Civil Servants #1
Matthew (aka Levi) and Zacchaeus were tax-collectors. Civil Servants. But in Jesus' time, Jewish tax collectors were considered "sell-outs" and "traitors" by the Jews. They were given broad powers and it was easy for them to abuse the system and claim more tax from people than was actually due.Today we look at Matthew's story...
| After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" (Luke5:27-30) |
It seems that Matthew was an honest tax-collector.
We know Zacchaeus wasn't because when he met Jesus, he was moved to promise to pay people back for money he had unjustly taken from them.
We have no record of Matthew having to do this.
What we do have is that Matthew, Mark and Luke record the story of Matthew's calling, his immediate response and the party he hosts to introduce his friends to Jesus.
So here are some observations about Matthew:
- He was so taken with Jesus that he responded instantly, left everything and followed Jesus.
Sometimes, meeting Jesus will mean a radical change. It might be lifestyle, job or the company we keep. But when Jesus calls us, we need to be ready to respond. - It is clear that meeting Jesus was a big deal for Matthew, because he holds a party big enough for the Pharisees to notice. We can only imagine a that Matthew experienced the love and grace of Jesus in a significant way. One wonders what it was...
Was it His unconditional acceptance?
Was it the warmth of His love?
Was it the forgiveness He offered?
Was it the peace He exuded?
It's certainly one of the things I'll be asking Matthew about when I get there. - Matthew's party wasn't only a celebration. It was an outreach. Matthew wanted his friends to meet Jesus. This is a mark of a true disciple: they want others to have what they have found.
This sad statistic does not have to be true of us. I have a good friend who has just reached retirement age and she is still ready, given half a chance, to winsomely and attractively share her faith with a fellow passenger, a waiter or anyone God brings across her path.
I regularly pray that I will be more like her and Matthew.
