Called to Follow

Follow Me

Matthew 4:19–20 (EBC Mt–Lk): 19–20 Greek has several expressions for “follow me” (v. 19; cf. at 10:38; Luke 9:23; 14:27), but they all presuppose a physical “following” during Jesus’ ministry. His “followers” were not just “hearers”; they actually followed their Master around (as students then did) and became, as it were, trainees. The metaphor “fishers of men” glances back to the work of the two being called

it is an immediate call from everyday life

It was an interruption of what they were doing.

God’s call is often this way

Notice what Jesus says they will become, “Fishers of men”

This represents a much bette call in life than what they were currently after.

How simple a life of a fisherman.

Jesus’ call was to come and be a part of something so much bigger than what they were doing.

Everything they knew at that moment changed

Skilled fisherman

Their livelihood was no longer in fish but men

It is no different for us

What becomes most important is no longer making money and putting food on the table, but winning souls and trusting God to meet our needs

Matthew is less prolific than Mark in his use of “immediately;” its use here and in v. 22 emphasizes the extraordinary readiness of these working men to abandon all that was familiar and secure for the sake of a charismatic stranger. The unique authority inherent in Jesus’ teaching and actions which will be emphasized repeatedly in chs. 5–9 is already displayed both in the radical boldness of his demand and in the instinctive and uncharacteristic response of four ordinary men.

Being called requires a sudden complete change of life

The repetition of similar language with regard both to the call of Matthew in 9:9 and to the abortive call to the rich man in 19:21–22 shows that Matthew’s understanding of discipleship was ideally of “giving up everything” to follow Jesus. Cf. 8:19–22 for Jesus’ uncompromising demands on would-be followers. While Matthew does not record the call of any others of the Twelve except Matthew, we are left to assume that all of them were similarly expected to give up everything to follow Jesus (as indeed Peter will assert in 19:27).

They left the job they had done all of their life

The intensity increases with John‘s call to leave his father as well

Abraham was called also to leave his father and family

Matthew 4:21–22 (NICNT Mt): For the priority of discipleship even over family ties cf. 8:18–22; 10:21–22, 34–37; 12:46–50; the tension between such demands and the proper concern for parents which Jesus will defend in 15:3–6 underlines the radical urgency of his call

The contrast in close followers and crowd

Matthew 4:25 (NICNT Mt): These large “crowds” are said to “follow” Jesus, the same term which in vv. 20 and 22 denoted the first disciples’ total change of lifestyle and will in 8:19–22 similarly indicate a radical commitment to accompany Jesus. Yet as the narrative progresses we shall find only a few who are Jesus’ constant and committed companions, while a less easily defined “crowd” comes and goes. This wider group represents a pool of possible “full-time” recruits, but generally their “following” seems to be more sporadic and temporary, and when Jesus sets off for Jerusalem in 16:21 it is apparently only the Twelve (and the women mentioned in 27:55–56) who are prepared to leave Galilee to accompany him.