Description

David W Palmer

(Matthew 9:9 NKJV) As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.

After leading his apprentices on the first mission trip across the lake, Jesus returned to the house in Capernaum. He ministered to the paralyzed man who came in through the roof. Then after the cold reception by the religious critics, he went to the seashore—the business district of this fishing community (Mark 2:13). Amazingly, at the tax office, Jesus saw an opportunity for outreach; he saw Matthew, also called Levi, collecting taxes for the Romans. Other Jews saw Matthew-Levi as a traitor; Jesus saw a potential follower—called of God to be an apostle. Let’s read this from Luke:

(Luke 5:27–29 NKJV) 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.

Two amazing things come out of this passage:

1. When Jesus called, “Follow me,” Levi “left all, rose up and followed him.” This shows the heart of a man Jesus appointed as one of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb. You too can respond to Jesus’s call like Levi did, and thus be used by Jesus in significant and very fruitful ways.

1. Levi’s heart is further revealed in what he did next: he “gave him (Jesus) a great feast in his own house.” He had already left all to follow, and maybe this was the last use of his house before leaving it too.

Matthew was not part of core Jewish society; in fact, as a tax collector, he was probably despised and ostracized by purists. However, it did mean that he had a good income, so he was probably quite popular among others of dubious reputation. He may not have had many skills in “normal” occupations, but it seems that he did know how to host a good party. 

Levi must have thought, “This is wonderful! Jesus accepts me when no other Rabbis do. I’ve got to let my ‘buddies' know about this. But what can I do for Jesus? I don’t have many super skills. I’m only good at getting money, throwing parties, and having a good time with my friends.” Suddenly, a great idea burst into his mind: “I know what I will do; I will throw one last party in honour of Jesus. This will make the most of my last days in Capernaum. I will invite all my mates—everyone I know—and I’ll invite Jesus and some of his followers. I’ll just make it happen and let them all mingle. If Jesus proves to be the man I think he is, my mates are going to love him.” 

The party started. God’s word records that “there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them.” Wow! What an outreach! This was probably going perfectly as Matthew planned, until …

(Matthew 9:10–11 NKJV) Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. {11} And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Matthew must have been devastated, wondering: “What am I going to do now? These religious guys are like wet blankets and doubt peddlers. My mates are just getting to hear the living Word of God through Jesus, and now the Pharisees look like they are going to ruin everything.” Note: the enemy hates outreach; don’t be surprised that he will do whatever he can to ruin them. But, praise the Lord, Satan and his religious spirits are no match for Jesus; he intervened and dealt with the Pharisees:

(Matthew 9:12–13 NKJV) When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. {13} But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”