Context No. 3264 of 4322 · Matthew

Matthew 4:17-25: in context

17From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” 18Walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers: Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men.” 20They immediately left their nets and followed him. 21Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them. 22They immediately left the boat and their father, and followed him. 23Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people. 24The report about him went out into all Syria. They brought to him all who were sick, afflicted with various diseases and torments, possessed with demons, epileptics, and paralytics; and he healed them. 25Great multitudes from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan followed him.

Jesus begins to preach, repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and then walks by the Sea of Galilee and calls four fishermen. To Peter and Andrew he says, come after me, and I will make you fishers for men, and immediately they leave their nets. To James and John he calls, and immediately they leave the boat and their father and follow him. Then he goes through Galilee teaching, preaching, and healing, and crowds gather.

The response is startling: immediately they left their nets, immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed. There is no record of deliberation, no request for time to settle their affairs. When Jesus says follow me, they simply go, leaving livelihood and family behind. The immediacy is the point: the call of Christ carries a claim that overrides even good and necessary things. And notice what he makes them, fishers of men, taking the very skill of their old life and turning it to the kingdom. Following Jesus means letting his call reorder everything, trusting him to make our lives count for his purposes.

When Jesus calls, do I follow with the immediacy of those fishermen, letting his claim reorder even the good things I would cling to?

Sources

Matthew 4:19: "He said to them, Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men."
Matthew 4:20: "They immediately left their nets and followed him."
Matthew 4:17: "Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."