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JESUS CALLS ME — I MUST FOLLOW
THURSDAY, MAY 8
Mark 2:13-20

Matthew 9:9-15

 

“…Follow me.
And He arose

and followed him.”

 

JESUS CALLS ME — I MUST FOLLOW
 
Matthew was a tax-collector. He collected taxes on behalf of the Roman government. It was not uncommon for tax-collectors to exact more than the required amount from the people (cf. Luke 19:2, 8). Jews who collected taxes were called traitors and extortionists. There is no hint in Scripture that Matthew was dishonest in his work, but he would certainly be regarded as a traitor. Tax collectors were considered “running dogs” of the Romans. The profession became so despised that the term “tax-collector” became a derogatory label. That is why we find tax-collectors being lumped together with sinners in the Gospels (Matt 9:10-11, 11:19; Mark 2:15-16; Luke 5:30, 19:2-10).
 
Matthew, when called by Jesus, did not hesitate but readily forsook all and followed Him. As a tax-collector, he was probably very rich. But he was willing to surrender all to Jesus. He proved his sincerity by honouring Jesus with a banquet probably equivalent to a grand 10-course Chinese dinner.
 
The scribes and the Pharisees criticised Jesus for dining with publicans and sinners. The Jewish religious leaders in self-righteous pride called all who were not of their class the ‘am ha’aretz (“the people of the soil”). Those who were unschooled in the Law earned this label (cf. John 7:49). The disciples of the scribes and Pharisees were not allowed to eat together with the ‘am ha’aretz.
 
Jesus answered their criticism with these words, “They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick:… But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Those who are sick with sin can come to Jesus for healing. Those who think they are well but are actually sick can find no healing from Him. The self-righteous scribes and Pharisees being sick with pride had cut themselves off from the Saviour’s help. The sinful who humble themselves will find Jesus a most willing Saviour.
 
THOUGHT: Following demands forsaking.

PRAYER: “Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.”

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