Discovery BoxLuke 5:10 
Context5:10 and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s business partners. 1 Then 2 Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on 3 you will be catching people.” 4
Luke 6:35
Context6:35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back. 5 Then 6 your reward will be great, and you will be sons 7 of the Most High, 8 because he is kind to ungrateful and evil people. 9
1 tn Or “business associates.”
2 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
3 sn From now on is a common Lukan expression, see Luke 1:48.
4 tn The Greek term ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") is used here in a generic sense, referring to both men and women, thus “people.”
sn The kind of fishing envisioned was net – not line – fishing, which involved a circular net that had heavy weights around its perimeter. The occupation of fisherman was labor-intensive. The imagery of using a lure and a line (and waiting for the fish to strike) is thus foreign to this text. Rather, the imagery of a fisherman involved much strain, long hours, and often little results. Jesus’ point may have been one or more of the following: the strenuousness of evangelism, the work ethic that it required, persistence and dedication to the task (often in spite of minimal results), the infinite value of the new “catch” (viz., people), and perhaps an eschatological theme of snatching people from judgment (cf. W. L. Lane, Mark [NICNT], 67; D. L. Bock, Luke [BECNT], 1:461). If this last motif is in view, then catching people is the opposite of catching fish: The fish would be caught, killed, cooked, and eaten; people would be caught so as to remove them from eternal destruction and to give them new life. With the statement “You will be catching people” Jesus turns the miracle into a metaphor for mission.
5 tn Or “in return.”
6 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the outcome or result. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started in the translation at this point.
7 sn The character of these actions reflects the grace and kindness of God, bearing witness to a “line of descent” or relationship of the individual to God (sons of the Most High). There is to be a unique kind of ethic at work with disciples. Jesus refers specifically to sons here because in the ancient world sons had special privileges which were rarely accorded to daughters. However, Jesus is most likely addressing both men and women in this context, so women too would receive these same privileges.
8 sn That is, “sons of God.”
9 tn Or “to the ungrateful and immoral.” The word “people” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.
