Genesis 12:1-9 & Matthew 9:9-12; 18-26; Matthew 9:9-12 The calling of Matthew
I wonder how you might react if I said to you ‘follow me’. You might smile politely and decline. Or you might say something like ‘are you alright?’ all the while thinking that was very odd coming from me. Perhaps you might not be that polite and come up with some choice sentences! You might even think I’ve lost the plot and tell me to mind my own business. Perhaps if someone famous knocked on your door and said the same thing, you might be tempted to go. Maybe. I’m not sure I would.
In our gospel reading we read how Jesus turns up at Matthew’s work place and says to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he does! Matthew or Levi the son of Alphaeus as he’s also called, doesn’t hesitate or enter into a lengthy discussion with Jesus. He simply goes. So, what’s that all about?
Let’s journey to Capernaum and listen to this extraordinary account of Matthew’s call to follow Jesus and how his response completely transformed his life.
If you knew Matthew and especially his job as a tax-collector, he would not be on your guest list for anything. In fact, you’d do everything to keep away from him if you could help it. Except of course if you lived in Capernaum or were passing through and had to pay your taxes.
Matthew was a Jew who was appointed by the Romans to be the area's tax collector. Capernaum was an important military centre for Roman troops. It was also a thriving business centre with traders from as far away as Egypt and Mesopotamia passing through. Everyone had to pay taxes whether you were a business person or a local resident. And the Romans knew how to collect taxes.
Matthew collected taxes from the citizens as well as from merchants passing through the town. Tax collectors were expected to take a commission on the taxes they collected, but most of them overcharged and kept the profits. There was no proper or uniform system and this meant tax collectors exploited people big time.
Matthew was no exception. He was doing very well out of tax collection. He was essentially robbing from the people and also from the Roman authorities. He was living the ‘good life’ while his fellow citizens struggled under the burden of Roman occupation. And Matthew was working for the Romans!
Can you imagine how the Jews must have felt queuing up at his tax booth? I can’t help thinking he must have received a lot of unpleasant remarks from them. Possibly worse ones from his relatives! He had brought shame and dishonour to his family, friends and community.
No wonder tax collectors were hated by the Jews. They had a reputation of cheating people and they were supporting the Romans who ruled them. They were considered traitors – loathed by all.
Bearing all this in mind, it is astonishing that Jesus should stop by Matthew’s tax booth at all and call him to be a disciple. There could not have been a more unlikely, unworthy, undeserving, despicable and hopeless person. And yet, this is precisely the kind of person Jesus reaches out to with love and grace, and calls him to follow him.
Jesus doesn’t stop and lecture him about the injustice of his work. There is no record of Matthew being told off – named and shamed – and then sort of being offered a way out of his irreputable job. No, Jesus saw him and called him. How did Matthew respond? He got up and followed Jesus.
Now, we must not think that Matthew was completely unaware of who Jesus was. It’s possible he’d seen Jesus; perhaps from a distance. He had heard about this young Galilean Teacher who came with a breathtakingly new message of love and hope, who spoke with an authority like no other and hung out with crooks and misfits whom the good people of the day kept away from. Perhaps he had listened to Jesus’ teaching on the outskirts of the crowd and wondered if it was not too late for him to change course. To leave behind his old life with all its pain, rejection and shame, and start afresh. And then he hears Jesus call him. Matthew rose up, left all and followed him.
This was a life changing moment. Matthew lost a great deal that day – he lost his lucrative job, income, security, favour with the Romans and lots more besides. But he also gained a whole lot more – he found a new destiny, honour and an adventure he could never have dreamed of. He found love and purpose, acceptance and belonging. He tasted the goodness God in Christ Jesus. Materially he lost everything, but spiritually he became heir to a fortune. And whilst Matthew left behind everything to follow Jesus, he took his pen with him. And God would use Matthew’s pen to record all that Jesus did and here we are, reading his first hand accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry.
You see, Jesus is in the business of bringing transformation in people’s lives. No matter who you are or what you’ve done, Jesus continues to call you to follow him. And his primary call is to a relationship of love with God. It is an invitation to be part of his family. Matthew heard the call and responded.
Jesus is calling you today. How will you respond? Sometimes the decision to follow Christ requires difficult or painful choices. Like Matthew, we must decide to leave behind those things that would keep us from following Christ. If for any reason your love for the Lord has grown dim, the hear His call once again and let it awaken the affections of your heart today.
God by his Spirit can transform your life to be a blessing not just for you, but for many others.
What happens next is even more extraordinary. We read how Matthew hosts a grand banquet for Jesus at his house. A whole bunch of ‘unworthy’ people are invited, including fellow tax collectors and sinners. Guest of honour is none other than Jesus – a Jew and rabbi no less. Try and picture the scene if you can. All the hustle and bustle in the and around the house. Food and drink being served and eaten. Drinks being passed around. Animated conversations and laughter. I love to think of Jesus sharing a few jokes maybe. Or people asking him deep questions about his ministry.
The people around him can hardly believe it. Sat in their midst is the Teacher – eating and drinking and laughing with them. Here’s the One who only a few chapters earlier taught with great authority and proclaimed a message of love for enemies, who healed many of their diseases, calmed the storm and cast out demons. And now Jesus is eating and drinking with people whom the religious authorities consider outcasts. They must have been loving it.
But not everyone is impressed. The Pharisees, who would normally not go anywhere near those whom they considered ‘unclean’, gate-crashed the party asking Jesus’ disciples why he was eating with these ‘baddies’. They were constantly trying to trap Jesus and this seemed the perfect opportunity to discredit the Teacher – and a Jewish one at that!
Can you imagine them pointing fingers, looking disdainfully at everyone in Matthew’s house, shaking their heads with disgust. “What kind of example is this from your Teacher, acting cozy with crooks and misfits?”, they say to his disciples. As far as they were concerned, Jesus had well and truly messed up. He had willingly let himself get tainted by association with these ‘bad’ people. And what does Jesus say in reply,
“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
The Pharisees were more concerned with their own appearance of holiness than with helping people, with criticism than encouragement, with outward respectability than practical help. But God is concerned for all people, including the sinful and hurting ones – ones we’d consider ‘baddies’.
I wonder how many times we have written people off without taking the time to get to know them. If we are honest, we can be quick to judge and point fingers. But Jesus shows us a better way – the way of love and grace, of mercy and acceptance.
The Christian life is not a popularity contest! We are called to follow Jesus’ example, to share the gospel with all, not just ‘respectable’ people. Matthew didn’t wait long. He threw a big party and invited everyone to come and listen to Jesus.
Are we willing to make space in our homes and heart so that others might encounter the love of God. Offering hospitality and sharing your own story is one of the simplest ways to do so. You never know how God might use you when you say yes to his call – ‘Follow me’. Matthew did. And so have many “baddies” and “misfits”. I pray that you will too.
Amen.