He went on from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee,
and his brother John, in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.
Jesus called them. At once, they left the boat, and their father, and followed him.
REFLECTION:
It is no accident that Matthew places the Sermon on the Mount at the beginning of
Jesus’ ministry, because Matthew emphasizes Jesus’ teaching ministry.
Chapter 4 prepares us to hear the Sermon on the Mount by emphasizing that
Christ has brought us into the light (4:16), by calling us to repentance (4:17),
by telling us about the call of the first disciples (4:18-22), and by giving Jesus’
teaching ministry precedence over his preaching and healing ministries (4:23).
In verses 18 - 19 is the calling of the first set of disciples.
Some scholars would consider this not simply a presentation of the Jesus having disciples.
Boring considers this Jesus’ first miracle. Just as God’s word created the world,
so also Jesus’ word creates disciples–creates faith (Boring, 169-170).
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