“Jesus answered them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’” Luke 5:31-32
Matthew was an unlikely candidate to become one of the twelve apostles and the writer of the first gospel in the New Testament. He was a tax collector who was also called Levi. He wrote his own testimony for all who feel unworthy and unacceptable in order that they might realize that God loves sinners.
As a tax collector, Matthew was politically unacceptable. He was an outcast in his society. The Romans hired Jews to collect taxes from their own people. These people were considered traitors because they collaborated with their enemies. Also, many tax collectors took more money than the people owed and lined their own pockets with the surplus.
Matthew was socially unacceptable. The Jews, and especially the religious leaders, shunned tax collectors. The teachers of the law were forbidden to travel with them, do business with them, have them as guests, visit in their homes, and particularly would not eat with them. The Holman New Testament Commentary contains this comment, “Tax collectors, in general, were known for their greed and lack of conscience, so they were thought of as the lowest form of humanity.”
But the wonderful thing for Matthew was, even though he was considered unacceptable to his fellow Jews, he was not unacceptable to Jesus!
Jesus passed by Matthew's tax booth and said to Matthew, “Follow me,” and, just like that, Matthew got up, left everything, and followed Jesus. Since Matthew was so willing to follow Jesus, it is possible he had already met Jesus before. At least it is probable that he had heard about Jesus and knew His reputation. It may well be that Matthew had already been seeking a new and better way of life.
Matthew had two signs of a true conversion. He had a changed life when he left his former occupation and followed Jesus. And he wanted his friends to know Jesus as well. So Matthew gave a great banquet for Jesus and invited a large crowd of tax collectors as well as some other people. It’s not hard to imagine what the Pharisees and other religious leaders thought about Jesus eating at Matthew’s house. No doubt they were horrified to see Jesus mixing and mingling with this “unclean” group. They complained to Jesus’ disciples asking them, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Luke 5:30b But it was Jesus Himself who answered them. He said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:31-32
Sin is like a disease. People must realize they are sick before they will seek a cure. Not only would the Pharisees and Scribes not see the fullness of Jesus’ life, but they also could not see the emptiness of their own lives. Only those people who recognize the fact that they are sinners and want to be forgiven can be helped by Jesus. Those who are self righteous and think they are spiritually acceptable to God on their own merit will not repent because are blind to their sins and their need for forgiveness. They will remain in their sins.
Fortunately, those who recognize their sins and repent have a Doctor who heals sin sickness. He makes house calls. He comes to us wherever we are. He makes an accurate diagnosis and provides a complete cure. And, He doesn’t charge us anything because He has already paid the bill!
Father, thank You for sending Jesus to pay for our sins, to bring us forgiveness, and to lead us to You. Amen.
Matthew was socially unacceptable. The Jews, and especially the religious leaders, shunned tax collectors. The teachers of the law were forbidden to travel with them, do business with them, have them as guests, visit in their homes, and particularly would not eat with them. The Holman New Testament Commentary contains this comment, “Tax collectors, in general, were known for their greed and lack of conscience, so they were thought of as the lowest form of humanity.”
But the wonderful thing for Matthew was, even though he was considered unacceptable to his fellow Jews, he was not unacceptable to Jesus!
Jesus passed by Matthew's tax booth and said to Matthew, “Follow me,” and, just like that, Matthew got up, left everything, and followed Jesus. Since Matthew was so willing to follow Jesus, it is possible he had already met Jesus before. At least it is probable that he had heard about Jesus and knew His reputation. It may well be that Matthew had already been seeking a new and better way of life.
Matthew had two signs of a true conversion. He had a changed life when he left his former occupation and followed Jesus. And he wanted his friends to know Jesus as well. So Matthew gave a great banquet for Jesus and invited a large crowd of tax collectors as well as some other people. It’s not hard to imagine what the Pharisees and other religious leaders thought about Jesus eating at Matthew’s house. No doubt they were horrified to see Jesus mixing and mingling with this “unclean” group. They complained to Jesus’ disciples asking them, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Luke 5:30b But it was Jesus Himself who answered them. He said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:31-32
Sin is like a disease. People must realize they are sick before they will seek a cure. Not only would the Pharisees and Scribes not see the fullness of Jesus’ life, but they also could not see the emptiness of their own lives. Only those people who recognize the fact that they are sinners and want to be forgiven can be helped by Jesus. Those who are self righteous and think they are spiritually acceptable to God on their own merit will not repent because are blind to their sins and their need for forgiveness. They will remain in their sins.
Fortunately, those who recognize their sins and repent have a Doctor who heals sin sickness. He makes house calls. He comes to us wherever we are. He makes an accurate diagnosis and provides a complete cure. And, He doesn’t charge us anything because He has already paid the bill!
Father, thank You for sending Jesus to pay for our sins, to bring us forgiveness, and to lead us to You. Amen.
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