Matthew 4:18

“(Matt. 4:18) Or is it better to suppose that these were other disciples?” — the author cites it

“Or his brother Andrew, or John and James the sons of Zebedee, themselves also fishermen; and yet what did they say?” — editor's note: Matt. iv. 18, 21.

“…to be called,—how can it be said by the other evangelists that He found them engaged in fishing in Galilee, and called them there to be His disciples?” — editor's note: Matt. iv. 13–23; Mark i. 16–20; Luke v. 1–11; John i. 35–44.

“And they left their nets, and followed Him.”” — editor's note: Matt. iv. 18, 19.

“See how Peter left his net; see how the publican rose from the receipt of custom.” — editor's note: Matt. iv. 18–20.

“We are told of the first disciples that they forsook their boat and their nets, and even their aged father.” — editor's note: Matt. iv. 18–22.

“The apostles did but forsake ships and nets.” — editor's note: Matt. iv. 18–22.

“He did not once for all cast away his brethren, as did the apostles who forsook father and nets and ship, but by an equality he ministered to the want of others out of his own abundance that afterwards their wealth might be a supply for his own want.” — editor's note: Matt. iv. 18–22.

The sea of Galilee, the lake of Gennesaret, the sea of Tiberias, and the salt lake, are one and the same.

He rightly goes on fishing places, when about to fish for fishermen.

“Saw,” that is, not so much with the bodily eye, as spiritually viewing their hearts.

He calls them while actually working at their employment, to shew that to follow Him ought to be preferred to all occupations. They were just then “casting a net into the sea,” which agreed with their future office.

He chose not kings, senators, philosophers, or orators, but he chose common, poor, and untaught fishermen.

Had one learned been chosen, he might have attributed the choice to the merit of his learning. But our Lord Jesus Christ, willing to bow the necks of the proud, sought not to gain fishermen by orators, but gained an…

The operations of their secular craft were a prophecy of their future dignity. As he who casts his net into the water knows not what fishes he shall take, so the teacher casts the net of the divine word upon the…

Of these fishermen the Lord speaks by Jeremiah. “I will send my fishers among you, and they shall catch you.” [Jer 16:16]

“Follow me,” not so much with your feet as in your hearts and your life.

“Fishers of men,” that is, teachers, that with the net of God’s word you may catch men out of this world of storm and danger, in which men do not walk but are rather borne along, the Devil by pleasure drawing them…

Peter and Andrew had seen Christ work no miracle, had heard from him no word of the promise of the eternal reward, yet at this single bidding of the Lord they forgot all that they had seemed to possess, and…

These disciples did not follow Christ from desire of the honour of a doctor, but because they coveted the labour itself; they knew how precious is the soul of man, how pleasant to God is his salvation, and how great…

To so great a promise they trusted, and believed that they should catch others by those same words by which themselves had been caught.

These were their desires, for which they “left all and followed;” teaching us thereby that none can possess earthly things and perfectly attain to heavenly things.

These last disciples were an example to such as leave their property for the love of Christ; now follows an example of others who postponed earthly affection to God. Observe how He calls them two and two, and He…

Hereby we are also silently admonished, that he who wants affection towards others, ought not to take on him the office of preaching. The precepts of charity are two, and between less than two there can be no love.

Rightly did He thus build the foundations of the brotherhood of the Church on love, that from such roots a copious sap of love might flow to the branches; and that too on natural or human love, that nature as well as…

It is no small sign of goodness, to bear poverty easily, to live by honest labour, to be bound together by virtue of affection, to keep their poor father with them, and to toil in his service.

We may not dare to consider the former disciples as more quick to preach, because they were “casting their nets;” and these latter as less active, because they were yet making ready only; for it is Christ alone that…

He made no promise to them when He called them, as He had to the former, for the obedience of the first had made the way plain for them. Besides, they had heard many things concerning Him, as being friends and…

There are three things which we must leave who would come to Christ; carnal actions, which are signified in the fishing nets; worldly substance, in the ship; parents, which are signified in their father. They left…

By this that they left their occupation and their father’s house we are taught, that when we would follow Christ we should not be holden of the cares of secular life, or of the society of the paternal mansion.

Mystically, by the sea is figured this world, because of its bitterness and its tossing waves. Galilee is interpreted, ‘rolling,’ or ‘a wheel,’ and shews the changeableness of the world. Jesus “walked by the sea”…

The two vessels signify the two Churches; the one was called out of the circumcision, the other out of the uncircumcision. Any one who believes becomes Simon, i.e. obedient to God; Peter by acknowledging his sin,…

and John that he may ascribe the whole to God’s grace. The calling of four only is mentioned, as those preachers by whom God will call the four quarters of the world.

Or, the number that was to be of the Evangelists is figured.

Also, the four principal virtues are here designed; Prudence, in Peter, from his confession of God; Justice, we may refer to Andrew for his manful deeds; Fortitude, to James, for his overthrow of the Devil;…

It might move enquiry, why John relates that near Jordan, not in Galilee, Andrew followed the Lord with another whose name he does not mention; and again, that Peter received that name from the Lord. Whereas the…

Matthew 4:18 and Mark 1:16 share the same wording (17 words).

Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on John 2:12–13 (2) (Catena Aurea).

Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on John 2:12–13 (2) (Catena Aurea).

Cited together in Remigius of Auxerre on Matthew 4:18–22 (2) (Catena Aurea).