Matthew 4:19
He said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men."
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Interpretation

Jesus teaches a follow fishers that is embodied in solitude and community. Matthew 4:19: trace "said" and "come". Choose follow fishers in promises we keep—anchor courage in promise.

Context

Matthew speaks here as gospel narrative writing, naming follow fishers. Placed in ch. 4, the nearby lines set its tone. The nearby sentences supply the texture.

Authorship & Historical Background

Long‑standing tradition credits Matthew to Matthew the disciple (a former tax collector). Critical study of Matthew often concludes: Anonymous in earliest copies; attributed to Matthew in later tradition; reflects Mark and a sayings source.. Scholars commonly date Matthew AD 80–90. Matthew seems aimed at Jewish‑Christian community.. Kingdom teaching links ethics to identity. Catechetical structure appears in the discourse blocks.

More details
Traditional:Matthew the tax collector
Modern scholarship:Anonymous; attributed to Matthew; uses Mark + Q source.
Date:AD 80–90
Audience:Jewish‑Christian community.
Manuscripts & Textual Witnesses
The Greek text is preserved in thousands of manuscripts. Early papyri (P46, P66, P75) from the 2nd-3rd centuries, along with major uncials like Sinaiticus and Vaticanus (4th century), provide strong textual witness. Minor variants exist but do not change the overall sense.
Sources & witness notes
SinaiticusVaticanusP46