Matthew 4:19
"Come, follow Me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
“Come, follow Me,”
This invitation from Jesus is a direct call to discipleship. In the cultural context of first-century Judaism, rabbis would often have disciples who followed them to learn their teachings and way of life. Jesus, however, calls His disciples with authority, indicating His unique role as the Messiah. The call to "come" implies leaving behind one's previous life and priorities to embrace a new path. This phrase echoes the call of God to Abraham in Genesis 12:1, where God calls Abraham to leave his country and follow Him to a land He will show him. It signifies a personal relationship and commitment to Jesus, who is the ultimate teacher and leader.

Jesus said,
The authority of Jesus is central here. Unlike other rabbis who might rely on the authority of the Torah or tradition, Jesus speaks with His own authority. This is consistent with the portrayal of Jesus throughout the Gospels, where He often prefaces His teachings with "Truly, I say to you," emphasizing His divine authority. This phrase also highlights the personal nature of the call; it is Jesus Himself who invites the disciples, not through intermediaries or written commands.

“and I will make you fishers of men.”
This metaphorical promise connects directly to the occupation of the first disciples, who were fishermen by trade. Jesus uses their familiar context to illustrate their new mission. The phrase "fishers of men" suggests evangelism and the gathering of people into the kingdom of God. In the Old Testament, fishing imagery is sometimes used in a context of judgment (e.g., Jeremiah 16:16), but here it is transformed into a mission of salvation. This transformation is a type of Christ's redemptive work, taking what is ordinary and making it extraordinary for His purposes. The promise "I will make you" indicates that the ability to fulfill this mission comes from Jesus Himself, not from the disciples' own skills or efforts. This aligns with the broader biblical theme that God equips those He calls, as seen in the lives of Moses, David, and the prophets.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus Christ
The central figure in this passage, Jesus is calling His first disciples. He is the Son of God, the Messiah, and the teacher who invites others to follow Him.

2. Simon Peter and Andrew
The brothers who are the first to be called by Jesus in this passage. They are fishermen by trade, which Jesus uses as a metaphor for their new mission.

3. Sea of Galilee
The location where Jesus calls His first disciples. It is a significant place in Jesus' ministry, often serving as a backdrop for His teachings and miracles.

4. Calling of the Disciples
This event marks the beginning of Jesus' public ministry and the formation of His group of followers who will learn from Him and continue His work.

5. Fishing
A metaphor used by Jesus to describe the new mission of His disciples. It signifies the act of bringing people into the Kingdom of God.
Teaching Points
The Call to Follow
Jesus' invitation to "Follow Me" is a personal call to each believer. It requires a willingness to leave behind old ways and embrace a new life in Christ.

Transformation of Purpose
Jesus promises to transform His followers into "fishers of men." This signifies a shift from self-centered pursuits to a mission-centered life focused on evangelism and discipleship.

Immediate Obedience
The response of Simon and Andrew to immediately follow Jesus serves as a model for our own obedience to His call. Delayed obedience can hinder our spiritual growth and effectiveness.

Evangelism as a Lifestyle
Being "fishers of men" is not just an activity but a lifestyle. It involves living in a way that naturally draws others to Christ through our words and actions.

Dependence on Jesus
The success of the disciples' mission depends on their relationship with Jesus. As we follow Him, He equips and empowers us for the work He has called us to do.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does it mean to "follow" Jesus in your daily life, and how can you ensure that you are truly following Him?

2. How can you apply the concept of being a "fisher of men" in your current context, whether at work, school, or in your community?

3. Reflect on a time when you felt called to step out in faith. How did you respond, and what can you learn from Simon and Andrew's immediate obedience?

4. In what ways can you cultivate a lifestyle of evangelism, and how can you involve others in this mission?

5. How does your relationship with Jesus empower you to fulfill the Great Commission, and what steps can you take to deepen this relationship?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Mark 1:16-18
This passage parallels Matthew 4:19, providing another account of Jesus calling Simon and Andrew to be His disciples.

Luke 5:1-11
Offers a more detailed account of the calling of the first disciples, including the miraculous catch of fish, which underscores the power and authority of Jesus.

John 21:1-14
After His resurrection, Jesus appears to His disciples by the Sea of Galilee, reminding them of their mission to be "fishers of men."

Acts 1:8
Jesus commissions His disciples to be His witnesses, expanding on the idea of being "fishers of men" by spreading the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
A Fisherman Must Also Know How to Allure the FishC. H. Spurgeon.Matthew 4:19
Christ's Call to ServiceR. Tuck Matthew 4:19
Fishers of MenBeecher.Matthew 4:19
Fishers of MenA. Thomas.Matthew 4:19
Follow MeD. B. Hooke., H. Cole., W. Kelynack.Matthew 4:19
Follow MeSeeds and Saplings.Matthew 4:19
How to Become Fishers of MenCharles Haddon Spurgeon Matthew 4:19
Industry an Indication of WorthA. Thomas.Matthew 4:19
Men Miss the Call of Christ Through Over OccupationA. Thomas., C. H. Spurgeon.Matthew 4:19
Ministers Fishers of MenDr. Burns.Matthew 4:19
Scientific Knowledge not Enough for the PreacherBeecher.Matthew 4:19
The Attractive Face of JesusJ. B. Brown, B. A.Matthew 4:19
The Church Enriched from the Ranks of PovertyDr. d. Harris.Matthew 4:19
Call of the FishermenMarcus Dods Matthew 4:12-22
Fishers of MenW.F. Adeney Matthew 4:18-22
The Call of Christ to His First DisciplesP.C. Barker Matthew 4:18-22
The Ministerial VocationJ.A. Macdonald Matthew 4:18-22
People
Andrew, Isaiah, James, Jesus, John, Naphtali, Nephthalim, Peter, Simon, Zabdi, Zabulon, Zebedee, Zebulun
Places
Capernaum, Decapolis, Galilee, High Mountain, Jerusalem, Jordan River, Judea, Nazareth, Sea of Galilee, Syria, Wilderness of Judea
Topics
Fishers, Follow, Says
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Matthew 4:19

     5355   invitations
     7621   disciples, calling
     7622   disciples, characteristics
     7740   missionaries, call
     8206   Christlikeness
     8422   equipping, spiritual

Matthew 4:18-19

     4642   fish
     5433   occupations

Matthew 4:18-20

     5113   Peter, disciple
     5877   hesitation
     7758   preachers, call

Matthew 4:18-22

     1651   numbers, 1-2
     6620   calling
     8702   agnosticism

Matthew 4:19-20

     8209   commitment, to Christ
     8410   decision-making, examples

Matthew 4:19-22

     8115   discipleship, nature of

Library
Temptation
Eversley, 1872. Chester Cathedral, 1872. St Matt. iv. 3. "And when the tempter came to Him, he said, If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread." Let me say a few words to-day about a solemn subject, namely, Temptation. I do not mean the temptations of the flesh--the temptations which all men have to yield to the low animal nature in them, and behave like brutes. I mean those deeper and more terrible temptations, which our Lord conquered in that great struggle with
Charles Kingsley—All Saints' Day and Other Sermons

The victory of the King
'Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward an hungred. 3. And when the tempter came to Him, he said, If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4. But He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 5. Then the devil taketh Him up into the holy city, and setteth Him on a pinnacle
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Springing of the Great Light
'Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, He departed into Galilee; 13. And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: 14. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 15. The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; 16. The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Early Welcome and the First Ministers of the King
'From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 18. And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19. And He saith unto them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20. And they straightway left their nets, and followed Him. 21. And going on from thence, He saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Interpretation of Holy Scripture. --Inspired Interpretation. --The Bible is not to be Interpreted Like any Other Book. --God, (Not Man,) the Real Author of the Bible.
It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. IT is impossible to preserve exact method in Sermons like these, uncertain in number, and delivered at irregular intervals. It shall only be stated that, having already spoken at considerable length, of the Inspiration of Holy Scripture;--not, one part more, one part less, but every part equally inspired throughout; not general, (whatever the exact notion may be of a book generally inspired,)
John William Burgon—Inspiration and Interpretation

July the Thirteenth Plain Glass
"They were fishers." --MATTHEW iv. 12-22. And so our Lord went first to the fishing-boats and not to the schools. Learning is apt to be proud and aggressive, and hostile to the simplicities of the Spirit. There is nothing like plain glass for letting in the light! And our Lord wanted transparent media, and so He went to the simple fishermen on the beach. "God hath chosen the foolish things of the world." And by choosing labouring men our Master glorified labour. He Himself had worn the workman's
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

Light for those who Sit in Darkness
From the text it appears that some are in greater darkness than others; and that, secondly, for such there is a hope of light; but that, thirdly, the light which will come to them lies all in Christ; and, fourthly (joyful news!) that light is already sprung up all around them: they have but to open their eyes to delight in it. I. SOME SOULS ARE IN GREATER DARKNESS THAN OTHERS. It appears from the text that it was so in Christ's days, and certainly it is so now. Divine sovereignty runs through all
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 17: 1871

How to Become Fishers of Men
Note, next, that we are not made all that we shall be, nor all that we ought to desire to be, when we are ourselves fished for and caught. This is what the grace of God does for us at first; but it is not all. We are like the fishes, making sin to be our element; and the good Lord comes, and with the gospel net he takes us, and he delivers us from the life and love of sin. But he has not wrought for us all that he can do, nor all that we should wish him to do, when he has done this; for it is another
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 32: 1886

Christ's First and Last Subject
IT SEEMS from these two texts that repentance was the first subject upon which the Redeemer dwelt, and that it was the last, which, with his departing breath, he commended to the earnestness of his disciples. He begins his mission crying, "Repent," he ends it by saying to his successors the apostles, "Preach repentance and remission of sins among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." This seems to me to be a very interesting fact, and not simply interesting, but instructive. Jesus Christ opens his
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 6: 1860

Twenty-Fourth Day. Firmness in Temptation.
"Jesus saith unto him, Get thee hence, Satan."--Matt. iv. 10. There is an awful intensity of meaning in the words, as applied to Jesus, "He suffered, being tempted!" Though incapable of sin, there was, in the refined sensibilities of His holy nature, that which made temptation unspeakably fearful. What must it have been to confront the Arch-traitor?--to stand face to face with the foe of His throne, and His universe? But the "prince of this world" came, and found "nothing in Him." Billow after
John R. Macduff—The Mind of Jesus

Eighth Day. Submission to God's Word.
"Jesus said unto him, It is written."--Matt. iv. 7. We can not fail to be struck, in the course of the Saviour's public teaching, with His constant appeal to the word of God. While, at times, He utters, in His own name, the authoritative behest, "Verily, verily, I say unto you," He as often thus introduces some mighty work, or gives intimation of some impending event in His own momentous life, "These things must come to pass, that the Scriptures be fulfilled, which saith." He commands His people
John R. Macduff—The Mind of Jesus

Knox -- the First Temptation of Christ
John Knox, the great Scottish reformer, was born at Giffordgate, four miles from Haddington, Scotland, in 1505. He first made his appearance as a preacher in Edinburgh, where he thundered against popery, but was imprisoned and sent to the galleys in 1546. In 1547 Edward VI secured his release and made him a royal chaplain, when he acquired the friendship of Cranmer and other reformers. On the accession of Mary (1553) he took refuge on the Continent. In 1556 he accepted the charge of a church in Geneva,
Various—The World's Great Sermons, Volume I

The Temptation in the Wilderness.
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. And when the tempter came to him, he said, if thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
George MacDonald—Unspoken Sermons

Thoughts Upon the Appearance of Christ the Sun of Righteousness, or the Beatifick vision.
SO long as we are in the Body, we are apt to be governed wholly by its senses, seldom or never minding any thing but what comes to us through one or other of them. Though we are all able to abstract our Thoughts when we please from matter, and fix them upon things that are purely spiritual; there are but few that ever do it. But few, even among those also that have such things revealed to them by God himself, and so have infinitely more and firmer ground to believe them, than any one, or all their
William Beveridge—Private Thoughts Upon a Christian Life

Christ, the Great Teacher
Scripture references: Matthew 4:23; 5:1,2; 7:29; 13:54; 26:55; 28:19,20; Mark 1:21,22; 4:1,2; 6:6; Luke 5:3; 11:1; 19:47; John 6:59; 7:14; 8:28. THE FOUNDER OF CHRISTIANITY The heart of the Christian religion is found in Jesus Christ. If we desire to know what Christianity is and of what elements it is composed we must look to Him and His teachings. He is the great source of our knowledge of what God, man, sin, righteousness, duty and salvation are. Our interest in the books of the Old Testament
Henry T. Sell—Studies in the Life of the Christian

Jesus Sets Out from Judæa for Galilee.
Subdivision A. Reasons for Retiring to Galilee. ^A Matt. IV. 12; ^B Mark I. 14; ^C Luke III. 19, 20; ^D John IV. 1-4. ^c 19 but Herod the tetrarch [son of Herod the Great, and tetrarch, or governor, of Galilee], being reproved by him [that is, by John the Baptist] for Herodias his brother's wife, and for all the evil things which Herod had done [A full account of the sin of Herod and persecution of John will be found at Matt. xiv. 1-12 and Mark vi. 14-29. John had spoken the truth to Herod as fearlessly
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

General Account of Jesus' Teaching.
^A Matt. IV. 17; ^B Mark I. 14, 15; ^C Luke IV. 14, 15. ^a 17 From that time Jesus began to preach [The time here indicated is that of John the Baptist's imprisonment and Jesus' return to Galilee. This time marked a new period in the public ministry of Jesus. Hitherto he had taught, but he now began to preach. When the voice of his messenger, John, was silenced, the King became his own herald. Paul quoted the Greeks as saying that preaching was "foolishness," but following the example here set by
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness.
^A Matt. IV. 1-11; ^B Mark I. 12, 13; ^C Luke IV. 1-13. ^c 1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, ^b 12 And straightway the Spirit driveth him forth ^c and ^a 1 Then [Just after his baptism, with the glow of the descended Spirit still upon him, and the commending voice of the Father still ringing in his ears, Jesus is rushed into the suffering of temptation. Thus abrupt and violent are the changes of life. The spiritually exalted may expect these sharp contrasts. After being
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus' Temporary Residence at Capernaum.
^A Matt. IV. 13-16. ^a 13 And leaving Nazareth [This expression means that Jesus now ceased to make Nazareth his home. For description of Nazareth, see page 60], he came and dwelt in Capernaum [See page 119. Capernaum means city of Nahum, or village of consolation. Its modern name, "Tel-Hum," means hill of Nahum. The word "dwelt" means that Jesus made this town his headquarters. He owned no house there (Matt. viii. 20). He may have dwelt with some of his disciples--for instance, Simon Peter--Matt.
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus Calls Four Fishermen to Follow Him.
(Sea of Galilee, Near Capernaum.) ^A Matt. IV. 18-22; ^B Mark I. 16-20; ^C Luke V. 1-11. ^a 18 And walking ^b 16 And passing along by the sea of Galilee [This lake is a pear-shaped body of water, about twelve and a half miles long and about seven miles across at its widest place. It is 682 feet below sea level; its waters are fresh, clear and abounding in fish, and it is surrounded by hills and mountains, which rise from 600 to 1,000 feet above it. Its greatest depth is about 165 feet], he [Jesus]
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus Makes a Preaching Tour through Galilee.
^A Matt. IV. 23-25; ^B Mark I. 35-39; ^C Luke IV. 42-44. ^b 35 And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose up went out [i. e., from the house of Simon Peter], and departed into a desert place, and there prayed. [Though Palestine was densely populated, its people were all gathered into towns, so that it was usually easy to find solitude outside the city limits. A ravine near Capernaum, called the Vale of Doves, would afford such solitude. Jesus taught (Matt. vi. 6) and practiced solitary
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Second visit to Cana - Cure of the Nobleman's' Son at Capernaum.
THE brief harvest in Samaria was, as Jesus had indicated to His disciples, in another sense also the beginning of sowing-time, or at least that when the green blade first appeared above ground. It formed the introduction to that Galilean ministry, when the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things that He did at Jerusalem at the Feast.' [2013] Nay, in some respects, it was the real beginning of His Work also, which, viewed as separate and distinct, commenced when the Baptist was cast into
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Second Journey through Galilee - the Healing of the Leper.
A DAY and an evening such as of that Sabbath of healing in Capernaum must, with reverence be it written, have been followed by what opens the next section. [2299] To the thoughtful observer there is such unbroken harmony in the Life of Jesus, such accord of the inward and outward, as to carry instinctive conviction of the truth of its record. It was, so to speak, an inward necessity that the God-Man, when brought into contact with disease and misery, whether from physical or supernatural causes,
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Temptation of Jesus
The proclamation and inauguration of the Kingdom of Heaven' at such a time, and under such circumstances, was one of the great antitheses of history. With reverence be it said, it is only God Who would thus begin His Kingdom. A similar, even greater antithesis, was the commencement of the Ministry of Christ. From the Jordan to the wilderness with its wild Beasts; from the devout acknowledgment of the Baptist, the consecration and filial prayer of Jesus, the descent of the Holy Spirit, and the heard
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

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