Good Afternoon,
Matthew 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.
Follow in the Greek means:
a. To be an attendant
b. To accompany
c. To go with or follow
When you break down the Greek word Akoloutheo, it means:
a. way
b. To move quickly
c. Straight
The individual calling to follow Jesus involved abiding fellowship with Him, not only for the sake of learning as a scholar from his teacher, but also for the sake of the salvation known or looked for, which presented itself in this fellowship.
The first thing involved in following Jesus is a cleaving to Him in believing trust and obedience, those cleaving to Him, also following His leading, acting according to His example. Hence the constant stress laid by the Lord Jesus upon the need of self-denial and fellowship with Himself in the cross. Thus following Jesus denotes a fellowship of faith as well as a fellowship of life, sharing in His sufferings not only inwardly, but outwardly if necessary. Such outward fellowship with Jesus, however, could not continue without inner moral and spiritual fellowship. (Lexical aids to the New Testament)
Jesus is calling out - Follow Me. Will you quickly move toward Him or will you move in a different direction. His direction is the straight and narrow, the other direction is the broadway. The call is out, will you arise and follow Him?
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)
Blessings
kc
