Q. Was Peter wrong in going a-fishing, and did he not draw others into it? What is the lesson?
A. It is plain that Peter’s going a-fishing was not in keeping with the commission given to him by our Lord in the previous chapter, “As my Father hath sent me, so send I you.” No doubt it was Peter’s suggestion which disclosed a similar weakness in six more of them; in that Peter afforded a vent for the exposure of their weakness, so far is he chargeable with their offense. What a great matter a little fire kindles! But he who applies the torch, is of course the one chiefly to be censured. The lesson I gather from it is, that no amount of acquaintance with Jesus, such as the disciples had; or no amount of intelligence without His personal keeping, or the power of the Holy Spirit; (which these seven were not enjoying at the time), will preserve one on the line, or divert one from earthly interests, in some form or other.