Matthew 4:18 Commentary and Bible Study

Five of the disciples had already encountered Christ. At Christ’s baptism John the Baptist had directed two to them to go to him, Andrew and John. Andrew had brought his brother Peter, and Christ had afterwards found Philip who had brought his friend Nathanael (Bartholomew). Christ knew them; they were disciples, but it seems they still went back to their fishing; they were not yet following him full time. So now there is this second, but more definite calling, a calling at this point into full time service. They are to begin their three-year training as apostles, but this is not something they can continue to do as fishermen. They will need to accompany him and travel with him around Galilee and beyond. The ministry is not normally compatible with other work, though the apostle Paul did work alongside his ministry, but he tells us why, exceptionally, this was necessary in his case. It takes all of a man’s energy and effort to serve the Lord in the ministry. He cannot prepare himself without being fully devoted to study and service. The twelve disciples are going to have the very best training for their future work by observing their Lord in his itinerant ministry, hearing him speak as no other man spoke, and seeing his amazing miracles. They will be deeply immersed in this discipleship experience, and it will take them out of their depth at times, knowing great personal fears and exhilarating joys, but all intended to deepen their trust in Christ. They will observe Christ’s skill in handling seeking men and women, drawing out repentance and faith, and teaching key lessons appropriate for individual cases. They will see Christ persecuted by his enemies, and feel their lives in danger on occasion, but above all they will be able to say, ‘That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us)’ (1 John 1:1-2).It is significant that Christ called them in a way that interrupted their secular employment. This makes it all the more clear that the call to be an apostle was a call to leave behind former secular work. Aalders says, ‘Jesus then did not wait till they had finished a day’s or a season’s work. He came to them while Peter and Andrew were casting their net into the lake.’ This was to be a momentous day in their lives.