"COME, FOLLOW ME, I WILL MAKE YOU FISHERS OF MEN" Matthew 4:19.
Apostle Matthew is the author of this Gospel. He was a tax collector who left his profession to follow Jesus (Matthew 9: 9-13). Since his Gospel was written in Greek, his readers were obviously Greek speaking. His main purpose was to prove to His Jewish readers that Jesus is the Messiah.
THE CALLING OF THE FIRST DISCIPLES OF JESUS (Matthew 4:18-22)
Jesus is calling 2 sets of brothers, who were fishermen, to be His disciples. First set was Simon Peter and Andrew. Second set James and John, sons of Zebedee who was a rich man with many workers under him. The first set of brothers were busy in fishing (Matthew 4:18) and the second set were busy in preparing their nets for fishing with their father (Matthew 4:21).
So the first disciples of Jesus, according to the book of Matthew, were Simon Peter and Andrew.
Sea of Galilee (or lake Tiberias or Kinnereth) is a freshwater lake in Israel. It lies between 215 meters and 209 meters below sea level. It is approximately 53 km in circumference, about 21 km long and 13 km wide. Maximum depth is 48 meters. The sea of Galilee is fed primarily by the Jordan river.
A. THE CALL AND OFFER Matthew 4:19
1. Come, follow me.
2. I will make you fishers of men.
If they are willing to leave their profession and possessions to follow Jesus, then He will make them as fishers of men. A willingness to give supreme priority for Jesus is an essential quality to be His disciple.
B. RESPONSE AND OBEDIENCE TO THE CALL
1. At once they left their nets and followed Him Matthew 4:20 ( Peter and Andrew)
2. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him. Matthew 4:22 (James and John)
They left their boat, net and father. They left their possessions, profession and possibilities. They left their father or family also to follow Jesus. If they were continuing in the family with their father, they could have become the owner of all his possessions.
The call to discipleship is definite and demands a response of total commitment. So far, family, their boat, net, their profession were important but at the call of Jesus, all those became secondary. So far they had a place to stay, a profession or income but when Jesus called them, they didn't ask Him about those matters but immediately obeyed or followed Him. They didn't ask Him about where He is taking them. They were willing to follow Him anywhere, everywhere.. They were willing to pay the cost of Discipleship. (Please read and study Mt.16: 24-26; Luke 14: 26-33)
A person is not a disciple unless he has responded to Jesus' invitation to follow Him.
What or who is more important in our life today?
Are we willfully following Jesus leaving the attractions of this world?
Are we catching men for Jesus? If not, what could be the reason?
LET US FOLLOW JESUS.
Rev. C.V. Abraham
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