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Matthew 4:19
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17 aFrom that time Jesus began to preach and to say, b“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven1 is at hand.”  

Four Fishermen Called as Disciples

18 aAnd Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon bcalled Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.  
19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and aI will make you fishers of men.”  
20 aThey immediately left their nets and followed Him.  
21 aGoing 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,  
22 and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.

Jesus Heals a Great Multitude

23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, ateaching in their synagogues, preaching bthe gospel of the kingdom, cand healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.  
Commentaries:
Adam Clarke
<< Matthew 4:18   Matthew 4:20 >>


Matthew 4:19

Follow me - Come after me, . Receive my doctrines, imitate me in my conduct - in every respect be my disciples. We may observe that most of the calls of God to man are expressed in a few solemn words, which alarm, the conscience, and deeply impress the heart.

I will make you fishers of men - Ezekiel 47:8-10, casts much light on this place; and to this prophet our Lord probably alludes. To follow Christ, and be admitted into a partnership of his ministry, is a great honor; but those only who are by himself fitted for it, God calls. Miserable are those who do not wait fur this call - who presume to take the name of fishers of men, and know not how to cast the net of the Divine word, because not brought to an acquaintance with the saving power of the God who bought them. Such persons, having only their secular interest in view, study not to catch men, but to catch money: and though, for charity' s sake, it may be said of a pastor of this spirit, he does not enter the sheepfold as a thief, yet he certainly lives as a hireling. See Quesnel.

Some teach to work, but have no hands to row;

Some will be eyes, but have no light to see;

Some will be guides, but have no feet to go;

Some deaf, yet ears, some dumb, yet tongues will be;

Dumb, deaf, lame, blind, and maimed, yet fishers all!

Fit for no use but store an hospital.

Fletcher' s Piscatory Eclogues. Ec iv. 5, 18.

Following a person, in the Jewish phrase, signifies being his disciple or scholar. See a similar mode of speech, II Kings 6:19.




Other Adam Clarke entries containing Matthew 4:19:

Ezekiel 47:10
Matthew 19:21
Mark 1:16
John 21:6

 

<< Matthew 4:18   Matthew 4:20 >>

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