Matthew 4:25

Great multitudes from Galilee.

The fame of his teaching and miracles caused great multitudes to gather from all Palestine. The accounts elsewhere given confirm this statement.

Galilee.

The northern part of Palestine.

Decapolis.

A district containing ten cities east of the Jordan and the Sea of Galilee.

PRACTICAL AND SUGGESTIVE.

Wherever we are, we should by word and life preach the gospel of the kingdom.

We should watch opportunities for doing good. While Jesus was walking he called the four.

Jesus honored labor by calling his first ministers from the scenes of toil.

Faithfulness in daily labor prepares us for Christ's spiritual work.

Therefore God calls busy people to serve him. None can do it better.

It is observable that God has often called men to places of dignity and honor when they have been busy in the honest employment of their vocation. Saul was seeking his father's asses, and David keeping his father's sheep, when called to the kingdom. The shepherds were feeding their flocks when they had their glorious revelation. God called four apostles from their fishery, and Matthew from the receipt of custom: Amos from among the herdsmen of Tekoa; Moses from keeping Jethro's sheep, and Gideon from the threshing-floor. God never encourages idleness, and despises not persons in the meanest employments.-- Palmer.

The earliest extant hymn of the Church, by Clement of Alexandria, at the end of his treatise on "Christ as the Instructor," (pæedagogus,) dwells on the image with. rich and suggestive playfulness. Christ is thus addressed

Fisher of men, the blest, Out of the world's unrest, Out of sin's troubled sea, Taking us, Lord, to thee: Out of the waves of strife, With bait of blissful life, Drawing thy nets to shore With choicest fish, good store.

Notice, in the ministry of Jesus, (1) He was active; (2) He went where people were; (3) He went where the busiest people were --fishermen, those at work, Simon and Andrew--those preparing to work, James and John; (4) He went where worshiping people were; (5) He went where needy people were.

POINTS FOR TEACHERS.

1. Bring out the idea of the Kingdom of heaven. It implies. King and subjects. Point to the King and show who are the subjects. 2. Show that prophets proclaimed it, John was the messenger and declared it near, Jesus still says it was near, but the apostle speaks of it as existing, show the date of its inauguration. 3. Point out conditions of entrance. Repentance. preparation. Faith, repentance and obedience to the risen Lord admit. 4. Point to Christ as the great Healer, doing good, curing all manner of sicknesses: still he heals. Can cure every soul of sickness, 5. Point to Christ calling men, whom he called, their prompt obedience, the reasons for it. 6. Point out the example in this lesson that we should follow, let all be named.