The Ministerial Office
Mark 1:16-18
Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.…


In fishing, whether in sea or among men, there is wanted —

1. A net. The gospel.

2. Casting the net. Andrew did this first when he caught Peter his brother (John 1:41); Peter did this most energetically afterwards with his splendid work of preaching. In doing this, Christ directs where; otherwise we may toil all night in vain.

3. Dragging the net to land. Confessional; inquiry. room, etc.

4. Mending the nets. Heretics and schismatics unite against it, and so break the net. Inside foes are the worst — the dogfish and sharks of the gospel net. Hence a mender is wanted.

5. Counting the fish (John 21:11).



Parallel Verses
KJV: Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

WEB: Passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.




The Minister is a Fisherman
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