Simon the Zealot wasn’t your typical follower.
This Simon the Zealot fire service lesson proves that sometimes, the person you’d least expect is the one you need on your crew.
Luke 6:15 calls him “the Zealot” for a reason. Before Jesus called him, Simon was probably part of a movement dedicated to overthrowing Roman rule. The Zealots were more than just dissatisfied citizens—they were fighters, extremists, ready to do whatever it took to break free from oppression. Simon didn’t just talk about change—he was ready to fight for it.
Then Jesus calls him and puts him on the same crew as Matthew—the tax collector.
Let’s be real: Simon had spent his life fighting against guys like Matthew. Tax collectors were the very thing Simon hated—sellouts working for the enemy. On their own, these two probably would’ve been at each other’s throats. But Jesus throws them together and tells them to move forward, not as rivals but as brothers.
How the Simon the Zealot Lesson Applies Today
That dynamic reminds me of a guy I worked with in the fire service. We weren’t enemies, but we couldn’t have been more different. We met in paramedic school, and as fate would have it, we ended up sitting right next to each other at the same table.
His sense of humor was what first drew me in. I’ve always enjoyed a good laugh, and I’m convinced God has a sense of humor too—He’s proved that to me in both obvious and subtle ways throughout my life. Humor wasn’t just for fun; in the fire service, it was a coping mechanism for the stress and trauma of the job. Most first responders and ER nurses I know seem wired the same way.
The paramedic program was intense. If you didn’t pass, your shot at a full-time fire service job was dead in the water. The program demanded a high GPA, with intense practical exams, written quizzes, and a brutal state final. We partnered up, studied together, and honestly kept each other sane. The laughs during those long hours took the edge off an otherwise fierce program.
Eventually, we both passed, became licensed paramedics, and started testing for full-time jobs. More often than not, we’d run into each other at the same exams, competing for the same positions. We’d meet up before or after to compare notes and see how we did. And somehow—despite all the hoops, the psych tests, the interviews—we both started landing on hiring lists.
And as fate would have it again, we were both hired by the same department.
Different Approaches, Same Team
Once we were on the job together, our bond grew even stronger. But we couldn’t have been more different in how we worked. As a probationary firefighter, I was methodical and reserved—liked to think things through before acting. He was the opposite—charge in, get the job done, even if it meant ruffling a few feathers. Both approaches worked, but we often saw things from completely different angles.
There were plenty of times we butted heads. Guys at the station joked they couldn’t believe we were friends. On the surface, we seemed like total opposites. But when it mattered—on emergency calls, at the fireground, or in the middle of chaos—none of that mattered.
I never doubted that he had my back, and he knew I had his. Behind closed doors, we might argue or debate, but when it came to our crew, we stood united. No matter how much we disagreed on the small stuff, when it came to the job, we trusted each other completely.
We rose through the ranks together, challenged each other, and over time, gained a deep respect for each other’s perspectives—and became best friends. That’s what made our partnership work: we didn’t have to think the same way to be on the same team.
Simon & Matthew: Opposites on the Same Mission
That’s exactly how Jesus used Simon and Matthew. He didn’t erase their differences or pretend they didn’t exist. Simon was a Zealot, a revolutionary against the Romans. Matthew was a tax collector, working for the very empire Simon despised. They couldn’t have been more opposite. Yet Jesus put them on the same team and told them to move forward together.
That’s how the fire service works too. You don’t always get to pick who’s on your crew. You’re paired with people who challenge you, see things differently, or work in ways that might drive you crazy. But the real test isn’t about always agreeing. It’s about knowing that when it counts, you have each other’s backs.
Simon had to learn that the real enemy wasn’t Matthew—it was the bigger battle Jesus was calling them to fight. Just like in the fire service, when you’re inside a burning building, the guy next to you isn’t your opponent—he’s your lifeline. Differences fade when the mission is clear. Because the people you see as your rivals today might just be the ones you need in the fight tomorrow.
Bottom Line:
Are you letting anger, division, or frustration keep you from seeing the bigger mission? Jesus isn’t calling you to pick a side—He’s calling you to something greater. Like Simon, you might just find that the fight you’ve been consumed with isn’t the real battle at all.
“Simon had to learn that the real enemy wasn’t Matthew—it was the bigger battle Jesus was calling them to fight. Just like in the fire service, when you’re inside a burning building, the guy next to you isn’t your opponent—he’s your lifeline. Differences fade when the mission is clear. Because the people you see as your rivals today might just be the ones you need in the fight tomorrow.” FROM – YOUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE
Want to dig deeper into why God so often chooses the most unlikely people for big things?
Check out my post: Why God Chooses Unlikely People
If this story hits home, check out my book YOUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE for more true stories about faith, fire service, and what it means to have each other’s back.
What’s your take?
Ever worked with someone totally different from you—but found they were the one you could count on when it mattered? Drop your story or thoughts in the comments below. I’d love to hear how you’ve seen “opposites” turn into your best teammates—on the job, in life, or anywhere else.