Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 4:22
And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
22. and their father ] St Mark (Mar 1:20) adds “with the hired servants.” We may infer that Zebedee and his sons and their partners were raised above the lowest social rank.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Left their father – This showed how willing they were to follow Jesus. They showed us what we ought to do. If necessary, we should leave father, and mother, and every friend, Luk 14:26. If they will go with us, and be Christians, it is well; if not, yet they should not hinder us. We should be the followers of Jesus. And, while in doing it we should treat our friends kindly and tenderly, yet we ought at all hazards to obey God, and do our duty to him. We may add that many, very many children, since Sunday schools have commenced, have been the means of their parents conversion. Many children have spoken to their parents, or read the Bible to them, or other books, and prayed for them, and God has blessed them and converted them. Every child in a Sunday school ought to be a Christian; and then should strive and pray that God would convert his parents, and make them Christians too. We see here, too, what humble instruments God makes use of to convert people. He chose fishermen to convert the world. He chooses the foolish to confound the wise. And it shows that religion is true, and is the power of God, when he makes use of such instruments to change the hearts of people and save their souls. See the notes at 1Co 1:26-28.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 22. Left the ship and their father] By the ship, , we are to understand the mere fishing-boat, used for extending their nets in the water and bringing the hawser or rope of the farther end to shore, by which the net was pulled to land. But why should these be called to leave their employment and their father, probably now aged? To this I answer, that to be obedient to, provide for, and comfort our parents, is the highest duty we owe or can discharge, except that to God. But, when God calls to the work of the ministry, father and mother and all must be left. Were we necessary to their comfort and support before? Then God, if he call us into another work or state, will take care to supply to them our lack of service some other way; and, if this be not done, it is a proof we have mistaken our call. Again, were our parents necessary to us, and in leaving them for the sake of the Gospel, or in obedience to a Divine command, do we deprive ourselves of the comforts of life? No matter: we should prefer the honour of serving the Most High, even in poverty and humility, to all the comforts of a father’s house. But what an honour was the vocation of James and John, to old Zebedee their father! His sons are called to be heralds of the God of heaven! Allowing him to have been a pious man, this must have given him unutterable delight.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
22. And they immediately left theship and their fatherMark adds an important clause: “Theyleft their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants“(Mr 1:20); showing that thefamily were in easy circumstances.
and followed himTwoharmonistic questions here arise: First, Was this the samecalling as that recorded in Joh1:35-42? Clearly not. For, (1) That call was given while Jesuswas yet in Judea: this, after His return to Galilee. (2) Here, Christcalls Andrew: there, Andrew solicits an interview with Christ. (3)Here, Andrew and Peter are called together: there, Andrew having beencalled, with an unnamed disciple, who was clearly the beloveddisciple (see on Joh 1:40), goesand fetches Peter his brother to Christ, who then calls him. (4)Here, John is called along with James his brother: there, John iscalled along with Andrew, after having at their own request had aninterview with Jesus; no mention being made of James, whose call, ifit then took place, would not likely have been passed over by his ownbrother. Thus far nearly all are agreed. But on the nextquestion opinion is divided: Was this the same calling as thatrecorded in Lu 5:1-11?Many able critics think so. But the following considerations are tous decisive against it. First here, the four are called separately,in pairs: in Luke, all together. Next, in Luke, after a gloriousmiracle: here, the one pair are casting their net, the other aremending theirs. Further, here, our Lord had made no public appearancein Galilee, and so had gathered none around Him; He is walkingsolitary by the shores of the lake when He accosts the two pairs offishermen: in Luke, the multitude are pressing upon Him, and hearingthe word of God, as He stands by the Lake of Gennesareta state ofthings implying a somewhat advanced stage of His early ministry, andsome popular enthusiasm. Regarding these successive callings, see onLu 5:1.
First Galilean Circuit (Mt4:23-25).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And they immediately left the ship,…. More is expressed here than before, for they not only left their nets, but their ship too; which was of much more value; nay, even “their father” also, “with the hired servants”, Mr 1:20 and so complied with the call of Christ to his people, Ps 45:10 and thereby proved, that they were sincerely his followers, Lu 14:26 and might expect the gracious promise of Christ to be made good unto them,
Mt 19:28.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
1) “And they immediately left the ship,” (hoi de eutheos aphentes to ploion) “They (two) responded, immediately, leaving the fishing boat,” and their net repair work, because “the kings business requireth haste,” unhesitating obedience, 1Sa 21:8.
2) “And their father,” (kai ton patera auton) “And their (own) father as well;” And Mark adds, “with the hired servants” or hired hands, indicating that his family, the Zebedee family had a substantial size fishing business.
3) “And followed him.” (ekolouthesan auto) “And they followed to his call,” where He led them in His labors, as Simon Peter and Andrew had done, Mr 4:18-20. This is a different call from that recounted, Joh 1:35-42 regarding these four disciples and seems to involve His choosing them at this time and place to be members of His church, Joh 15:26-27.
The call of Jesus to these four early members of His church was a call:
1. To Faith.
2. To Labor.
3. To Suffering and crossbearing.
4. To Bridehood and Glory.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
Mat 4:22
. And they immediately left the ship. The first thing that strikes us here is the power of Christ’s voice. Not that his voice alone makes so powerful an impression on the hearts of men: but those whom the Lord is pleased to lead and draw to himself, are inwardly addressed by his Spirit, that they may obey his voice. The second is, the commendation bestowed on the docility and ready obedience of his disciples, who prefer the call of Christ to all worldly affairs. The ministers of the Word ought, in a particular manner, to be directed by this example, to lay aside all other occupations, and to devote themselves unreservedly to the Church, to which they are appointed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(22) Left the ship and their father.St. Mark adds, with the hired servants, a fact of interest as showing that the sons of Zebedee were probably, in some measure, of better means and higher social standing than those of Jona. The absence of the name of the latter suggests the inference that he was no longer living.
The sacrifice of the disciples seems, perhaps, small as compared with others in the history of saints; yet to leave all, to give up the life of home, and its regular occupations, requires, in any case, an effort more or less heroic; and beyond it there lay the future, as yet undiscerned, with all its possible trials and sufferings, to which, by that one act, they pledged themselves. (Comp. 19:27.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘And they immediately left the boat and their father, and followed him.’
Responding to the same voice of authority they left their boat and their father and followed Him. So whether it was nets, boats or family, all had to take second place to Jesus. Thus was revealed that there was a shout of a king among them (Num 23:21). It was recognised that here was One Who had the right to commandeer men’s lives. Other teachers gained a following from those who chose to follow them. It was only Jesus Who claimed the right to demand it of whom He would, demonstrating that He saw His position and ministry as unique. These men had already previously entered under the Kingly Rule of Heaven, but now they were brought to see that that commitment must be total.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
Ver. 22. And they immediately left the ship and their father ] These were wise merchants that parted with all to purchase the pearl of price. So did many martyrs, and knew they made a saver’s bargain. Nicholas Shetterden writeth thus in a letter to his mother (Acts and Mon.): “Whatever state your fathers are in, leave that to God, and let us follow the counsel of his word. Dear mother, embrace it with hearty affection; read it with obedience; let it be your pastime, &c. So shall we meet in joy at the last day: or else I bid you farewell for evermore.” So Nicholas of Jenvile (a young man newly come from Geneva) was condemned to die, and sat in the cart. His father coming with a staff would have beaten him. But the officers, not suffering it, would have struck the old man. The son, crying to the officers, desired them to let his father alone, saying he had power over him to do in that kind what he would; but Christ was dearer to him than the dearest friend on earth, &c. That of St Jerome is well known to most, and often alleged: “If my father stood weeping on his knees before me, my mother hanging on my neck behind me, and all my brethren, sisters, children, kinsfolk, howling on every side, to retain me in a sinful life with them, I would fling my mother to the ground, despite all my kindred, run over my father, and tread him under my feet, thereby to run to Christ when he calleth me.” Rebezies and Danvile, two French martyrs, having been sorely racked, at night rejoiced together. After that Rebezies cried twice or thrice, “Away from me, Satan.” His fellow being in bed with him asked why he cried, and whether Satan would stop him from his course? Rebezies said that Satan set before him his parents, “but by the grace of God,” said he, “he shall do nothing against me.” (Acts and Mon.)
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Mat 4:22 . . They too followed immediately, leaving nets, ship, and father ( vide Mar 1:20 ) behind.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Mat 10:37, Deu 33:9, Deu 33:10, Mar 1:20, Luk 9:59, Luk 9:60, Luk 14:26, Luk 14:33, 2Co 5:16
Reciprocal: 1Ki 19:20 – he left Isa 30:33 – Tophet Joh 21:2 – the sons Act 12:2 – James
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
4:22
This contains the fuller statement referred to in verse 20; the brothers left the ship and their father. This would not have been necessary if nothing but information were the object. It would be taken for granted that they could not follow Jesus without leaving their father as well as all other objects at home. The lesson is that love for earthly relatives should not be regarded above service for Christ.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mat 4:22. These two brothers straightway obeyed, leaving their father also. He was probably not poor, as he had hired servants (Mar 1:20). The lesson, more plainly taught elsewhere, is: Renounce every human tie, if necessary, to follow Christ. Yet human ties are not severed by following Christ. The brothers remained brethren in the Lord, and these four companions in fishing were joined most closely as fishers of men. Comp. Mar 13:3.