Peter: The uneducated fisherman
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Today’s Scripture: Matthew 4:18-20
Practical Application: Regardless of our education level we can follow Jesus.
Action Statement: Today I will follow HIM!
Family: Peter was the son of Jonas (John 21:15-17) and the brother of Andrew. “His original name was Simon, a common Greek name, or more properly Symeon (Acts 15:14), a popular Hebrew name (“The Zondervan Pictorial Dictionary,” Merrill C. Tenney, Zondervan, pg. 640).
He was married (Matt. 8:14; I Cor. 9:5), though little is said about his wife. “Though the Bible does not mention his children by name he must have been a father, for he qualified as an elder and served in this capacity (I Pet. 5:1; I Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:6).” (“I and II Peter Undid,” Pat Malone, Pleasant Ridge Church of Christ, Arlington, Texas 76016-4399, pg. 1).
At the time of Jesus’ ministry he lived in Capemaum (Mark 1:21, 29).
Education: The Sanhedrin declared that Peter and John were “unleamed and ignorant men” (Acts 4:13). Was this declaration correct, or the too common belittling of those who are simply less educated? According to Merrill C. Tenney, “As a Jewish lad he received a normal elementary education. As a native of‘ Galilee of the Gentiles’ he was able to converse in Greek, while his native Aramaic was marked with provincialisms of pronunciation and diction (Matt. 26:73)” (ibid). This being true, “the evaluation of the Sanbedrin of Peter and John as ‘ignorant men’ simply meant that they were unschooled in the rabbinical lore and were laymen.” (ibid)
From fisherman to fisherman: Peter, as his father and brother, were fishermen in the waters of the Sea of Galilee. It was while they were fishing for their livelihood that Jesus called the two brothers to follow him, and thus to begin fishing for that which is much greater than food; the souls of mankind!
“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. And he said unto them, Follow me, and I will make thee fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him” (Matt. 4:18-20).
Peter was often ridiculed because of the many misunderstandings and thus the many mistakes he made, and rightly so. He had much to learn and much to change!
May we remember, however, that he was also bold enough to take the first step that had to be taken! He, along with his brother, “straightway left their nets, and followed him (Matt. 4:20).” That cannot be said about many! It could not be said about me. It took a long period of time and many Bible studies before I was willing to follow Him and become a fisher of men.
Can it be said about you? Who are you following? What are you fishing for?
Eugene Jenkins is the preacher at Rockford Church of Christ, located on U.S. Hwy. 231 south of Dollar General. He invites you to worship with us on Sundays, with Bible study at 9 a.m. and worship at 10 a.m. Study with us as we continue to Search the Scriptures!
