Episode Notes

Episode 92: Matthew 4 - Not the First Calling of the First Disciples

Feb 13, 2025 - Host: Dr. Gregory Hall

In this episode we finish Matthew chapter 4 by looking at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee and what some say is the calling of the first disciples. Did these men immediately leave everything in order to serve Jesus? We will discover… following Jesus might not be that simple, demanding, or immediate. All that and more in Episode 92 - Not the First Calling of the First Disciples

Resources Referenced and/or Read:

• Matthew Study Resources at the Rethinking Scripture Website: https://rethinkingscripture.com/matthew-study-resources/
• Here are a few resources regarding my first tour guide in Israel, Halvor Ronning.
  • Jerusalem Perspective Page with links to articles and blogs. https://www.jerusalemperspective.com/author/halvor-ronning/#:~:text=Halvor%20Ronning%20(B.A.%2C%20St.,Israel%20for%20over%20fifty%20years. 
  • The Importance of Biblical Geography: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOL5e3atnUs
  • Psalm 23 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2uOPUL6dQY
• New American Standard Bible: 1995 update (Mt 4:18–22). (1995). The Lockman Foundation.
• Marshall, I. H. (1994). Luke. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 989). Inter-Varsity Press.
• Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 16). Logos Research Systems, Inc.
• Martin, J. A. (1985). Luke. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 216). Victor Books.
  • The incident recorded here is obviously not the first time Jesus had been in contact with the men whom He called to be His disciples. Luke already had stated that Jesus had healed Simon’s mother-in-law which denotes previous contact with Simon and Andrew. This seems to be at least the third time Jesus had contact with these men. In John 1:41 Andrew told Peter that he had found the Messiah. Apparently the men at first did not follow Jesus on a “full-time” basis, for in Mark 1:16–20 (also Matt. 4:18–22) Jesus called Simon, Andrew, James, and John. Mark recorded that that call was before Jesus entered the synagogue in Capernaum and healed a man who was demon-possessed. It is no wonder Peter invited Jesus home after the synagogue incident. Now, sometime later, Peter and the others were still fishermen. It was at this point, now that Jesus had established His authority (Luke 4:31–44), that He called these men to full-time discipleship.1

Show Music:

• Intro/Outro - "Growth" by Armani Delos Santos
• Transition Music - produced by Jacob A. Hall

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