heavenly Father wants it so, therefore in His service I will gladly bear it all, knowing as I do that it cannot last forever. It is but a short time until sickness and all evil must cease, and the blessed change occur when joy and comfort shall take the place of temporal suffering. For I have the promise that God, for the sake of His Son Jesus Christ, will be gracious unto me, forgive my sins, remove me from the curse and receive me into favor. Therefore let come what may. If the people pay no attention to me and grant me not the crumbs which they give to the dogs, I comfort myself with this that God is concerned about me and will not let me want forever; therefore I can suffer and be distressed for a while, and wait for something better.  But it will not do for you to judge and pass judgment as you please, without the Word and command of God, and then to invoke the glory and the righteousness of God. This is a demonic addition, decorating and beautifying itself with this camouflage. Here it is said that God does not want us to take it upon ourselves to act as judges, either in matters of doctrine or in matters of life. Where judging or rebuking is necessary, those should do it who have the office and the commission to do it: preachers and ministers in the spiritual realm and the government in the secular realm, or a brother with a brother alone, on the basis of a brotherly love that bears and corrects the neighbor’s faults. (Luther’s House Postil, Sermon for the First Sunday after Trinity, Volume 3, p. 648-649)