Matthew 4:22Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This illustrates the faith with which the Apostles embraced Christ’s word; as noted by another Apostle, the word would be of no value had it remained merely ‘a word heard’ and not been ‘activated by the faith of those who hear’ (Hebrews 4:2)! Although the Lord strengthened His call with a magnificent promise to transform the fishermen into ‘fishers of men’ (Matthew 4:19), this promise was as challenging for them to comprehend and accept as it was to forsake their modest possessions, which seemed necessary for their existence, and the comforts that seemed inextricably linked to human nature. Yet, is it merely astonishment we are meant to experience upon witnessing such extraordinary commitment in the Gospel? Are we to be passive observers of these steadfast followers of Christ, or ought we to also follow Him, who is their sole Leader and Shepherd? Shouldn't we too ‘leave something behind’ to truly become disciples of Christ? - Let us contemplate this, but not for long. It is vital to grasp the fundamental reason that motivated the holy Apostles to leave everything behind so resolutely in their commitment to Christ. Might we assert that it was the immense power of Christ’s word? Indeed, the word of Christ, as the Word of God, possesses boundless authority; nonetheless, it does not operate excessively: thus, this inquiry does not yet present a resolution but transitions to another question: why did Christ’s word exert such a profound effect on the Apostles, leading them to detach from everything to which they felt bound out of necessity, even by nature and divine law? Further, should we affirm that this was particularly imperative for the Apostles, tasked with spreading the Gospel to all creation, that no earthly concern might distract them or hinder their mission, which encompasses the salvation of the entire world? This is indeed valid; however, would it be just for those men, whose service was to reclaim the whole world for God, to be condemned to forsake everything while the rest of us, who are less useful to His Kingdom, are granted the privilege of holding onto the world? Does not our conscience rise against this rationale? And does this not lead us to conclude that if the elect, the saints, companions, friends, siblings, and co-redeemers of Christ had to renounce everything of this world, to lose, to reject, to scorn, to detest, and to forget in order to possess Christ alone, how much more so must we, His undeserving servants, who are rarely esteemed, strive to offer a similar, though perhaps less complete and perfect, sacrifice of faith in Him, love for Him, and adherence to His word and commandments? If there is any uncertainty regarding the correctness of this conclusion, let us put aside our thoughts, along with all else we must relinquish for Christ, and attend to Christ’s own word, which must never be abandoned. He states: ‘If any man come unto Me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple’ (Luke 14:26). Should you think that this stringent declaration applies only to a specific disciple or Apostle, the holy Evangelist clarifies that it was directed to the crowds: ‘And there went great multitudes with Him; and He turned, and said unto them’ (Luke 14:25). Thus, this pronouncement is not limited to a select few but applies universally; one cannot be a true disciple of Christ if he does not ‘renounce’ or ‘hate’ all that is naturally cherished, meaning, one must overcome and surpass the love for all that is loved outside of God through a strong love for Him. For what are these sacrifices of deprivation for God, who gains nothing from them? Indeed, God, being all-sufficient and entirely good, has nothing to lose, as He demands nothing; He Himself grants everything and gives freely to all. However, He does not require any deprivation for Himself: yet humanity must undergo such sacrifices to gain the ultimate good. The Gospel clearly illustrates this pattern. The Lord does not command the Apostles, ‘Abandon the sea, leave the vessel, and forsake your father’: He merely invites them; He simply states, ‘Come after Me.’ But when they seek to fulfill this call and follow this mandate, it becomes evident that they must first detach from their boats, their vessels, and their fathers. Had they not forsaken their ship, their possessions, and their father, they would not have followed Jesus. Anyone wishing to embark must first untie, or, in haste, cut the rope by which his boat is tethered to the shore. For those who earnestly desire to journey towards Heaven, it is necessary to either gradually resolve to do so with care and effort, or, if one fears stagnation and feels sufficiently strong, to decisively sever all passionate, earthly attachments. It is essential to be liberated from the desires of the flesh to yield to the yearnings of the spirit. One must trample upon earthly matters to ascend to the wisdom that comes from above. It is imperative to expel the world from one’s heart to create space for boundless love for the infinite God. Here, dear Christians, lies one of the foundational doctrines of the Gospel, presented to us almost at the outset of the Gospel narratives surrounding the acts of Christ and at the beginning of the Apostles’ Gospel journey. Therefore, we do not require much if we prompt you to examine your own consciences about your progress in this teaching. I do not dare to inquire how many among us, in the strictest sense, have truly ‘forsaken all’ (Matthew 19:27; Mark 10:28; Luke 18:28) for the sake of following Jesus Christ. Acknowledging my imperfections and unworthiness, I do not claim the right to interrogate what the Lord asks only of some, under the condition of perfection: ‘If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me’ (Matthew 19:21). If we have not relinquished everything for Christ in action, do we at least partially fulfill this in intention and desire? Does your heart ever whisper: ‘How much more do I possess in this world compared to what is necessary for my temporary existence! How overwhelmed I am with concerns! How immersed I am in pleasures! O Lord, who have made me poor for Your sake! Grant me the grace to partake of Your holy and saving poverty, to forsake my anxieties, to leave behind my fleeting delights! How vividly do I still cherish this transitory world, and how often am I ensnared, sometimes by burdensome ties of love, at other times by golden chains of love that bring reciprocity and well-being, and how both these bindings embolden me on my path to divine love! O Lord, who love us so deeply that you laid down Your life for us. Help me, in the name of love for You, to moderate my earthly affections, to put to death my divided loyalties, to despise the part of my soul that does not love You sufficiently, so that the pure love of Your Holy Spirit may ‘give me wings like a dove, and I shall fly and be at rest’ (Psalm 54:7) with You, and in You alone! But lest these very feelings entice you through mere illusion or an uncertain impulse to detach from worldly concerns, look around and see if you have truly relinquished anything for God, especially that with which your predominant inclination is most tempted. ‘Abraham was very rich’ (Genesis 13:2), and he neither denied nor squandered his wealth: but when, out of love for God, he did not spare his beloved son, it was clear that he was prepared to offer for God all that he had, without hesitation. Conversely, if you, propelled by your eagerness to serve God, and expressing your willingness to sacrifice everything for Him, have yet to actually give up anything that holds your heart captive to material possessions, then your readiness and desire are indeed questionable. If you have not yet forsaken anything in this world, it is certainly true... Lord, call us with Your all-powerful word to follow You, and instill within us a sincere disposition to leave all things for Your sake, that we may find everything in You and discover our true selves in Your love. Amen.

Lastly, although familial relationships may also pose challenges, their impact is lesser compared to the attachment to riches or the pursuits of this world. Thus, they left the boat to steer the vessel of the Church; they abandoned the nets to catch not fish for earthly sustenance, but souls for heavenly glory; and they departed from one father to become the spiritual guides for all.

One must trust that the heavenly Father, in response to your obedience to His will, will not only guide you toward heaven but can also draw your earthly father, who stands in opposition, to salvation through your faith. Consequently, the newly called apostles, who were fishermen, responded to the voice of the Lord by leaving behind their lake, their former vocation, and their father to follow Him. Thus, it may be said that the fishing boat served as the cradle of Christianity, and the fishing nets became its midwives.

While those unfamiliar with fishing might have rejoiced at such a bountiful catch, the experienced fishermen understood that under the current conditions, no fish could have been caught without divine intervention. Peter, overwhelmed by the realization of this miracle, fell to his knees before Jesus, exclaiming, “Come out from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8). In this heartfelt plea, Peter acknowledged the greatness and sanctity of Jesus and humbly recognized his own unworthiness to be in His presence. At that moment, Peter was unaware that Jesus had come to call sinners to repentance; like others of his time, he believed that the Righteous One could only associate with the righteous. As Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, and John, He reassured Peter by saying, “Do not be afraid. Following Me now, you will afterwards draw men's minds and hearts to you by My word; no longer a fisherman, you will become a fisher of men; from now on you will be a fisher of men” (Luke 5:10). Upon hearing this invitation, Peter, along with Andrew, James, and John, brought their boats ashore, abandoning their nets and the fish to follow Jesus. The Evangelists Matthew and Mark narrate this same calling of the disciples but omit the miraculous catch of fish that preceded it, leading to a slight inconsistency with Luke's account. For comparison, we refer to the accounts of the first two Evangelists: Matthew 4:18-22: “But as He was passing near the sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon, called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting their nets into the sea, for they were fishermen, and He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ And they immediately left their nets and followed Him. And when He went on from there, He saw the other two brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and He called them. And they immediately left the boat and their father and followed Him.” Mark 1:16-20: “But as they were passing near the sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting their nets into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ And immediately they left their nets and followed Him. And when He had traveled a little way, He saw James Zebedee and John his brother, also in the boat mending their nets; and immediately He called them. And they, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the laborers, followed Him.” A comparison of these harmonious accounts from Matthew and Mark with Luke's narrative indicates that the disciples’ calling took place at the lakeshore while they were in their boats with nets. The only difference suggests that Luke states Peter and his companions were called after the miraculous catch, while Matthew and Mark report that the call happened while Peter and Andrew were casting their nets and James and John were mending theirs. There is no reason to assume that Matthew and Mark are referencing different events than Luke as it would be unlikely for Jesus to call the same disciples twice under such similar circumstances. Therefore, the perceived discrepancies in the Evangelists’ narratives can be understood as Matthew and Mark focusing solely on how Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, and John to leave everything behind and follow Him, possibly omitting the preceding miracle as they saw the call itself as paramount. This calling of the disciples, as recounted by the three Evangelists, could have been regarded as the first call of Peter, Andrew, James, and John to follow Jesus as His disciples, had the Evangelist John not provided an account of an earlier calling involving Andrew, Peter, John, James, Philip, and Nathanael, which occurred after John the Baptist’s profound testament to Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God (John 1:35-51). By examining these two calls along with their contexts, it is reasonable to conclude that after the initial call, Jesus' disciples did not consistently accompany Him on His travels and sometimes returned to their former professions. However, following the second call, they became His steadfast companions and subsequently emerged as the chosen apostles among the twelve.

After concluding His message, He instructed Simon, “Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch.” To this, Simon replied, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” The more Simon doubted their chances of success, the more astonishing must have been the miracle that the Lord performed, which indicated that all their previous struggles could be more than compensated by His command. In obedience, Simon cast down the net and, far exceeding expectations, they caught a vast number of fish, so much so that their net began to break. They signaled their partners in the other boat, who joined them in the effort, filling both boats to the point of sinking. This miraculous catch astonished Simon and all who were with him, evoking feelings of both wonder and fear. Unlike the previous miracles they had witnessed, this phenomenon, in which they had personally participated, struck closer to home. Overwhelmed by deep emotion, Simon fell to his knees before Jesus, exclaiming, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” To this heartfelt confession of sin, the All-Knowing One responded with words of encouragement and a call to a higher purpose: “Do not be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” He then turned to Simon's companions, inviting them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” The fishermen eagerly heeded this call, exemplifying the words of St. Philaret of Moscow with their swift resolve, complete readiness, and unwavering commitment, not hesitating for an instant. After bringing both boats to shore, they forsook everything to follow the Lord Jesus, with James and John even leaving their father Zebedee behind.