Matthew 4:20 kjv
And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
Matthew 4:20 nkjv
They immediately left their nets and followed Him.
Matthew 4:20 niv
At once they left their nets and followed him.
Matthew 4:20 esv
Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
Matthew 4:20 nlt
And they left their nets at once and followed him.
Matthew 4 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 4:18-19 | As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers… “Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fishers of men.” | The preceding call to the disciples. |
| Mk 1:16-20 | Passing along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew… they immediately left their nets and followed him. He called James and John… | Parallel account of their immediate call. |
| Lk 5:10-11 | When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. | Parallel account; emphasizes "everything." |
| Mt 10:37 | Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me… | Demands absolute priority to Jesus. |
| Lk 14:26-27 | If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children… he cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not bear… | The high cost of discipleship. |
| Lk 9:57-62 | “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens… another said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” | Contrast with those who hesitated or made excuses. |
| Mt 16:24 | Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” | Defining genuine discipleship. |
| Mt 19:27-29 | Then Peter said to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” | Peter's later reflection on their sacrifice. |
| Php 3:7-8 | But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth… | Paul's radical surrender for Christ. |
| Isa 6:8 | And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” | Prophet Isaiah's immediate obedience to call. |
| Jer 1:4-5 | The word of the Lord came to me: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed…” | God's specific call to individuals. |
| Jn 1:43 | The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” | Another instance of Jesus calling disciples. |
| Acts 4:13 | Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John… they recognized that they had been with Jesus. | Evidence of Peter's transformation through following. |
| Gen 12:1-4 | The Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country… I will make you into a great nation…” So Abram went, as the Lord had told him… | Abraham's immediate obedience to God's call to leave. |
| 2 Sam 6:10-11 | So David would not take the ark of the Lord into the City of David but took it instead to the house of Obed-Edom… the Lord blessed… | Blessing follows prompt obedience. |
| Heb 11:8 | By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place… and he went out, not knowing where he was going. | Faith as the foundation for obedience and departure. |
| Ps 37:3 | Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. | Call to trust God in all circumstances. |
| Lk 18:22 | Jesus said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven…” | Call to give up wealth for spiritual treasure. |
| Jas 4:7 | Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. | Submission to God's authority. |
| Jn 12:26 | If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. | Following Jesus is service rewarded by the Father. |
| Rev 14:4 | These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. | Ultimate picture of faithful followers. |
| Deut 6:5 | You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. | Total devotion as the essence of following Him. |
Matthew 4 verses
Matthew 4 20 Meaning
Matthew 4:20 depicts the prompt and complete surrender of Simon (Peter) and Andrew to Jesus' divine calling. Upon hearing Jesus' invitation to become "fishers of men," they immediately forsook their established livelihood—their fishing nets—and committed themselves to follow Him as disciples. This act signifies a radical change of allegiance, prioritizing the Kingdom of Heaven over worldly security and former life.
Matthew 4 20 Context
Matthew chapter 4 initiates Jesus' public ministry following His temptation in the wilderness. He withdraws to Galilee (vv. 12-16) in fulfillment of prophecy, beginning to preach His foundational message: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (v. 17). This sets the stage for the direct call to His first disciples. Verses 18-19 detail Jesus walking by the Sea of Galilee and finding Simon Peter and Andrew, who are casting their nets as fishermen. Jesus issues a clear, authoritative command: "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:20 describes their immediate and definitive response to this revolutionary call. The subsequent verses (21-22) detail the similar, unhesitating call and response of James and John. The chapter then broadens to describe Jesus' extensive ministry of teaching, preaching, and healing throughout Galilee (vv. 23-25), demonstrating the burgeoning impact of His work initiated by these first disciples. Culturally, fishing was a laborious and often meager livelihood; abandoning it meant foregoing their inherited trade, community ties, and financial stability, requiring profound trust in Jesus.
Matthew 4 20 Word analysis
- They: Refers specifically to Simon (Peter) and Andrew (Mt 4:18), two brothers who were working fishermen. This collective pronoun highlights their unified and shared response to Jesus' personal invitation.
- immediately (εὐθέως, euthéōs): Denotes an instant, unhesitating, and decisive action. There was no delay, deliberation, or request for further consideration. This word is key to understanding the depth of their obedience and the compelling power of Jesus' call. It contrasts sharply with those who make excuses or ask for postponement (Lk 9:59-62).
- left (ἀφέντες, aphentes): An aorist participle, conveying a complete and definitive act of relinquishment or abandonment. It implies letting go of their previous life, profession, and source of income. It signifies a profound break with their past for a new future.
- their nets (τὰ δίκτυα, ta diktya): These were not merely tools but their livelihood, their means of provision, their family business, and their social identity. Leaving their nets represented forsaking their entire worldly security and way of life. The possessive "their" emphasizes personal sacrifice.
- and: A simple conjunction connecting two profound actions, showing the direct cause-and-effect relationship: leaving in order to follow. The abandonment of the old enabled the embracing of the new.
- followed (ἠκολούθησαν, ēkolouthēsan): An aorist indicative, pointing to a completed action. It signifies not just walking physically behind Jesus, but a commitment to become His disciple, aligning their lives with His teachings, purpose, and mission. This term embodies submission to His authority and learning from Him.
- Him: Refers exclusively to Jesus, the Christ. Following "Him" distinguishes this call from merely following a spiritual teacher; it is a commitment to the divine Son of God, the one who brings the Kingdom of Heaven.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- They immediately: This pairing emphasizes the instantaneous and unhesitating nature of their response. It conveys a ready obedience that stemmed either from prior knowledge of Jesus or from the undeniable authority perceived in His voice and presence.
- left their nets: This phrase powerfully encapsulates their radical commitment. It signifies a tangible, costly separation from their former way of life, economic security, and self-reliance. This act demonstrated profound trust and faith in Jesus' provision and purpose for them.
- and followed Him: This second phrase reveals the purpose of the first. Leaving was not an end in itself but the necessary prerequisite for the new commitment. Their departure from their past allowed for a single-minded dedication to Jesus and His call to discipleship, transforming their lives' trajectory.
Matthew 4 20 Bonus section
The spontaneous response of Simon and Andrew, as well as James and John in the following verses, challenges the typical Rabbinic method of discipleship, where students would choose a rabbi. Here, Jesus chooses them, displaying His unique authority. The simplicity of their calling — fishermen rather than educated scribes or Pharisees — underscores the counter-cultural nature of Jesus' movement, emphasizing divine election and spiritual receptivity over social status or prior religious training. Their ready abandonment of their daily toil to pursue a greater purpose exemplifies what it means to be truly available for God's work, trusting Him for their future, an act of faith foundational for all who aspire to follow Him sincerely.
Matthew 4 20 Commentary
Matthew 4:20 is a powerful paradigm of radical discipleship, illustrating the transformative power of Jesus' call and the required response. The promptness of their obedience, underscored by "immediately," is remarkable and sets the tone for genuine commitment. There was no hesitation, negotiation, or request for delay, reflecting either a preparedness of heart or an irresistible divine compulsion. By "leaving their nets," Simon and Andrew demonstrated an profound act of faith, sacrificing their very means of existence and financial security to trust in the unseen, yet greater, purpose Jesus presented. Their nets represented their identity, security, and familiar world; forsaking them symbolized a total relinquishment. The subsequent action of "following Him" signifies the embrace of a new life entirely centered on Jesus' Person, His teaching, and His mission. This sequence — renouncing the old to embrace the new — is central to Christian conversion and ongoing spiritual growth. It's a testament to the profound spiritual transformation initiated by a true encounter with Christ, calling for undivided allegiance and wholehearted dedication to the "fishing of men" and the advancement of God's Kingdom.