Matthew 4:18-22

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 4:22

Left the ship and their father - By the ship, το πλοιον , we are to understand the mere fishing-boat, used for extending their nets in the water and bringing the hawser or rope of the farther end to shore, by which the net was pulled to land. But why should these be called to leave their employment and their father, probably now aged? To this I answer, that to be obedient to, provide for, and comfort our parents, is the highest duty we owe or can discharge, except that to God. But, when... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 4:18

Verse 18 Matthew 4:18.And Jesus walking. As this history is placed by Luke after the two miracles, which we shall afterwards see, an opinion has commonly prevailed, that the miracle, which is here related by him, was performed some time after that they had been called by Christ. (336) But the reason, which they allege, carries little weight: for no fixed and distinct order of dates was observed by the Evangelists in composing their narratives. The consequence is, that they disregard the order... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 4:22

Verse 22 Matthew 4:22.And they immediately left the ship. The first thing that strikes us here is the power of Christ’s voice. Not that his voice alone makes so powerful an impression on the hearts of men: but those whom the Lord is pleased to lead and draw to himself, are inwardly addressed by his Spirit, that they may obey his voice. The second is, the commendation bestowed on the docility and ready obedience of his disciples, who prefer the call of Christ to all worldly affairs. The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 4:12-22

Call of the fishermen. I. THE OCCASION OF THE CALL . Driven from Nazareth, our Lord repaired to the busy western shore of the Sea of Galilee. Through this district ran the great caravan-roads; and several important towns gathered all kinds of tradesmen. Herod the tetrarch had his court in Tiberias. The valuable fishings in the lake gave employment to many. Courtiers, soldiers, tax-gatherers, watching the caravans and fisheries, fishermen, women reputable and disreputable, filled... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 4:12-25

The beginning of our Lord's ministry. I. HE REMOVES TO CAPERNAUM . 1 . John was cast into prison. His ministry was ended; the Lord's begins. God continues his'servants' work; when one passes away, another takes his place; when the voice of one prophet is silenced, a greater follows, Each must work in faith while time is given; the work is not man's, but God's. He will fulfil it. His servants may seem to be laid aside and to be forgotten; he will carry on their work. He does not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 4:18

And Jesus, walking . Revised Version rightly omits "Jesus," and inserts "he" before "saw." The right reading does not detract so much from the emphatic statement of Matthew 4:17 . By the Sea of Galilee . His walk lay along the lake. Socin speaks of "the probability that there was a frequented road from the mouth of the Jordan skirting the bank of the lake." Two brethren, Simon … and Andrew his brother ; the addition, "his brother," emphasizing the relationship. Christ's coming would... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 4:18-22

The summons to help in his work: his first formal adherents. On the relation of this call to the meeting with Andrew and Peter, recorded in John 1:40-42 , vide especially Bishop Westcott there. That was "the establishment of a personal relationship;" this "a call to an official work." read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 4:18-22

"Fishers of men." Jesus was not content to preach the word and leave it to work unseen and uncared for. He desired to gather in a harvest of souls. His first effort in this direction was to form a little group of recognized and confessed disciples who should help him in his great work. Himself the supreme Fisher of men, he drew choice souls that he might fit them to undertake the same work in seeking for others, I. THE FISHERS . 1 . Their relationship. Brothers. Family union is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 4:18-22

The call of Christ to his first disciples. In the light of what we read in John 1:38-42 , we may regard the present passage as giving the account of the formal and final call of the four disciples named Peter, Andrew, James, and John. Note may also be taken of the circumstance that these four were all fishers. Notice— I. THE CALL ITSELF IN THESE ORIGINAL EXAMPLES OF IT . And under this general head consider: 1 . What it is in the essential meaning of it. The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 4:18-22

The ministerial vocation. The Sea of Galilee, on the shore of which Jesus walked, was an inland lake of about six miles broad and seventeen long. It was surrounded by a varied scenery of mountain and valley, amidst which were embosomed several populous villages and towns. Henceforth this region was destined to become the theatre of many a wonderful history. The history before us invites attention to a vocation, a voice, and persons called. I. THE VOCATION . 1 . The call was to... read more

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