The Fifth Sunday after Trinity

July 5, 2026

Luke 5:1-11

“Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it.” That was man’s original work. Get married, have babies, make the world beautifully ordered.

But there is a great difference between work and labor. Work is good. Labor is what happens when death enters the world, and creation becomes hostile.

“Cursed is the ground for your sake;

In toil you shall eat of it

All the days of your life.

Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you,

And you shall eat the herb of the field.

In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread

Till you return to the ground,

For out of it you were taken;

For dust you are,

And to dust you shall return.” [Gen 3.17-19]

All the toil is meaningless, says Solomon in Ecclesiastes. He’s rich, knowledgeable, surrounded by beauty, he wears himself out with foreign women, and concludes it all means nothing. “Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity and grasping for the wind” [Eccl 2.17].

In the Gospel today, Peter says, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing.” I’m sure you’ve had days like that. You work and work and the situation is only worse.

But Peter is not just describing what happened last night. He’s describing the world-situation. The saying is recorded for us to reflect on it. What comes of our toil, our labor?

Peter doesn’t say, “We worked all night,” or even, “We worked hard all night.” He uses a different word altogether that means “trouble, suffering, fatigue.”

The equivalent term in the Old Testament is used as Israel moves into the promised land. The LORD tells them that the land is a gift; they didn’t earn it: “I have given you a land for which you did not labor, and cities which you did not build, and you dwell in them; you eat of the vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant” [Joshua 24.13].

That could well describe today’s America. Our great land was built by brave and courageous pioneers. They worked. We (collectively) are coasting on someone else’s work, and it can all be taken away. That’s the constant warning of Scripture. Take heed, you who think you stand, lest you fall.

Our spiritual forefathers brought the teaching and worship of the authentic Reformation to this land. It has been a struggle to maintain the confession, to hold to the Scriptures as the Word of God, to hold to the ancient Divine Service in the midst of revivalistic degradations. Luther called the Gospel a passing rain shower. The water comes, slaking our thirst and growing our food – but it passes on because of indifference and a lack of gratitude. Take heed, you who think you stand, lest you fall.

“I have given you a land for which you did not labor, and cities which you did not build.… Now therefore, fear the LORD.… Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.” [Joshua 24.13-15]. They promised to serve YHWH; but soon they sought other gods. The first temple was destroyed. Faithful Israelites rebuilt it, but that second temple to this day lies in ruins. A mosque sits atop the temple mount, for the worship of a demon whom I will not name in this holy house.

They labored in vain. They spent their money on what was not true food. They spent their time on what destroys the soul.

For what are you laboring? For what are you toiling? What is your work for? The book of Wisdom describes the futility of toil for both rich and poor:

The rich person toils in the accumulation of wealth,

and when he rests he fills himself with his dainties.

The poor person toils as his livelihood diminishes,

and when he rests he becomes needy.

But it destroys them both!

He who loves gold will not be justified,

and he who pursues money will be led astray by it. [Sir. 31.3-5]

This theme of toil, labor accomplishing nothing is a theme throughout the Bible. Ps 127, “Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.” Meanwhile, Jesus says to look at the lilies of the field, which do not labor, yet they are clothed beautifully.

Peter and his business partners toiled through the night and accomplished nothing. Suddenly aware of his folly, all he can do is confess: “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” He’s half right. He’s a sinner, and sinners cannot dwell with God.

But Jesus absolves him. That’s what “Do not be afraid” means. And He shows Peter what the Church will do: “From now on you will catch men.” Terrible translation. “From now on you will save people alive!” All our labor is in vain. The security we try to obtain, the works we think will satisfy God - none of it endures. Jesus says to bring the toil to Him. He will bear it. He alone can do the work. “Come to Me, all ye who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

He will save you alive.

He is the life. He is your life.

He is the resurrection. He is your resurrection.

Should you work? Yes. Get married. Have babies. Work to feed, clothe, and shelter the babies.

Should you do good works? Yes. Obey the Commandments. Confess Christ before the world. Give away your money.

Work. Do good works.

But do not toil. For by it you cannot save yourself. Peter and his partners toiled all night and caught nothing. But by the Word and command of Jesus, the boat was full. He will provide. He will absolve. He will save.

“So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.”

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