Matthew 4:18-22, The King’s Call

Introduction

Good morning! Please open your Bible to Matthew 4. We’re continuing our study of Matthew’s gospel. This morning we are going to look at Matthew 4:18-22. While you’re turning there I’ll give you a sense of where we’re going in the coming weeks and months in our study of God’s Word here in the worship gathering.

We’re in Matthew this morning and again next week. Then, following Resurrection Sunday, we’ll take a break from Matthew and return to our study through the Old Testament. Which will take us to Leviticus for several weeks. Then, we’ll circle back to Matthew for the Sermon on the Mount. As I’ve planned it out, I’m really excited about all we’ll learn together. All the ways, by God’s grace, we might grow in Christ together.

Back to our study for this morning. As I said, we’re looking at Matthew 4:18-22. Follow along as I read the passage. Then we’ll pray and ask the LORD to bless our time together in His Word.

READ Matthew 4:18-22

PRAY

I have really enjoyed studying and meditating on these verses this week. It has been a great encouragement to my soul. My desire is that it will be the same to you this morning as we consider the King’s Call together.

Last week we began to get a glimpse of Jesus’ ministry as it began in Galilee. In fact, he will remain in Galilee for much of his earthly ministry. We saw Him begin to preach. The King came onto the scene and began to proclaim His own message. The same message preached by John the Baptist, who prepared the way before Him––“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

This morning, we see that His ministry was more than that of an individual itinerant preacher. His message had an effect. Such an effect that it drew others to follow Him when He called them. That is what happens when you obey Jesus’ command to repent. You begin to actually follow Him. And so, Jesus’ ministry begins to involve others who went after Him. Others who heeded His call to repent. Others who followed Him and began to learn from Him and walk in His ways.

Here we are introduced to the first of His closest followers. We learn that Jesus is putting together a team. A team with whom He would spend much of His time. A team that would be used mightily by Him for laying the foundation of His church when all was said and done following His earthly life and ministry. To be clear, Jesus didn’t need a team. He is totally sufficient in and of Himself to accomplish all His plans and purposes. But the King came to establish a Kingdom, which encompasses a citizenry. A citizenry fully devoted to Him.

As we consider this passage, the temptation will be to excuse ourselves, thinking that it is only applicable to the men mentioned here who followed Jesus. And we need to remember that, though there is some uniqueness to the role to which these men were called, the call to follow Jesus still has bearing on our lives today, including the call to be fishers of men. It has bearing on the lives of every human being who will ever live. As such, there is much for us to learn regarding what it means and looks like to follow Jesus in our own lives.

MAIN POINT––Make it your highest priority to follow Jesus and to see others follow Jesus.

The Called

Before we look specifically at the King’s Call, we will be helped to examine the called––those whom Jesus calls to Himself here in this passage. Matthew sets the scene for us. Jesus is walking along the Sea of Galilee where there is quite the fishing industry. It was as He was walking along there that He came upon two brothers who were fishermen––Simon (called Peter) and his brother Andrew. Then in verse 21 he calls two other brothers who were also fishermen––James and John.

Now, you may notice that Matthew leaves out some backstory and other details related to this account. You will find the backstory by looking at John 1:35-42. Given what we learn there, it seems by some estimates that these men had been aware of Jesus and were already learning from him for about a year up to this point. John the Apostle records for us their initial calling. Perhaps the account of their conversion in which they recognized and believed Jesus to be the Messiah.

John details how it happened. He tells us that Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist. When John the Baptist saw Jesus walking by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”––Andrew along with another (perhaps John the Apostle) followed after Jesus. Then, we learn that Andrew went and found his brother, Simon, and brought him to Jesus. It was then that Jesus gave Simon the name Cephas, which means Peter, as we’re told here in Matthew’s account.

Furthermore, where Matthew is more succinct in his record, Luke provides more detail concerning the call of these men in chapter 5 of his gospel account. Where John records their initial call, a call to salvation, Matthew and Luke record the later calling to full time ministry alongside Jesus. The call to accompany Him in becoming fishers of men. Luke tells us that James and John were business partners with Simon Peter in the Galilean fishing industry.

Luke also provides details about a miracle they witnessed by Jesus that precipitated their following Him. Jesus had told them to cast their nets again after they had toiled all night and caught nothing. Only this time, when they did what Jesus told them to do, they caught so many fish their nets were breaking and the boats were so filled with fish they began to sink. And they left everything and followed Jesus right then and there.

As I lay all of this before you I want to clearly emphasize that these accounts do not contradict each other. They’re complementary. Each of the four gospel writers are detailing the life and ministry of Jesus from different perspectives for different purposes. Luke is writing to a Gentile audience and providing a detailed and orderly account so that they might have certainty about the things concerning Jesus. John’s purposes are firmly evangelistic, writing so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

Matthew, as I’ve said repeatedly, aims to demonstrate that Jesus is the promised Son of David. The Savior-King who has come in fulfillment of long awaited promises to God’s people. All of these accounts come together in perfect harmony to provide us a rich picture of Jesus in His earthly life and ministry. Given that emphasis, Matthew is less concerned about the chronology and all of the fine print details.

Matthew’s aim here is for us to see the decisive nature of their response to Jesus’ call on their lives. Verse 20 tells us plainly just how decisive that response was for Andrew and Simon Peter. It says, “Immediately they left their nets and followed him.” And we see the same decisiveness with James and John. In verse 22 we’re told, “Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.”

Here we have a tremendous example of what it looks like to decisively commit to following the LORD Jesus Christ. These men had established careers in the local trade around the Sea of Galilee. They were part of the fishing industry. Apparently a robust business, given the partnership that existed between them in that industry as Luke records. Even more, it was a family business for James and John, who were working with their father, Zebedee. This is what these men left behind in order to follow Jesus

The Call

What was the nature of the call that prompted these men to give up the familiarity of their profession and livelihood? To leave behind their father in the family business? It is there in verse 19 we find the King’s Call on their life––“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” It’s a stunning call. One that resonated with them specifically as fishermen. Jesus was a master at that sort of thing. Relating real life in a way that resonated with the ones to whom He spoke.

No longer would these men primarily identify as fishermen of the sea. They would now become, by God’s grace, fishers of men. Where they had once devoted much of their life to catching fish out of the water in order to feed themselves and others, they would now go fishing in another sense. Proclaiming the good news of salvation in Jesus to a lost world. A lost world drowning in a sea of sin and death. A world in need of rescue from the Savior who commissioned them.

Seems like a daunting task, does it not? And that’s where we would do well to unpack every piece of Jesus’ words here in the call he placed on their lives. And it is in doing so that we find clarity and comfort regarding that call as it relates to us even today. Notice the first part of Jesus’ call. He says, “Follow me.”

Back in those days, many of the Rabbis had their own disciples––those who followed them. That’s what the word disciple means––follower, or one who followed. And you knew who their followers were because they were often seen literally following after their Rabbi. You would see them walking behind him wherever he went. It was also typical that followers were the ones who initiated the following relationship. Instead, Jesus is the one who calls His own followers to Himself. Jesus is not just another ordinary Rabbi. He is the sovereign Savior-King.

When you think of a King, you don’t automatically think of someone who is getting into the daily affairs of people with others following after them. You think of someone who perhaps delegates all the details for his staff to handle according to their respective responsibilities. Like the President of the United States has cabinet members to whom he has delegated particular responsibilities and oversight of various departments.

That’s what makes this so astounding. Jesus doesn’t tell these men, go and do this, as a directive. He says, “follow me.” Leave everything behind. Deny yourself. Come after me. He’s going to bring them along with Him in His mission. A mission they will be a part of with Him. Jesus doesn’t remain aloof and far off, leaving the fulfillment of his mission in the hands of a few fishermen. He goes on mission and brings them with Him. They are to follow Him.

He is calling them to leave everything behind and go in a new direction. To follow in His steps and learn from Him and become more like Him. Sound familiar to our consideration of repentance last week? No longer were they to use their time and talents and energy for their own purposes. Now, given the King’s call, they were to give all of that up to give their time and talents and energy to the King’s purposes. He and His mission are now their highest priority. As the earth revolves around the Sun, so too their lives would revolve around Jesus.

Later on in Matthew 16:24 Jesus will say, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” That’s the call, loved ones. Not just for these four men and the other eight who would come later. It’s the same call for us. Follow Jesus. It is a call that requires self-denial. Setting aside our own plans; our own desires; our own agenda. All so that we can make much of Jesus. All so that His priorities become our priorities.

We see this in his other sayings and interactions with others. Some who heard Jesus’ call, even as they were interested in doing so, would try to excuse themselves and delay the call. In Matthew 8, someone who had been following Jesus’ teaching said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”

Jesus made clear that following Him is even a greater priority that our closest earthly relationships when He says in Matthew 10:37––

“Whoever loves father and mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”

Jesus’ call––“Follow me” is a call to give your greatest and highest allegiance to Him. It is a summons to put him first. To give Him your greatest devotion. Your greatest affections. His ways become your ways. His thoughts become your thoughts. His desires become your desires. His fame and glory is your highest priority. That’s the summons He gives to all of us.

Are you following Jesus? Note what I didn’t ask. I didn’t ask whether you prayed a prayer one time. I didn’t ask whether you raised your hand or walked an aisle one time. The question is, are you following Jesus? Have you truly met Him and are you truly following Him? This is the most important question you will ever consider in your life. The answer to that question is what separates true disciples from those who merely pay lip service to loving Him.

To be clear, the latter who merely pay lip service without any marked change in their life are the ones I really want to press this upon. That you would consider whether or not you’ve ever really met Jesus at all. Because when you truly meet Jesus everything changes. You’ll never be the same. Sure, it won’t be perfect. You'll stumble, trip, and fall along the way. It will be a journey full of ups and downs. But nevertheless, if you have truly met and know Jesus, you will follow Him. The trajectory and priorities of your life will change when you truly meet Jesus and follow Him.

The call to follow Jesus is a costly one this side of eternity. Which is why we’re to count the cost. Following Jesus will upend your life in many ways. It will cost you relationally. It will cost you in time and opportunity that could be spent elsewhere. But the cost is worth it in light of eternity, I assure you. In fact, when you consider eternity, the cost of not following Jesus is a price you will not want to pay. In Matthew 16:25-26 after saying deny yourselves and take up your cross to follow me, Jesus says––

25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

Before I move on to the latter portion of the call, I want us to note one more thing regarding the phrase, “follow me.” It seems obvious, but it is too often lost on many in our day of church hurt and being wounded by other Christians. Jesus says, “follow ME.” In a time where many walk away from the church because of hurts and failures of other Christians, we need to be reminded that the call is to follow Jesus––the One who will never fail you, never leave you, never forsake you. The One worthy of all your trust and allegiance.

I’ve said many times in my time here that I will disappoint you at some point. I’ve been here long enough that no doubt I already have disappointed most, if not all of you. If you’re new here, and I haven’t yet disappointed you, I promise that it’s coming. I will disappoint you. But Jesus never will. Things may not go the way you wish they would. Life will be hard and challenging. Your pastors and others in your church family will let you down from time to time. But Jesus never will. Even if you’re tempted to believe He has. He hasn’t and He never will.

Don’t let disappointment from fellow sinners be the reason you turn away from following Jesus. To do so really betrays your own pride in thinking that you yourself haven’t been the one to let others down. If you’re human, I guarantee that you have. None of us are perfect. But we follow a perfect Savior together. And part of following Him is helping one another persever in following Him. It’s been said “the best of men are men at best.” Even the apostle Paul, when asking people to follow his example, qualified it by saying, “follow me as I follow Christ.”

Jesus says, “Follow me” and with that He intends to lead us to do something. Or, even better, He intends to lead us and do something in and through us. He says, “follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” This right here hit me in a way that I don’t know it ever has this week. It was incredibly encouraging as I pondered those words. We know them well. We gloss over them in our Bible reading without ever giving a depth of thought to it.

He says, “I will make you fishers of men.” I will make you. Jesus is the one who will make these men, and in turn you and I if we follow Him, fishers of men. He is the only one who can make anyone fishers of men. He is the one who guarantees and gives us success in our evangelism. And this is made so evident in the example of these men He called to Himself in this passage. Just consider who they were.

These are Galilean fishermen. Tradesmen who spent their days doing back breaking work with their hands. Carrying the smell of fish and human sweat about them. Though they were probably gifted business men in their given trade, they would not have been learned men who commanded a following or captivated an audience. They were ordinary men, doing ordinary work, living ordinary lives. Not exactly the kind of people you would expect to “turn the world upside down” for Christ. (Acts 17:6)

But that’s the point, loved ones, is it not? Such are the ways of Christ so that no man will have any reason to boast before Him. That’s what Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 1:27-29––

But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

That’s what He did then and that is exactly what He is doing still today. Our weakness and unimpressiveness is the very thing that makes us most useful to Jesus and His purposes. That He would demonstrate His glory and power in and through us all the praise of His glory.

How does He do it? How does He make us fishers of men? It stars with Him saving you. He calls you to Himself. Through His Spirit working in tandem with His Word, He says to you “follow me” and you do. You hear His call and you follow Him. You repent, turning from your sins and to Him in faith. He gives you His Spirit––cleansing you and transforming you. He gives you new desires and affections that align with His. A desire to no longer live for yourself or the things of this world, but a desire to give yourself wholly to following Him and seeing others follow Him.

And don’t miss that becoming fishers of men is exactly what happens with those who are following Jesus. It is not an optional add-on. He says, “follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” He will do it. It will happen. He will make you fishers of men if you are following Him, one way or another. You might plant the seed and never see its fruit in this life. You might water the seed that was planted by another, and still never see its fruit in this life. Or you may only see one seed sprout and bear fruit over the course of your life.

Nevertheless, if you follow Him, He will make you fishers of men. Are you giving yourself to that great cause? Are you doing so in humble dependence upon Him in all of it? Are you casting the line out there in the places God has given you to go fishing? And if you are, are you growing weary in your efforts because of perceived lack of results? Don’t grow weary in doing good. Don’t give in to doubt and discouragement. Just keep following Jesus and keep fishing wherever the LORD leads you. Knowing with confidence He will make you fishers of men. That’s what He’s called us to do.

Conclusion

Maybe you’re here this morning and you’ve grown complacent in this call. You’d be hard pressed to remember the last time you intentionally shared the gospel with anyone. And you need the reminder from our text this morning that if you are following Jesus you are also likewise called to be fishers of men. It is a work that we all bear together. In closing this morning, I want to share a parable with you that I came across during my study this week. It was powerful and convicting. I think it is a fitting end to our time in God’s Word this morning.

“On a dangerous sea coast where shipwrecks often occur, there was once a crude, little life-saving station. The building was just a hut, and there was only one boat, but the few devoted members kept a constant watch over the sea, and with no thought for themselves, went out day and night tirelessly searching for the lost. Many lives were saved by this wonderful little life-saving station. So it became famous.”

“Some of those who were saved and various others in the surrounding area, wanted to become associated with the station and give of their time and their money and their effort for the support of its work. New boats were bought, and new life-saving crews were trained, and the little life-saving station grew. Some of the members of the life-saving station were unhappy that the building was so crude and poorly equipped. They felt a more comfortable place should be provided as the first refuge of those saved from the sea. So they replaced the emergency cots and beds and put better furniture in the enlarged building. Now the life-saving station became a popular gathering place for its members, and they decorated it beautifully, and furnished it exquisitely because they used it as sort of a club.”

“Fewer members were now interested in going to sea on life-saving missions, so they hired lifeboat crews to do this work. The life-saving motif still prevailed in the club’s decorations, and there was a liturgical lifeboat in the room where the club held its initiations. About this time, a large ship was wrecked off the coast, and the hired crews brought in loads of cold, wet, half-drowned people. They were dirty and sick, and some of them had black skin and some had yellow skin.”

“The beautiful new club was considerably messed up. So the property committee immediately had a shower house built outside the club where the victims of shipwrecks could be cleaned up before coming inside. At the next meeting, there was a split in the club membership. Most of the members wanted to stop the club’s life-saving activities as being unpleasant, and a hindrance to the normal social life of the club. Some members insisted upon life-saving as their primary purpose, and pointed out they were still called a life-saving station. But they were finally voted down and told if they wanted to save the lives of various kinds of people who were shipwrecked in those waters, they could begin their own life-saving station down the coast a little ways, which they did.”

“As the years went by, the new station experienced the same changes that had occurred in the old one. It evolved into a club, and yet another life-saving station was founded. History continued to repeat itself, and if you visit that coast today, you will find a number of exclusive clubs along the shore. Shipwrecks are frequent in those waters, but most of the people drown.”

Loved ones, let’s not be like the complacent club-like stations described in this parable. By God’s grace, let’s be the truly committed life-saving station Jesus calls us to be. Make it your highest priority to follow Jesus and to see others follow Jesus.