Larger Thought Unit
Today’s short reading introduces Jesus’ beginning ministry to Israel, a major section in the gospel of Matthew (4:17-16:20). The calling of disciples in the text is short and abrupt with the command to “follow me.” Christ is pictured as taking the initiative in the form of a command with the focus on “catching people.” Here the nature of Christ’s mission is revealed and finds its complement in last week’s reading from Matthew 10 and ultimately in the last “command” in Matthew’s gospel to go and make disciples of all nations” (28:19). So what appears to start as a narrow focus to Israel will end with the “nations/gentiles” as the place of harvest.
Notes
The Sea of Galilee is a stand-in for the Roman/Mediterranean Sea and represents the Roman empire where Jews and Gentiles live together and to whom the gospel is to be preached: to the Jews by Peter and to the Gentiles by Paul (Gal 2:7-8). However, since it is one and the same gospel (Gal 2:7-8; also 1:6-7), the fellowship between Jews and Gentiles is supposed to be complete. This Peter ends up betraying (Gal 2:11-14). The stress on the acceptance of the Gentiles as they are is reflected in today’s gospel reading in that not only is Simon [a Hebrew name] introduced also as Peter [a Greek name from the same root as “rock”], but also he is coupled with his brother Andrew [also a Greek name, meaning the “manly” one]. Thus Peter, Paul’s counterpart, is presented as having fully accepted the apostolic mission entrusted to him, as is clear from his reaction: “Immediately they left their nets and followed him.” So do James and John. This reflects the three pillars’ endorsement of the Pauline gospel and apostleship (Gal 2:9). Jesus leads the way into (the) “Galilee” (of the nations), the Roman empire, where the gospel of the kingdom (see Rom 14:17; 1 Cor 4:20; 6:9-10; 15:24, 50; Gal 5:21; Eph 5:5; Col 1:13; 4:11; 1 Thess 2:12; 2 Thess 1:5) is preached also in the synagogues, bringing healing to the “people,” i.e., the Jews, just as it does to the nations (Rev 22:2). Notice also the use of μαλακίαν (infirmity) in Mt 4:23, which is from the same root as μαλακοὶ... That is part of a series of attributes typical of the Gentile Corinthians and appears in conjunction with the “kingdom of God” (1 Cor 6:9-10).
Further resource
David E. Garland, Reading Matthew, Crossroad Publishing Company, NY, NY, 1995; pp. 46ff.
Paul Nadim Tarazi, New Testament Introduction, Vol.1: Paul and Mark, St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, Crestwood, NY, 1999; pp.141-43.
Paul Nadim Tarazi, New Testament Introduction, Vol.2: Luke and Acts, St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, Crestwood, NY, 2001; pp.49-50.
Paul Nadim Tarazi, New Testament Introduction, Vol.3: Johannine Writings, St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, Crestwood, NY, 2004; pp.258-63.