Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God reveals a major transition in Jesus’ ministry as He moves into Galilee, proclaims the kingdom, calls ordinary fishermen, and demonstrates authority through teaching, healing, and deliverance. Jesus establishes His work in Capernaum, fulfills prophecy, and calls disciples to leave their occupations and follow Him fully. The passage emphasizes timing, obedience, kingdom authority, and the cost of true discipleship.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25
Audio
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Scriptures used in the lesson:
Matthew 4:12–25, Hebrews 5:12–14, Hebrews 6:1–2, John 12:27, Luke 22:53, John 2:4, Matthew 4:13, Matthew 9:1, Mark 1:15, Matthew 4:14–16, Isaiah 9:1–2, Matthew 4:17, Luke 4:43, John 3:3, John 3:5, Acts 8:12, Acts 19:8, 2 Peter 1:11, Hebrews 12:28, Revelation 11:15, Revelation 11:15, Romans 14:17, Luke 17:20–21, Matthew 4:18–22, Matthew 13:47, Luke 5:9–11, Matthew 9:9, Acts 1:6–8, Acts 17:6, Matthew 4:22, Matthew 4:23, Matthew 10:7–8, Acts 8:6–8, Acts 8:12, Luke 10:9–12, Luke 10:15, Matthew 9:35, Luke 10:17–18,
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
Chapter 4. Let’s look at Matthew 4:12-25.
Matthew 4:12–25 — A New Section in the Ministry of Jesus
Matthew 4:12–25
12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;
13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
A New Phase in the Ministry of Jesus
Matthew 4:12-25 marks a new time in the ministry of Jesus Christ. The beginning phase of His ministry had ended, and now it was time to proclaim the message that was in His heart. John the Baptist had been cast into prison, and knowing the time was not yet right, Jesus established His headquarters in Capernaum—not Jerusalem, not Lafayette, and not Chattanooga.
In Capernaum, He ministered to those who were in darkness. He worked miracles, spoke the Word, healed the sick, and delivered the oppressed there, not in Jerusalem. From this point forward, kingdom authority would be released, and every rebellious spirit and thought would be required to bow.
The call then went out to fishermen who would become disciples and later apostles. These were not men known for courage, boldness, or deep learning, because they would later run when Jesus was arrested and would not understand the coming of Elijah. Jesus was not looking for education or bravery. He was seeking people willing to leave their occupations and, if necessary, family ties, and to seek first the kingdom of God.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
Jesus preached and taught the kingdom, and people from the entire region came because this message offered something real. They were not looking for an imitation; they wanted the real thing.
Structural Overview of Matthew 4 of our teaching
I divide this chapter into sections.
Verses 12–17 cover the beginning of the Galilean ministry.
Verses 23–25 focus on the message and its results.
The Importance of Timing and Chapter Divisions
In verse 12, it says, “Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, He departed into Galilee.” That is one of the locations I mentioned earlier. I believe a chapter division is warranted at this point. Chapter divisions are not anointed of God. Man added chapter divisions for our convenience, so we can locate passages, read together, and reference Scripture accurately.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
These divisions exist to help us navigate the text, not to define the flow of God’s revelation. If I were placing the chapter breaks, I would definitely put one here. This moment marks a significant transition in the ministry of Jesus, and I want you to see why that matters.
When Jesus heard that John had been imprisoned, about a year of His ministry had already taken place. Matthew moves from the baptism to the temptation, then leaves out roughly a year of ministry. He picks the narrative back up after the first year has passed.
John’s Gospel clarifies this. John 3:24 states that John had not yet been cast into prison. This means that everything recorded in John chapters 2 through 4 occurred during the first year of Jesus’ ministry. This explains the gap Matthew does not describe and helps us understand the timeline more accurately.
Galilee, Not Jerusalem
In that first year of ministry, you find the wedding at Cana of Galilee, where water was turned to wine. You also see the first cleansing of the temple and Jesus’ early visits to Jerusalem during the Passover season. Those events all occur before John the Baptist is imprisoned.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
Matthew then resumes the account after the first year has passed. When Jesus heard that John had been cast into prison, He departed into Galilee. That statement signals a transition point in the ministry that Matthew chooses to emphasize.
Why the Gospel Writers Differ
One reason I point this out is to help you understand why the Gospel writers do not always record the same events. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John each have reasons for what they include and what they omit. John, for example, records the wedding at Cana and the turning of water into wine, whereas the others do not, because John focuses on the first year of Jesus’ ministry, whereas Matthew does not.
These accounts are not in conflict; they work together. As we move forward, you will see how they complement one another. It is vital to grasp that chapter divisions are not anointed. I become especially frustrated when a chapter break interrupts the flow, as in 1 Thessalonians 4, where the rapture is described at the end of the chapter and chapter 5 suddenly shifts to judgment, even though the thought is continuous.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
One thing I have never understood is where people get a seven-year gap from that passage in 1 Thessalonians. When the apostle Paul wrote it, he did not stop and say, “That’s all for now, and we’ll pick this up seven years later in the next chapter.” The coming of the Lord and the judgment are presented as part of the same flow of thought.
Hebrews gives us another clear example of this. At the end of chapter five, the writer rebukes them for still needing milk when they should be teachers and eating solid food. Chapter six then moves straight into the foundations, not as a new subject, but as a response to that rebuke. Those foundations are reviewed because spiritual immaturity necessitates it, showing again how chapter divisions interrupt a continuous message.
Hebrews 5:12–14
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
Hebrews 6:1–2
1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
There is no change of thought in the passage, but there should be a chapter division at Matthew 4:12. This marks the beginning of the Galilean ministry. Jesus is leaving the Jordan region and moving into Galilee, and that shift signals a new phase in His ministry.
Jesus’ Focus on Galilee Rather Than Jerusalem
As I studied this, it really stood out to me in a new way. I had always assumed Jesus spent most of His time in Jerusalem, around the Pharisees and Sadducees. I thought that was the center of His ministry. What I discovered is that most of His miracles, most of His teaching, and most of the places He went were not centered in Jerusalem. They were in Galilee, especially around Capernaum and Nazareth. Pharisees and Sadducees are everywhere.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
This alters how I view it. Galilee, Nazareth, and Capernaum were not large cities. Jerusalem was a major city with numerous religious institutions, and Capernaum had religious influence as well, but the ministry’s focus remained on smaller places. That powerfully speaks to me.
What I want us to see is that God is in Lafayette. We do not have to go to Atlanta, Chattanooga, or even Tulsa to encounter God. He is here. That helps me because I do not need to travel somewhere special or have a well-known minister lay hands on me. God is in Lafayette, and this city has plenty of darkness. A light needs to shine here, and we are that light.
The Transition From Preparation to Ministry
This moment marks a new section in the ministry of Jesus Christ. The preparation season has ended, and the time for ministry has come. He had spent about a year talking, teaching, and interacting with different people. Now God suddenly thrusts Him fully into ministry.
I remember flying back from San Antonio, Texas, after a seminar Judy and I attended with the Assemblies of God. On that plane, the Lord spoke clearly to me and said, “You have talked about this long enough. Now it is time.” Shortly after that, I found myself in Lafayette, GA. God does that. Suddenly, it is time. There is a moment when preparation ends, and action begins.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
The Identification of Jesus Christ
What I want you to see is that the beginning of Jesus’ ministry had ended. His inauguration was complete. He had been fully identified as who He was. From Matthew 1:1, He is declared the Son of David and the Son of Abraham. The wise men identified Him as a King and came to worship Him.
Later, the prophet Simeon identified Him as the Lord’s Christ. At His baptism, John the Baptist identified Him as the Son of God when the Spirit descended and remained upon Him. The Holy Spirit confirmed this by coming down like a dove. The Father Himself identified Jesus with a voice from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Even the devil identified Him. Satan knew exactly who Jesus was, and he knows who you are as well. By this point, Jesus had been identified from every direction. The beginning had ended, and it was time to fully enter ministry.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
Identification and the Church Today
Now think about how that applies to us as a fellowship, as a church, and in this area. Have we been identified? We have been identified by people, but more importantly, the Holy Spirit dwells here and moves at our altars. The Father has spoken to us through His Word and through prophets He has sent. And yes, the devil knows we are here. He has already shown up.
What I want you to see is that Jesus was identified in each of those ways, and our church has been identified in the same ways. Now think about your personal life. Has your life been identified in all those aspects? Does the devil have your address? If you are coming into the image and nature of Jesus Christ, you will be identified just as He was.
The Cost of Real Ministry
John the Baptist was cast into prison. This has always amazed me, no matter how many times I have taught it. Real ministry often ends up in prison. That is frightening, but it is also consistent throughout Scripture. Joseph was in prison. Samson was in prison. Jeremiah was in prison. Peter, John, Paul, and Silas were in prison. Even Jesus was imprisoned.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
Those men stood for something. They confronted the enemies of the kingdom of God. Think about how they would speak today on issues like abortion or pornography. Real ministry takes a stand and does not back down, even when the cost is prison. John the Baptist was imprisoned because he confronted Herod’s adultery and immorality.
Understanding the Hour and the Timing of God
When you confront systems, Herod, or the carnal mind, there will be resistance. People will want to silence you. Do not be surprised if standing for truth brings persecution, even to the point of imprisonment.
Jesus departed. He was not afraid, and He did not think they would get him next. He understood the moment and the hour in which He was living. Jesus was always aware of timing. In John 12:27, Jesus states explicitly that the hour is at hand and that the Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of sinners.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
John 12:27
Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
And in Luke 22:53, it talks about this is your hour and the power of darkness.
Luke 22:53
When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.
John 2:4 talks about time.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
John 2:4
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
The Question of Our Hour
I want to project this thought to us: what is the purpose for us being right here where we are right now, this hour? What is the purpose that’s going to follow this?
I have to ask whether we are just going to be another church in Lafayette. Are we only a group that meets on Sundays and Wednesdays, has a few suppers, and sends kids to camp? I cannot believe that is all we are here for. The world lives for one purpose: to make a buck and check out. That is the only hour it knows.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
Jesus came with a clear purpose for His hour. He said, “For this purpose I was sent for this hour.” That forces the question for my life, your life, and this fellowship. What is our hour about? Surely it is more than just meeting, getting a few people saved, baptized, and filled with the Holy Spirit. There has to be more than that.
I believe God has placed us here to be a light in a dark place. He has called us to stand against the enemies of the kingdom of God. We are to be a voice crying in the wilderness like John the Baptist, but also to go beyond that voice. We are to lay hands on people, see them healed, saved, and filled, and still address the issues of our day.
God wants a light in this city that will confront abortion, pornography, secular humanism, and other enemies of the kingdom. He wants someone who will stand and say what is right and what is wrong. There must be more to our calling than simply gathering on Sundays. We need to understand what our hour truly is.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
Jesus Establishes His Headquarters
Jesus departed into Galilee. His hometown was Nazareth, where He was raised, but He did not base His ministry there. He passed through Nazareth and settled in Capernaum, where He established His headquarters. Verse 13 says He dwelt in Capernaum, meaning He resided there permanently.
Matthew 4:13
13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
Ministry Outside the Religious Metropolis
Capernaum became the base of His ministry. From that small city, not from Jerusalem, Jesus spoke His words and worked His miracles. The center of His ministry was not the large religious city, but a smaller, overlooked place, and that speaks powerfully to what God can do through us right where we are.
It was not in Atlanta, Chattanooga, or Tulsa. It was in a place like Lafayette that Jesus moved, ministered, and established His headquarters. He chose a region like this to work from and to reach the surrounding areas.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
There is a powerful Scripture that addresses this, and we will return to it in greater detail. Capernaum is called “His own city.” You see this in Matthew 9:1, and that verse really stands out to me. This small city became the center of His ministry.
Matthew 9:1
And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
Jesus was not raised in Capernaum. It was not His hometown, nor was it a major metropolis where one would expect a large ministry to be based. Yet this is where He chose to establish His headquarters. There was a clear attachment to that place.
If He had His own city, it suggests He may have had His own house. I really believe Jesus had a place to stay. He had a home base.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
This has ministered to me personally. Judy and I have been looking at houses and trying to find something workable for us. As I studied this, it struck me that Jesus entered a city and made it His own. He had to have a place where He lived and rested. We know He spent time in Peter’s house, but I believe Jesus also had His own place.
Miracles in a Small City
Capernaum is where Jesus established Himself. Many miracles came through him there. The centurion’s servant was healed there. Peter’s mother-in-law was healed there. The woman with the issue of blood was healed there. The ruler’s daughter was raised from the dead there. Blind eyes were opened, the withered hand was restored, demons were cast out, and the coin was found in the fish’s mouth. All these happened in Capernaum.
A great deal happened in that small city. I had always been programmed to think these things happened around the large metropolis of Jerusalem. They did not. They happened in Capernaum. That connects with me, because it feels like Lafayette. I can relate to that.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
Jesus regularly attended the synagogues in Capernaum, where He taught and preached. It was there that He delivered the powerful message about the Bread of Life in John chapter 6. Matthew 9:1 calls Capernaum His own city. Many of His greatest miracles and many of His most life-changing words were spoken there, not in Jerusalem.
Hendrickson’s Insight on Galilee
This gave me a new insight into Jesus and into His ministry. I want to read something here from Hendrickson because it helped frame this for me. He explains that it was in and around Galilee where Jesus spent most of His incarnate life on earth. This was where He grew up, traveled from village to village, and carried out works of mercy, pardon, comfort, and healing. Above all, this was where He sought to save the lost.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
Hendrickson notes that Jesus walked along the shores there, addressed the crowds, and gathered His disciples in that region. From northern Palestine, His words of life, beauty, admonition, and comfort spread far and wide. His influence flowed outward from that place, passed down from generation to generation.
Jesus did not spend most of His incarnate life in Jerusalem. It was not the large metropolis that defined His ministry. His focus was on Galilee, especially the smaller cities of Nazareth and Capernaum. He did not spend His time with the religious aristocracy of the Pharisees and Sadducees in Jerusalem. He spent His time with His disciples in Capernaum.
God’s Presence Among Ordinary People
That speaks to me because it tells me He loves His people in places like Lafayette. He was not drawn to the big cities. He was drawn to His home area, to where people lived, worked, and struggled. That ministers to me deeply.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
I believe the same is true today. You are not required to go to Atlanta, Chattanooga, or even Tulsa to find the Lord. You will find Him in the Lafayette places because you will find Him where ordinary people stand up and say, “We want righteousness.” We want to confront pornography, address abortion, and we want a clean city and a city where the kingdom of God is established.
Matthew 4:14-16
14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;
16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
In verse 14, Matthew states that this fulfilled Isaiah 9. The people who sat in darkness saw a great light. Those who lived in the region and shadow of death had light spring up among them. Matthew is proving to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ, i.e., the Messiah.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
Isaiah 9:1–2
1 Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.
2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
The Meaning of Darkness and Light
That light came in places just like Galilee, and it still shines in places like this today.
Darkness, in Scriptures, speaks of delusion, blindness of mind and heart, depravity, despondency, and hopelessness. When Jesus comes into a life, those things are meant to leave. Delusion goes. Blindness of mind and heart goes. Depravity, despondency, and hopelessness are driven out.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
Those things are replaced with light. Light brings true learning and true knowledge of God. It brings life that glorifies God, along with joy, gladness, and laughter. That is what Jesus brought to Capernaum. That is what He brought into my life, and it is what He has brought into your life, your home, your church, and your city.
A People Called to Shine
When Jesus comes, He brings light. Because of that, we can rise and shine, for our light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon us. What God is doing today is raising up a people, a many-membered corporate body of Christ, to be the light in their areas.
If it is not us, then who will it be? If not now, then when? God will have a people who stand as light and make a statement in this city. There will be a people who confront the enemies of the kingdom of God.
Matthew 4:17
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
We devoted an entire lesson to the subject of “Repent.” Repent means to turn from the way you are thinking. It means reconsidering and thinking differently. It is not automatically about sin, unless sin is what you are repenting from. The main emphasis is a change of mind.
It stands out to me that the first words Matthew records Jesus speaking in His ministry are, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” That opening statement sets the tone for everything that follows. Mark reinforces the same message Matthew gives. He records Jesus saying that the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand.
Mark 1:15
And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
The Kingdom Mandate of Jesus
Look at Luke chapter 4. I want you to sense what I feel God has placed in my heart about this kingdom message. I want you to understand what the message of the kingdom of God meant to Jesus Christ. That is the exact meaning the kingdom message is intended to have in our hearts.
Luke 4 provides a clear picture of this. When you have time, read verses 40 and onward. For now, focus on verse 43, because it captures the heart of why Jesus preached the kingdom and how central it was to His mission.
Luke 4:43
And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
A Singular Calling
People sometimes get upset with me because they say all I preach is the kingdom of God. They ask why I do not preach love or something else. I tell them that the kingdom of God is what God has placed in me. I cannot preach something else because this is the purpose for which I was sent.
The NASB says, “For I was sent for this purpose.” That settles it for me. I cannot move away from that calling. This message is what defines my assignment, just as it defined the ministry of Jesus. The message of the kingdom of God is not narrow. It is all-encompassing. It is the core of God’s government and encompasses faith, love, and every other aspect of spiritual life. The kingdom does not exclude those things. It contains them.
What I want you to feel is the heart cry of Jesus. His passion was to proclaim the kingdom of God and the lordship of Jesus Christ in every area. That was the driving force of His ministry.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
John’s Gospel shows this early on. In John chapter 3, when Jesus speaks with Nicodemus, He says that unless a person is born again, they cannot even see the kingdom of God. That statement shows how central the kingdom was to everything He taught.
John 3:3
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Look at John 3:5.
John 3:5
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
The Kingdom Preached in the Early Church
Acts 8:12 Philip the evangelist preached the things concerning the kingdom.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
Acts 8:12
But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
In Acts 19, Paul preached about the kingdom of God.
Acts 19:8
And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
In 2 Peter 1:11, Peter preached the everlasting kingdom.
2 Peter 1:11
For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
The author of Hebrews preached the kingdom.
Hebrews 12:28
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Revelation teaches about the kingdom of God.
Revelation 11:15
And the seventh angel sounded, and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
The Essence of the Message
The kingdom of God, or the kingdom of heaven, is the essence and heart of the message. It is the very heart of the Lord Jesus Christ, and it is the reason He was sent. The apostles preached the kingdom of God, and the book of Revelation likewise declares it. As we move through Matthew, we will continue to learn more about what this message truly means.
In simple terms, the kingdom of God is the lordship of Jesus Christ as King over every area of life. It begins in your personal life. It then moves into your home, your church, your city, and ultimately the world. The kingdom speaks of God’s government ruling in each of these areas.
God has a government for your life. He has a government for your home. He has a government for your church. The Lord has a government for your city and for the world. That is what the kingdom of God is all about.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
When people rebel against God, they are rebelling against His authority and His government. People resist His authority in their personal lives. They resist it in their homes, their churches, and their cities. Rebellion is simple. You are either obeying or rebelling. There is no middle ground. You are either walking with Him or walking against Him.
The Lordship of Jesus Christ
Any other king, including the carnal mind, that rules in my life, home, church, city, or world, is an enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ and must bow. Revelation 11:15 declares this.
Revelation 11:15
The seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
This is the fulfillment of Romans 14:17.
Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Where the Kingdom Is Found
There is a Scripture we need to look at that asks where the kingdom of God really is. If you think the kingdom is only somewhere out there in the future, then you miss the whole picture of Jesus’ ministry. You miss the very thrust of what He brought from His heart.
The central message Jesus delivered is that the kingdom of God is within you. That is the heart of His teaching. It is not distant or postponed to some later time.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
In Luke 17:20-21, the Pharisees demanded to know when the kingdom of God would come. People are still asking that same question today. Jesus’ answer shows that they were looking in the wrong place.
Luke 17:20–21
20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
The Order of the Kingdom in the Believer
Jesus makes it clear that the kingdom of God is within you. That is the heart of His ministry. The kingdom must first rule in your life. From there, it moves into your home, your church, your city, and then into the world. That is God’s order and God’s plan.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
The chapter then speaks about the call of Simon Peter and Andrew, along with James and John.
Matthew 4:18-22
18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
The Inner Circle of Jesus
These men formed the inner circle of Jesus, especially Peter, James, and John. They were closest to Him and most involved in His ministry.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
The word “net” in this passage is important. In the New Testament, three different Greek words are translated as net. In verse 18, they were using a casting net that was cast into the sea. Then in verse 21, a different kind of net appears, one used for various purposes, such as fishing or catching birds. Another type net was a dragnet, which was dropped into the water and pulled along.
What I want you to understand is that there is more than one way to catch fish. You do not always use the same method. Peter later even fishes in a different way. Jesus uses this example to show that reaching people works the same way. There are multiple ways to reach a person.
When Jesus said, “I will make you fishers of men,” He was teaching that principle. Matthew 13:47 supports this, as Jesus says that the kingdom of heaven is like a net cast into the sea. God uses different methods, but the purpose never changes, to bring people into His kingdom.
Matthew 13:47
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
We Are the Net
The kingdom of God is likened to a net cast into the sea. That raises an important question. Who is the net, and who is the kingdom? The answer is us. We are the net. God uses us to reach people in many different ways. We catch many kinds of people, and God is the one who sorts and judges. I admit I struggle with that because I want to help everyone.
The disciples were links. They were the connection between Jesus and His church. They became the foundation upon which the church was built. Without these men, there would be no church foundation. These disciples wrote His words, recorded His teachings, shared His message, and interpreted His words. They carried His voice forward. They were the links that made the church possible. Without them, the church could not have been established.
In the first chapter of John, we see Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, and Nathanael coming to Jesus inquisitively. They were curious but did not immediately abandon their occupations. They continued working while they explored who He was.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
Many of us came to the Lord the same way. We came cautiously and inquisitively, thinking we could always turn back if needed. That is what these men initially did.
A More Demanding Call
By the time we reach Matthew 4:18–22 and Mark 1:16–20, about a year has passed in Jesus’ ministry. The call now becomes more precise and more demanding. This is no longer just curiosity. It is the moment when following Him requires a decisive response.
We saw in John that Jesus had already met these men, and now we see Him come to them again and say, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At this point, they leave their nets, their boats, and even their father. That meant cutting some significant ties.
Even so, it does not appear that they had entirely forsaken everything yet, because another passage later shows that process continuing. What Jesus is doing here is addressing them after they have already known Him for approximately a year. They have been around Him long enough to observe how He thinks and how He responds under pressure. He has also been watching how they react when things get stressful. They are learning about one another.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
Time to Move Forward
After about a year has passed, Jesus says it is time to move forward. He calls them to go with Him, and this time they respond by leaving what they were doing. In that call, he begins to address their occupations and family ties.
That is how the Lord works. If He is calling you into ministry, He will begin to address those same areas in your life. I know this from experience. I came to the Lord inquisitively at first, wanting to know what it was all about. As I went deeper, He began addressing my occupation and my family connections.
Luke 5:1–11 presents a very similar account to Matthew 4:18, showing the same pattern and reinforcing how Jesus progressively called His disciples into more profound commitment. Luke 5:1-11 is where the great catch of fish happened. After that, they forsook all and followed him.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
Luke 5:9–11
9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:
10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
There comes a point at which Scripture states that they forsook all and followed Him. In the life of a minister, there is a moment when everything has to be laid down. Following Jesus eventually requires full surrender.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
The Progression of the Call
What I aim to show is the progression. Some of you may be walking through parts of this process right now. Ministry develops over time. It does not happen all at once. You do not wake up one day and decide to enter apostleship training. Jesus does not suddenly announce that you are an apostle and send you out the next morning. That is not how it works. There are years involved in coming to that place.
Matthew 9:9–13, along with Mark 2 and Luke 5, describes the calling of Matthew. Once again, the exact phrase appears. He forsook all and followed Him.
Matthew 9:9
9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
Matthew 10:1-4, along with Mark 3 and Luke’s account, deals with the calling of all twelve. This is where the whole group is set apart. This moment marks the transition from discipleship to apostleship. It is the point where those specific callings are placed upon their lives.
In Matthew 10:1-4, Mark 3:13-19, and Luke 6:12-16, Jesus sends them out. He is commissioning them and sending them into ministry.
A Clear Progression in Ministry
What I want you to see is that there was a clear progression. Ministry did not happen overnight. Time passed, and development took place. About a year elapsed, and then in the second year, they began to move into ministry in a more defined way.
I also want you to notice who Jesus chose. He chose the best. These men were full of faith. When Jesus wanted to feed the multitudes, they believed He could do it. No! That’s not accurate at all. They often struggled with spiritual understanding. Jesus warned them about the leaven of the Pharisees, and they thought He was talking about bread (Matthew 16:5-12).
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
Learning Submission
Look at how submissive they were. Peter even pulled Jesus aside and rebuked Him, saying Jesus would not go to the cross (Matthew 16:21-23). That shows how much they thought they understood and how deeply they were involved with Him. They were learning, growing, and reacting in real time.
They were unable to hear the present truth. After coming down from the mountain, they asked about Elijah needing to come first (Matthew 17:9-13). They understood the kingdom, yet Jesus still had to sit them down and teach them again. Even after the cross, the resurrection, and forty days of teaching, including discussions about His return, they still asked in Acts chapter 1 if He was now going to establish the kingdom. That shows how ongoing the process of growth and understanding really was.
Acts 1:6–8
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
Jesus had told them that Jerusalem would fall and the temple would be destroyed (Matthew 24:1–2; Mark 13:1–2; Luke 21:5–6), yet they still asked whether He would establish the kingdom now (Acts 1:6). They were often overwhelmed with emotion and sympathy. When parents brought children to Jesus, the disciples rebuked them, thinking they were protecting Jesus (Matthew 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17). They believed they understood what was best.
Servanthood and Misplaced Solutions
When Jesus wanted to feed the multitudes, they told Him to send the people away so they could buy food themselves (Matthew 14:15–16; Mark 6:35–37; Luke 9:12–13; John 6:5–7). They argued over who was the greatest in the kingdom, indicating that they believed they understood how the kingdom operated (Matthew 18:1–4; Mark 9:33–35; Luke 9:46–48). Peter asked how many times he had to forgive, wondering if seven times was enough (Matthew 18:21-22). They clearly understood forgiveness was important, even if they struggled with its depth.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
Prayer, Power, and Failure
They also knew prayer mattered. When they tried to cast out a demon and failed, Jesus told them that kind only comes out through prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:19–21; Mark 9:28–29). At times they were bold and courageous. Yet when Jesus was arrested, they all fled (Matthew 26:56; Mark 14:50), and Peter denied Him three times (Matthew 26:69–75; Mark 14:66–72; Luke 22:54–62; John 18:15–27).
What I want you to see is that Jesus was not looking for people with perfect understanding, flawless courage, or complete spiritual maturity. He wanted people willing to lay down their nets, leave family ties if necessary, and follow Him in obedience (Matthew 4:18–22; Mark 1:16–20; Luke 5:1–11). He can develop everything else.
With these twelve men, who became disciples and then apostles (Matthew 10:1-4), Jesus turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6). We may see our own weaknesses and inconsistencies, but He wants to do the same through us. He wants to turn our world, even Walker County, upside down.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
We See Ourselves in the Disciples
Each of us can relate to these disciples. We share moments of faith and misunderstanding. We experience submission, insight, confusion, compassion, servanthood, forgiveness, prayer, and courage. Even with all our imperfections, we are the ones He desires to use. The same kind of people who once turned the world upside down are still the ones God chooses today.
Acts 17:6
And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
This helps us because we sometimes build an ideal picture of these men, as if they were instantly great. The truth is that Jesus made something out of them. There was a progression to their calling, just as there is a progression to the call of ministry in our lives.
They spent a year getting to know Jesus, and during that same year, He was watching them. Over time, they came into agreement of mind and purpose. Their priorities lined up, and once that happened, they were able to move forward and do the work God called them to do.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
We experience the same thing. We walk together until trust is built. There are questions we have about one another that only time can answer. A year is often a useful time unit. Seeing that process in the disciples helped me understand how powerful they eventually became.
Matthew 4:22
22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
Scripture says they immediately left the boat and their father and followed Him. The word “immediately” means directly, at once, and without delay. Still, there was a transition period before that moment. They began as what you might call part-time or on-and-off followers. Over that year, they moved from convenience to commitment.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
Matthew 4:23
23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
Once they came under His authority and headship, they moved forward and turned the world upside down. Jesus went throughout all Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, preaching the gospel, and healing. If we bring that home, we could say He went through all of Walker County.
Teaching and Preaching Are Not the End
What I want you to see is that teaching and preaching are not the end. Something else must follow. We can preach like John the Baptist and see people saved and baptized. That is good and necessary. But if we stop there and do not also see people healed, we are not fully walking in the acts of the kingdom of God. What I want you to see here is this connection.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
There is a difference between teaching and preaching. I like how this was said in the book I quoted. Good preaching always includes teaching. I agree with that. When I enjoy teaching the most, it is usually when I get to preach a little. When I enjoy preaching the most, it is when I can teach deeply.
My preference is to teach and let the Holy Spirit bring the preaching. I do not like to manufacture preaching. Jesus went about both teaching and preaching, and what He taught and preached was the gospel of the kingdom of God. That message is all-encompassing. It includes everything He taught, but at its center is the government of God and the lordship of Jesus Christ.
The King James Version says Jesus healed all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. That means every kind. If Jesus is the same today as He was then, and if the same Spirit dwells in us that dwelt in Him, then healing should still follow today.
The Kingdom Progression
After teaching and after preaching, something else should happen. Healing should follow. There is a direct connection between the kingdom of God and miracles. I want you to see that connection clearly, and Matthew 9:35 lays it out plainly.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
Matthew 9:35
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
Do you see that progression: teaching, preaching, healing?
Look at Matthew 10:7, where Jesus sent out the disciples.
Matthew 10:7-8
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
Jesus told them, “As you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” Then He told them what to do. Heal the sick. Cleanse the lepers. Raise the dead. Cast out devils. Freely you have received, so freely give. That is the message of the kingdom in action.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
That makes you stop and ask whether we are walking in that yet. We talk about it, and we preach it. The next step is to walk in it.
Luke 9:1-2 records this same pattern. Matthew 12 also connects the kingdom directly to power. Jesus said that if He cast out devils by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God had come. That demonstrates that the kingdom is not merely words. It is demonstrated through authority and action.
Look at Acts 8:6; this is Philip on his missionary, evangelistic journey.
Acts 8:6-8
And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
8 And there was great joy in that city.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
Look at Acts 8:12.
Acts 8:12
But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
The preaching of the kingdom of God includes healing, deliverance, joy, and every other aspect of life. All of these flow from a central truth. The essence of the kingdom is God’s government.
You cannot have the benefits of the kingdom unless you are walking under His lordship. His authority must rule in every area of life. That includes your personal life, your home, your church, your city, and even the world. That is what the kingdom of God is.
The kingdom has already arrived. It is not something that will come only in the future. You may go to heaven one day, but the kingdom is here now. Throughout Matthew 13, Jesus speaks of the kingdom as present rather than future. He came to destroy the works of the devil.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
Jesus taught, preached, cast out demons, and healed sickness and disease. Every enemy was required to bow to His lordship and submit to His authority. That is the evidence that the kingdom has come.
Luke chapter 10 reinforces this truth. Jesus sent out the disciples again and told them to preach the kingdom of God and heal the sick. He instructed them to move on if a city rejected them and to shake the dust from their feet. Jesus warned that judgment would come on any city that rejected the kingdom. He said it would be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah than for that city.
When the kingdom of God is rejected, God’s government is rejected. Rejecting His authority, His messengers, and His appointed leaders brings serious consequences. That is why we need to pay close attention to Luke 10, beginning at verse 9, and take this warning seriously.
Luke 10:9-12
9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
10 But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,
11 Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
12 But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
Jesus speaks a strong warning here, and it applies just as much today. He says that if the mighty works done in these cities had been done in Sodom, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. Because of that, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Tyre at the judgment than for those who rejected the kingdom.
Then He speaks directly about Capernaum. This is striking because Capernaum was the city in which He lived. It was the place He called His own city. It was exalted, not because of its greatness, but because Jesus Himself dwelt there.
Luke 10:15
15 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.
Yet Jesus says that even Capernaum, though exalted to heaven, would be brought down to hell. The warning is clear. Proximity to Jesus, exposure to miracles, and hearing the truth do not guarantee blessings. If the kingdom of God and His authority are rejected, judgment follows, even in the place that once experienced His presence most fully.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
Take a look at Luke 10:17-18
Luke 10:17–18
17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
Jesus said He saw Satan fall from heaven, and the question is when that happened. Satan’s fall is connected to the obedience of ordinary people to God. When people like you and me became disciples and then moved into our calling, we went out and did the work of the kingdom of God. We were not special in ourselves. We were ordinary people who responded to the call.
Jesus sent out His apostles and messengers to preach the kingdom of God. That message was all-encompassing. It brought healing and deliverance. It spoke to life, the home, the church, the city, and even the government and the world. When that message was preached and demonstrated, Jesus said He saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
You can see the opposite spirit all around us today. Turn on the television, and you see messages that oppose God’s design. You see promotion of ideas that reject the family, reject biblical order, and replace God’s truth with human ideology. These are not neutral messages. They shape culture and thinking.
If the men of God who suffered for truth were here today, they would speak clearly against these things. They would confront abortion, pornography, and every system that opposes the kingdom of God. These issues reveal a spiritual battle. That is why we must love God, stand in truth, and continue advancing His kingdom.
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
Matthew 4 Verses 12-25 How to Leave Nets and Trust God
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