They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.
Parallel translations
- WEB They immediately left the boat and their father, and followed him.
- KJV And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
- BSB and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him.
- NKJV and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.
- NASB Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
James and John at once leave the boat and their father to follow Jesus. It again displays the cost and readiness of true discipleship.
Overview
Like Peter and Andrew, these brothers respond immediately, leaving both their work and their father. Following Christ may require setting aside even good and natural ties when He calls. Their obedience demonstrates that allegiance to Jesus rightly takes first place in a disciple's life.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Matt 10:37He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me.
- Deut 33:9–10He said of his father, and of his mother, ‘I have not seen him.’ He didn’t acknowledge his brothers, nor did he know his own children; for they have observed your word, and keep your covenant.
- Luke 14:26“If anyone comes to me, and doesn’t disregard his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he can’t be my disciple.
- Luke 9:59–60He said to another, “Follow me!” But he said, “Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.”
- Mark 1:20Immediately he called them, and they left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.
- 2 Cor 5:16Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more.
- Luke 14:33So therefore whoever of you who doesn’t renounce all that he has, he can’t be my disciple.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 4:22 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.