Matthew 8:18-19

Matthew 8:18 gives the occasion for the scribe’s statement in Matthew 8:19 (cf. Mark 4:35). The other side of the lake (from Capernaum) would have been the eastern side. There was only so much room in the boat, and the scribe wanted to get in with other disciples. At this time in Jesus’ ministry there were many more than just 12 disciples, though the Twelve were an inner circle. As mentioned above, the word "disciple" does not necessarily identify fully committed followers or even believers (cf. Matthew 5:1; Matthew 8:21). This scribe, a teacher of the law, looked to Jesus as his "teacher." He wanted to learn from Him. He said that he was willing to follow Him anywhere to do so.

". . . the designations ’rabbi’ and ’teacher’ attribute to the person so addressed human respect but nothing more. Hence, in addressing Jesus as ’teacher,’ the religious leaders accord Jesus the honor they would accord any teacher, but this is the extent of it. To their mind Jesus’ station is not that of the Messiah Son of God, his authority is not divine, and they in no sense follow him or have faith in him." [Note: Kingsbury, Matthew as . . ., p. 64. Cf. 9:11; 12:38; 17:24; 19:16; 22:16, 24, 36; 26:25, 49. See Gunther Bornkamm, "End-Expectation and Church in Matthew," in Tradition and Interpretation in Matthew, pp. 41-43.]

Some scholars believe that Matthew consistently denigrated the scribes in his Gospel. [Note: E.g., W. F. Albright and C. S. Mann, Matthew.] I do not believe he did this (cf. Matthew 13:52; Matthew 23:34), but Matthew’s references to the scribes are usually negative. Matthew seems to present everyone who came to Jesus without prejudice. The issue to Matthew was how various people responded to Jesus.