The Call of Matthew: Luke 5:27-32
“27) After that He went out and noticed a tax collector named Levi sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, “Follow Me.” 28) And he left everything behind, and got up and began to follow Him. 29) And Levi gave a big reception for Him in his house; and there was a great crowd of tax collectors and other people who were reclining at the table with them. 30) The Pharisees and their scribes began grumbling at His disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?” 31) And Jesus answered and said to them, “It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. 32) I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”” Luke 5:27-32
Jesus went to the strangest places and recruited the most unlikely people to be on His leadership team. He didn’t recruit from the local synagogue or theological training school, nor did he gather resumes from the priests, Pharisees, Sadducees or Levites. They had to much negative baggage. They had to much to unlearn.
Instead, He started by calling four rugged fishermen. Why? They understood long hours and hard work. True ministry doesn’t punch a clock or take typical vacations. They do whatever it takes to catch lots of fish! They were devoted to their cause. Jesus simply introduced them to a greater cause!
Then He stopped by a tax booth and called Matthew. What potential did Jesus see in this tax collector? Well, Levi knew everyone, was well connected, had some basic people skills and was courageous. He had the stuff you can’t learn at Bible school.
Wouldn’t you know, Matthew threw a big reception for Him at his house and invited his friends and acquaintances to meet Jesus. They were the movers and shakers in Galilee, but by no means the religious crowd. The place was full of other tax gathers, sinners and non religious people.
The Pharisees criticized Jesus for even attending this gathering. Most likely they felt shunned for not receiving an invitation.
No matter, their condescending and judgmental demeanor didn’t fit this crowd. They were viewed as religious critics and irrelevant for real life. They weren’t on anyone’s friend list, except their own little religious click and subculture.
Why did Jesus feel at home in this environment? Well, He Himself came from real life in the carpenters shop. He most likely knew these people and even built projects for them. He was not a religious insider or condescending critic. Jesus was godly, but genuine and real. He earned respect in the market place of life.
Jesus also had a mission to reach sinful, lost and hurting people. He understood relational ministry. He was the Great Physician and knew where to find unhealthy people.
He went to where the fish were! He didn’t fish in an aquarium. He knew when, where and how to spread the gospel message.
Christians today have much to learn from this story. We can either become a religious subculture, or we can reach out to lost people in every day life.
Let me underline the fact that Jesus did not leave the gospel message out nor did He Himself become sinful. He remained true to Himself, His God and His positive reputation. He was a man of integrity and treated everyone with respect and dignity.
Jesus had compassion for people. He cared for their needs. He listened and people trusted Him and opened up to him. He became magnetic. People were attracted to Him and his message. He planted the seeds of the gospel everywhere.
He called disciples who could walk in His footsteps. He called ordinary, hard-working people to be His followers and His leaders. He duplicated himself in His disciples. They in turn became fruitful and effective in the highways and by-ways of life.
Jesus was criticized by the religious elite because his message and methods were perceived as being way out of the religious box. I like that about Jesus. I am learning that fruitful ministry walks in His footsteps.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
“27) After that He went out and noticed a tax collector named Levi sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, “Follow Me.” 28) And he left everything behind, and got up and began to follow Him. 29) And Levi gave a big reception for Him in his house; and there was a great crowd of tax collectors and other people who were reclining at the table with them. 30) The Pharisees and their scribes began grumbling at His disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?” 31) And Jesus answered and said to them, “It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. 32) I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”” Luke 5:27-32
Jesus went to the strangest places and recruited the most unlikely people to be on His leadership team. He didn’t recruit from the local synagogue or theological training school, nor did he gather resumes from the priests, Pharisees, Sadducees or Levites. They had to much negative baggage. They had to much to unlearn.
Instead, He started by calling four rugged fishermen. Why? They understood long hours and hard work. True ministry doesn’t punch a clock or take typical vacations. They do whatever it takes to catch lots of fish! They were devoted to their cause. Jesus simply introduced them to a greater cause!
Then He stopped by a tax booth and called Matthew. What potential did Jesus see in this tax collector? Well, Levi knew everyone, was well connected, had some basic people skills and was courageous. He had the stuff you can’t learn at Bible school.
Wouldn’t you know, Matthew threw a big reception for Him at his house and invited his friends and acquaintances to meet Jesus. They were the movers and shakers in Galilee, but by no means the religious crowd. The place was full of other tax gathers, sinners and non religious people.
The Pharisees criticized Jesus for even attending this gathering. Most likely they felt shunned for not receiving an invitation.
No matter, their condescending and judgmental demeanor didn’t fit this crowd. They were viewed as religious critics and irrelevant for real life. They weren’t on anyone’s friend list, except their own little religious click and subculture.
Why did Jesus feel at home in this environment? Well, He Himself came from real life in the carpenters shop. He most likely knew these people and even built projects for them. He was not a religious insider or condescending critic. Jesus was godly, but genuine and real. He earned respect in the market place of life.
Jesus also had a mission to reach sinful, lost and hurting people. He understood relational ministry. He was the Great Physician and knew where to find unhealthy people.
He went to where the fish were! He didn’t fish in an aquarium. He knew when, where and how to spread the gospel message.
Christians today have much to learn from this story. We can either become a religious subculture, or we can reach out to lost people in every day life.
Let me underline the fact that Jesus did not leave the gospel message out nor did He Himself become sinful. He remained true to Himself, His God and His positive reputation. He was a man of integrity and treated everyone with respect and dignity.
Jesus had compassion for people. He cared for their needs. He listened and people trusted Him and opened up to him. He became magnetic. People were attracted to Him and his message. He planted the seeds of the gospel everywhere.
He called disciples who could walk in His footsteps. He called ordinary, hard-working people to be His followers and His leaders. He duplicated himself in His disciples. They in turn became fruitful and effective in the highways and by-ways of life.
Jesus was criticized by the religious elite because his message and methods were perceived as being way out of the religious box. I like that about Jesus. I am learning that fruitful ministry walks in His footsteps.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
