¹⁸ As Jesus was walking by Lake Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (called Peter) and his brother Andrew. They were throwing a net into the lake because they were fishermen. ¹⁹ Jesus said, “Come follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” ²⁰ So Simon and Andrew immediately left their nets and followed him.

²¹ As Jesus continued walking by Lake Galilee, he saw two other brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. Jesus told them to come with him. ²² Immediately they left the boat and their father, and they followed Jesus.

¹⁹ Then a teacher of the law came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, I will follow you any place you go.”

²⁰ Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes to live in, and the birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to rest his head.”

²¹ Another man, one of Jesus’ followers, said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

²² But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the people who are dead bury their own dead.”

Jesus Chooses Matthew

⁹ When Jesus was leaving, he saw a man named Matthew sitting in the tax collector’s booth. Jesus said to him, “Follow me,” and he stood up and followed Jesus.

³⁸ Whoever is not willing to carry the cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

²⁴ Then Jesus said to his followers, “If people want to follow me, they must give up the things they want. They must be willing even to give up their lives to follow me.

²¹ Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, then go and sell your possessions and give the money to the poor. If you do this, you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.”