Laura J. Davis

Luke 5:27-32

When Jesus called the Apostle Matthew (also known as Levi), he knew what he was doing. Scripture tells us that Matthew was a tax collector. Tax collectors were notorious for swindling taxpayers. They were deceitful, the lowest of the low. Matthew was on the same level as a harlot (Matthew 21:32). For a Jewish man to be a tax collector, Matthew found himself in the position of being an outcast among his own people. He was not allowed into the Temple area to pray, he was a pariah, a social outcast.

In the following excerpt from Come to Me, Jesus is praying about whom he would choose for his inner circle of friends - the men who would make up the 12 Apostles. Imagine, with me how Matthew feels when Jesus invites him into his inner circle.

He was greatly surprised and pleased as the Father showed him the next candidate. For it was his childhood friend Matthew, the tax collector. Only yesterday, he had seen him down by the lake at his collection booth. Matthew had tried to hide his face in shame when he saw Jesus coming, but Jesus walked right up to him and asked him to follow him. The look of surprise, followed by uncertainty, on Matthew’s face made Jesus want to weep. After years of rejection, someone actually wanted him. Matthew looked stunned.

“Follow me, Matthew,” Jesus repeated, as he gazed into his eyes. For a moment, Jesus wondered if Matthew would turn down his offer. An offer, Matthew knew, meant repenting of his sins of extortion and giving up everything he had worked for over the years. However, Jesus was not disappointed. Matthew was so excited that he brought Jesus to his home. He held a great banquet in Jesus’ honour, with many of Matthew’s friends, who were tax collectors and prostitutes.

Jesus quietly laughed to himself as he remembered how the Pharisees had reacted when they heard about that event. They actually had the audacity to go into Matthew’s house and confront Jesus about why he was associating with “sinners.” Jesus had glared at them and said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” After that, the Pharisees had left in a huff and the banquet continued.

Matthew knew he was a sinner. He knew when Jesus stood before him and bid him come, that he was about to change his life forever. He knew who Jesus was and what he was asking of him. Repentance. Matthew was sick with sin. He needed a doctor, someone who could heal his soul and get his life back on track. Someone who could offer forgiveness. That someone was Jesus.

PRAYER: “Lord, I am a sinner. I need your help. Cleanse me, I pray, from all sin and unrighteousness. Forgive me please for taking you for granted. For ignoring your gift of salvation.  Thank you for coming to save someone as lowly as me.” Amen.