February 26, 2023
Matthew 4:12-22
“Turn and Follow”
Service Overview: The way of Jesus means turning from something we once were, to something far greater than we can ever imagine.
Memory Verse for the Week:
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 (NIV)
Background Insights:
- In Jesus’ day, disciples would attach themselves to a rabbi to promote themselves. Discipleship could be a step up the ladder toward greater status and position. But this wasn’t the case with these early disciples; they were stepping down the ladder. They would eventually find this out when the One they were following was tried and killed. (David Platt, Exalting Jesus in Matthew, 94)
- The Sea of Galilee (named from the district), otherwise known as the “Lake of Gennesaret” (the name “Kinnereth” [Num 34:11; Josh 12:3] comes from a plain on its northwest shore; cf. Matt 14:34), or the “Sea of Tiberias” (a city Herod built on the southwest shore: John 6:1; 21:1), is 12 by 8 miles at the longest and broadest points respectively. Its surface is 682 feet below sea level. It is subject to violent squalls. In Jesus’ day it supported flourishing fisheries; on its west shore were nine towns, and “Bethsaida” may be freely translated “Fishtown.” (D. A. Carson, The Expositor’s Bible commentary: Matthew, 119)
- “Syria” refers to an area in northern Galilee. “Decapolis” means “ten cities” and was a district made up of ten cities originally built by followers of Alexander the Great. The Decapolis was in the northeastern part of Galilee. “Beyond Jordan” means Perea, the area east of the Jordan. News traveled fast, and those who had afflicted friends or family members brought them to Jesus for healing. (Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, 17)
- 4:21-22. Fishermen had more income than average people in Galilee, so James and John were not leaving their job just because it did not pay well. More than that, however, they suddenly left behind their father and the family business; such abandonment could easily bring them dishonor in the community. (Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, 64)
- Capernaum was an important settlement on the northwestern shore of the lake, and the presence there of a centurion (8:5) and a customs post (9:9) indicates that it was a local administrative center. The population in the first century was perhaps as high as ten thousand, substantially bigger than Nazareth. (R.T. France, The New International Commentary on the New Testament: Matthew, 184)
- We learn from the apostle John (1:19—4:42) that about a year elapsed between Jesus’ wilderness temptations and the events recorded in Matthew 4:12-17. Probably because it does not relate directly to Jesus’ kingship, that period is not mentioned by Matthew. (John MacArthur, New Testament Commentary: Matthew 1-28, 131)
What important things do we see from Jesus in this text?
- His resolve to fulfill the plan playing out.
(vv. 12-16 | Gen. 3:15; 12:3; 17:19; Ex. 12:13, Lev. 17:11; Num. 21:9; Deut. 21:23; Job 19:23-27; Ps. 2:7; 8:2; 22:1; Is. 7:14; 9:1-2; 12:2; 28:16; 42:6; Jer. 23:5-6; 31:22; Mic 5:2)
Matthew is not interested in the mere fact that some prophecy was fulfilled in Galilee but in this particular prophecy: from of old the Messiah was promised to “Galilee of the Gentiles” (ton ethnon), a foreshadowing of the commission to “all nations” (panta ta ethne, 28:19). Moreover, if the messianic light dawns on the darkest places, then Messiah’s salvation can only be a bestowal of grace – namely, that Jesus came to call, not the righteous, but sinners (9:13). (D. A. Carson, The Expositor’s Bible commentary: Matthew, 117)
- The call he makes to all: repent.
(v. 17 | Ez. 18:32; Mat. 3:2; Mark 1:15; Luke 5:32; 24:47; Acts 3:19; 17:30; 2 Pet. 3:9)
The very first word out of Jesus’ mouth in His ministry is clear: repent. It’s the same word that John the Baptist proclaims in preparation for Jesus’ coming. This word is also the foundation for the first Christian sermon in the book of Acts. After Peter proclaims the good news of Christ’s death for sin, the crowds ask him, “What shall we do?” Peter looks them right in their eyes and says, “Repent.” (David Platt, Follow Me, 19)
- The reason for this call: the nearness of the kingdom.
(v. 17 | Mark 1:15; John 18:36; Rom. 14:17-18; 1 Cor. 4:20; 6:9-10; 2 Cor. 5:17; Heb. 12:28)
In the New Testament, the word kingdom means “rule, reign, authority” rather than a place or a specific realm. The phrase “kingdom of heaven” refers to the rule of God. The Jewish leaders wanted a political leader who would deliver them from Rome, but Jesus came to bring spiritual rule to the hearts of people. (Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, 18)
- His chosen means of building this kingdom: following and fishing.
(v. 19 | Mat. 16:24; 28:19-20; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23; John 8:12; 12:26; 15:8; Acts 1:8)
[Jesus] is a Ruler, the King who lays claim absolutely upon men’s lives, saying, Follow me. He is a Leader, who says to follow, not simply to go! He does not impose a burden He will not himself carry, or demand a labor He will not himself perform. And He is a Maker, who promises, I will make you fishers of men. (William McCumber, Beacon Bible Expositions, Volume 1, 32)
Every follower of Jesus is a fisher of men. Using imagery that was familiar to their vocation, Jesus was calling the disciples to a mission. Instead of searching for fish all over the lake, they would spread the gospel all over the world. (David Platt, Exalting Jesus in Matthew, 99)
Conclusion… What is the way of Jesus in light of this?
A. Turning from old to new, death to life.
(John 5:24; Jon 8:12; Rom. 2:4; 5:10; 6:4; 6:13; 6:23; 12:2; 2 Cor. 5:17; 1 John 1:9; 3:14)
Repentance is one of the most positive words in the Christian vocabulary! It refers to turning from a destructive path and moving instead into God’s abundant life. (Richard Blackaby, Corporate Hindrances to Revival, Commentary, v. 2, n. 2)
Scripture considers repentance a path to liberation, not condemnation. (Edward Welch, Blame in on the Brain, 123)
Repentance is more than just sorrow for the past; repentance is a change of mind and heart, a new life of denying self and serving the Savior as king in self’s place. (J.I. Packer, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, 71)
B. Learning from, and living life for, Jesus.
(Rom. 14:8; 2 Cor. 5:15; Gal. 2:20; Eph. 4:1; 5:8; Phil. 1:21; Col. 1:10; Thes. 2:12; 4:7)
Matthew is clear that to follow Jesus means to live with radical abandonment for His glory. (David Platt, Exalting Jesus in Matthew, 94)
A disciple is literally a follower, a pupil, a learner, an apprentice. He is one who has dedicated not only to follow his master but also to become like Him. (Dann Spader, Growing a Healthy Church, 18)
You are to follow no man further than he follows Christ. (John Collins, A Puritan Golden Treasury, 52)
Repentance is a costly call to fundamentally say no to who you are (in your sin) in order to find an entirely new identity in who He is. (David Platt, Counter Culture, 177)
C. Joining the expedition; fishing for what matters.
(Mat. 4:19; 5:15-16; 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; 2 Cor. 5:20; Col. 4:2-6; 1 Peter 3:15)
That calling to bear fruit in evangelism is extended to everyone who belongs to Jesus Christ. The called ones are themselves to become callers. (John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Matthew 1-28, 145)
Churches don’t need programs so much as they need cultures of discipling, cultures where each member prioritizes the spiritual health of others. (Mark Dever, Discipling, 68)
We should not allow people to see the church as a weekly service they attend to make God happy. The gathering of the church is preparation for heavenly battle. We “huddle together” for a few minutes each week to worship God together and build each other up so that each of us can more effectively run the “missional play” throughout the week. (J.D. Greear, Gaining by Losing, 106)
Gospel Application…
Jesus came to call all to a life of turning to, trusting in, and following him. Have you done this? Are you doing this?
(Mark 8:34; John 8:12; 12:26; 14:6; Acts 2:38; 17:30; 20:24; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 John 1:9)
If you wish to come into God’s kingdom, therefore, you must ask God to rescue you “from the dominion of darkness” and bring you “into the kingdom of the Son He loves” (Col. 1:13) You must renounce your deal with the devil and swear allegiance to Christ the King. You must say, in the beautiful words of hymn writer Frances Havergal, “Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne.” (Philip Graham Ryken, When You Pray, 84)
What is repentance? It is turning from the sins you love to the holy God you’re called to love. It is admitting that you’re not God. It is beginning to value Jesus more than your immediate pleasure. It is giving up those things the Bible calls sin and leaving them to follow Jesus. (Mark Dever, The Gospel and Personal Evangelism, 57)
Spiritual Challenge Questions…
Reflect on these questions in your time with the Lord this week, or discuss with a Christian family member or Life Group.
- How would your friends and coworkers answer the question, “Who is Jesus?”
- In light of who Jesus is, why do mere church attendance and casual association with Him not make sense?
- How would you explain what it means to “repent” to someone who had never heard the term?
- If following Jesus is costly, what might that look like practically in our own culture? How might this look different in other cultures and contexts?
Quotes to note…
God is our greatest treasure, and our lives will count on earth only when we invest them in His kingdom for eternity. (David Platt, Counter Culture, 41)
True repentance is no light matter: it is a thorough change of heart about sin, a change showing itself in godly sorrow for sin—in heart-felt confession of sin—in a complete breaking off from sinful habits, and an abiding hatred of all sin. (J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on Matthew, 21)
Jesus Christ came not only to make man sensitive again to sin, but to restore the life and health that sin has destroyed. He came not only to reveal the darkness that sin causes, but also to bring the light that overcomes the darkness. (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Matthew 1-28, 131)
Let us note that our Lord does not name gifts or miracles or intellectual attainments as the evidence of discipleship, but love, the simple grace of love, a grace within reach of the poorest, lowliest believer, as the evidence of discipleship. If we have no love, we have no grace, no regeneration, no true Christianity! (J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, John 13:34-35)
God has to take our eyes off our kingdom before He can build His. (J.D. Greear, Gaining by Losing, 41)
The kingdom of heaven is worth infinitely more than the cost of discipleship, and those who know where the treasure lies joyfully abandon everything else to secure it. (D.A. Carson, Matthew, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, 328)
You are not in a holding pattern waiting for eternity. This life has meaning and purpose. There is a kingdom you have been called to be a part of. It’s called the Kingdom of God and God wants you to invest in His kingdom. (Paul David Tripp, Anger is a Story sermon, James 1:1-27)
We cannot be sincere when we pray “Thy kingdom come” unless we are doing what we can to hasten the coming of that kingdom – by our gifts, our prayers and our service. (The Kneeling Christian, circa 1930, ch. 11.)
Other things may be the worse for breaking, yet a heart is never at the best till it be broken. (Richard Baker, A Puritan Golden Treasury, 238)
Again and again, God’s Word reveals that He is not as concerned about the depth or extent of the sin we commit as He is about our attitude and response when we are confronted with our sin. (Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Brokenness: The Heart God Revives, 67)
Man cannot be righteous in God’s sight until he repents of his own expectation that he can be righteous in his own sight. God is not mighty toward man until man is weak toward God. (Edward Carnell, Christian Commitment, 302)
Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, in saying, Repent Ye, intended that the whole of the life of believers should be repentance. (Martin Luther, First of 95 Theses)