ACC ~ Matthew 4 v19

HOW JESUS CALLED HIS FIRST DISCIPLES

CHRYSOSTOM: “And they left their nets, and followed him.” [1] And yet John (the Evangelist) says that they were called in a different way. [2] From this it is evident that this was a second call. One may conclude this from several evidences. For there it is said that they came to him when “John had not yet been thrown into prison”; [3] but here it says after he was in confinement. And there Andrew calls Peter, but here Jesus calls both. On the one hand, John says, “Jesus saw Simon coming and said, ‘You are Simon, the Son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas, which is translated Peter.’” [4] On the other hand, Matthew says that he was already called by that name, for he says, “Seeing Simon who was called Peter.” … In the other instance, Andrew is seen coming into his house and hearing many things. But here, having heard one brief call, they both followed immediately. When they earlier had seen that John was in prison and that Jesus was withdrawing, it would not have been unnatural for them to return again to their own craft, fishing, having followed him at the beginning and then later having left him to fish. Accordingly, you now see that Jesus finds them actively fishing. But he neither resisted them at first when they desired to withdraw from him, nor having withdrawn themselves, did he let them go altogether. He gave way when they moved aside from him and came again to win them back. This, after all, is exactly what fishing is all about. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 14. [5]

[1] Mt 4:20.

[2] The Gospel of John recounts the call of the first apostle in a different manner (Jn 1:35-40). Chrysostom harmonizes the two accounts, admitting of two distinct calls, the first of which is described in John.

[3] Jn 3:24.

[4] Jn 1:42.

[5] PG 57:218-19; NPNF 1 10:87-88**. The variant Gospel accounts should be understood as reflecting the nature of fishing itself. If the fish escape, one doesn’t stop fishing. They are apt to be caught again.

WHY THE LORD CHOSE FISHERMEN

CHROMATIUS: Here they proved that they were true sons of Abraham, because by a similar pattern they followed the Savior on hearing God’s voice. For they immediately gave up hope of material advantage that they might seek eternal rewards. They left behind their earthly father that they might have a heavenly Father, and hence not undeservedly were they chosen. So the Lord chose fishermen who in a better way of plying their fishing trade were converted from earthly to heavenly fishing, that they might catch the human race for salvation like fish from the deep waters of error, according to what the Lord himself said to them: “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” It was the very same thing he had promised through Jeremiah the prophet: “Behold, I am sending for many fishers, says the Lord, and they shall catch them; and afterward I will send for many hunters and they shall hunt them.” [1] So we see that the apostles are called not only fishermen but also hunters: fishermen, for in the nets of gospel preaching they catch all believers like fish in the world; hunters, for they catch for salvation by heavenly hunting those people who are roving in this world as though in the woods of error and who are living like wild animals. TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 16.2. [2]

[1] Jer 16:16.

[2] CCL 9a:264.

FISHERS OF MEN

ANONYMOUS: “And he said to them, ‘Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’” That is, I will make you teachers, so that with the net of God’s Word you may catch people in this delusive world, [1] a world fluctuating and frenetic, unstable, treacherous and always dangerous, and never safe for anyone, where people do not walk but are borne along as though against their will.

The devil’s wrath made clever use of the instability of strong desire. He lied to them that their will would be accomplished. He took delight in impelling them to evil deeds, so they may feed upon each other like big fish eating the weaker fish, lest having been removed from the water they live on the fruitful land of the body of Christ. Otherwise, having been made limbs of Christ’s body, they could have lived on the fruitful earth, on the sweet and ever tranquil earth, where there is no storm that brews destruction, except perhaps for the testing of their faith and the flowering of their patience. In that body people walk safely, not being coerced. They do not devour each other but support each other.

Behold, I am not handing over to you a new gospel. It is not like another net woven with numerous narrations billowing here and there like waves of various opinions and indispensable parables, admirable virtues and manifold teachings, and bound by threats of judgments and promises of happiness. It is not made of rigid ties, or highlighted by predictions or the knowledge of occult thinking, or confessions of devils and resurrections of the dead, in order for its secure texture to diligently hold rational people captive and prevent them from exiting by any means as through some fissure overlooked by the Holy Spirit who wove that net. INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 7. [2]

[1] The symbolism sea=earth is of general and frequent use in ancient scriptural exegesis.

[2] PG 56:674-75.

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