Jesus Christ here makes an allusion to the prior occupation of his apostles. David, in his Psalms, makes similar allusions to his former occupation of shepherd: "He took him from the flocks of sheep, he brought him from following the ewes big with young, to feed Jacob, his servant, and Israel, his inheritance." (Psalm lxxvii. ver. 70.) (Menochius) read more
18-22 When Christ began to preach, he began to gather disciples, who should be hearers, and afterwards preachers of his doctrine, who should be witnesses of his miracles, and afterwards testify concerning them. He went not to Herod's court, not to Jerusalem, among the chief priests and the elders, but to the sea of Galilee, among the fishermen. The same power which called Peter and Andrew, could have wrought upon Annas and Caiaphas, for with God nothing is impossible. But Christ chooses the... read more
Matthew 4 JESUS WAS NOT only taking man’s place, He was more particularly taking Israel’s place. Israel was called out of Egypt, then they were baptized to Moses in the cloud and sea, then they entered the wilderness. We have just seen Jesus called as God’s Son out of Egypt, and now He is baptized; then as we open chapter 4 we find the Spirit, who had come upon Him, leads Him straight into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. Here we find a contrast, for in the wilderness Israel tempted... read more
But the Lord had need of them: v. 19. And He saith unto them, Follow Me, I will make you fishers of men. v. 20. And they straightway left their nets, and followed Him. This was not a request for mere companionship, but an authoritative, though genial call to apostleship, couched in language which would appeal to their unlearned minds. They had been His disciples, but without special obligation as to attending Him; they were now chosen as His steady followers, to be trained for their great... read more
C. Matthew 4:18-22(The Gospel for St. Andrew ‘s Day)Contents:—In His obscurity and retirement from the world, which He had renounced, the Saviour commences the conquest of the world by calling four fishermen by the Sea of Galilee.18And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter,19 and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he 20 said unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straight way left their... read more
Opening Works of Mercy and Power Matthew 4:18-25 We must read the first chapter of John into the opening paragraph. Already the Lord had met with these first disciples in the Jordan valley; but they had returned to their homes and nets. Their prompt surrender was the result of the power over their hearts which the Master had already won. Their old craft was to be theirs still-only in a nobler form. The patience, courage, tact which had been elicited by their calling, were now to be enlisted... read more
"Then." After the heavens opened, hell is opened. The King must not only be in perfect harmony with the order and beauty of the heavens, He must face all the disorder and ugliness of the abyss. Goodness at its highest He knows, and is; evil at its lowest He must face, and overcome. And so in the wilderness He stands as humanity's representative between the two, responding to the one and refusing the other. How gloriously He won the battle and bruised the head of the serpent. Every vulnerable... read more
The First Disciples Matthew 4:13-25 INTRODUCTORY WORDS As introductory we wish to speak on the wonderful privileges which belong to saints, called into comradeship with God. Where is the man or the woman who quietly considers the great honor of contact, or union, with the noble of earth? Association with royalty, with world leaders, with the ultra rich, is considered by most men a high privilege. What then is our association with Deity, with the Creator of the Heavens and the earth, the King... read more
FISHERS OF MEN‘I will make you fishers of men.’ Matthew 4:19 The object of the preaching of the Gospel is to catch men. I. Only Christ can make fishers of men.—Christian people should be willing to give up their cleverest and brightest boy to preach the Gospel, but when they have done all, all is not done, for it is only Christ who can make ‘fishers of men.’ ‘Apart from Me,’ says the Lord, ‘ye can do nothing’ (St. John 15:5, R.V.). Christ is indispensable; we cannot do without Him. II.... read more
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Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Matthew 4:18-22
And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him. I pray the Reader not to overlook the sovereignty of the LORD's call. What a marvellous light, and what a marvellous power must have accompanied his words! And I pray the Reader to keep also in remembrance, what the HOLY GHOST hath said of those effectual calls of grace, by his servants, Romans 8:29-30 ; 2Ti 1:9 ; 2 Peter 1:10 . read more