After these things He went out and saw a tax collector
named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow
Me." 28 So he left all, rose up, and followed Him. 29 Then Levi gave Him a
great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors
and others who sat down with them.
The
events in this passage probably took place shortly after Jesus healed the paralyzed
man, for the "official Pharisaical committee" was still there (Luke
5:17). When Jesus called Levi, He accomplished three things: He saved a lost
soul; He added a new disciple to His band; and He created an opportunity to
explain His ministry to Levi's friends and to the scribes and Pharisees. And it
is likely that Jesus at this time gave Levi his new name, "Matthew, the
gift of God" (Luke 6:15; Matthew 9:9-12; Mark 2:13-17).
Matthew
sat at the toll booth and levied duty on the merchandise that was brought
through. Since the tax rates were not always clear, it was easy for an
unscrupulous man to make extra money for himself. But even if a tax collector
served honestly, the Jews still despised him for defiling himself by working
for the Gentiles. John the Baptist had made it clear that there was nothing
innately sinful in collecting taxes (Luke 3:12-13), and we have no evidence
that Matthew was a thief. But to the Jews, Levi was a sinner, and Jesus was
suspect for having anything to do with him and his sinner friends.
We
wonder how much Matthew knew about Jesus. Our Lord's friendship with Peter and
his partners would put Him in touch with the businessmen of Capernaum, and
certainly Matthew had heard Jesus preach by the seaside. Matthew instantly
obeyed the Lord's call, left everything, and followed Jesus. He was so
overjoyed at his salvation experience that he invited many of his friends to
rejoice with him (see Luke 15:6, 9, 23).
The
scribes and Pharisees criticized Jesus because they did not understand either
His message or His ministry. Jesus simply did not fit into their traditional
religious life. It is unfortunate when leaders resist change and refuse to try
to understand the new things that God is doing. In order to help them
understand, Jesus gave the illustration of a sick person going to a physician.
The
scribes and Pharisees saw Matthew and his friends as condemned sinners, but
Jesus saw them as spiritually sick "patients" who needed the help of
a physician. In fact, He had illustrated this when He cleansed the leper and
healed the paralytic. Sin is like a disease: it starts in a small and hidden
way; it grows secretly; it saps our strength; and if it is not cured, it kills.
It is tragic when sickness kills the body, but it is even more tragic when sin
condemns the soul to hell.
The
scribes and Pharisees were quick to diagnose the needs of others, but they were
blind to their own needs, for they were sinners like everyone else. They
appeared righteous on the outside but were corrupt within (Matt. 23:25-28).
They may not have been "prodigal sons" who were guilty of sins of the
flesh, but they were certainly "elder brothers" who were guilty of
sins of the spirit (Luke 15:11-32; 2 Cor. 7:1).
The
first step toward healing sin sickness is admitting that we have a need and
that we must do something about it. False prophets give a false diagnosis that
leads to a false hope (Jer. 6:14); but the servant of God tells the truth about
sin, death, and hell, and offers the only remedy: faith in Jesus Christ. The
religion of the scribes and Pharisees could offer no hope to Matthew's friends,
but Jesus could.
What
a wonderful Physician Jesus is! He comes to us in love; He calls us; He saves
us when we trust Him; and He "pays the bill." His diagnosis is always
accurate, and His cure is perfect and complete. No wonder Matthew was so happy
and wanted to share the Good News with his friends!
Are
you sharing the Good News of your salvation with your friends?
God
bless!
