As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.
And as he sat at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:9-13)
Within a singular verse of the text we read it was revealed that Matthew, for whom this gospel is named, was not part of the original group of persons called to follow ( in the Greek - "akoloutheo" ) our Lord Jesus.
By reading the previous text we note that Jesus was going about his ministry, preaching, teaching and healing as he traveled with his called disciples. The man Matthew, (who may also be called "Levi" elsewhere) was therefore described as a person who was sitting in the tax office as Jesus and his followers passed by. Matthew was likely a collector of Roman taxes. The social position of the tax collector was disdained by the Jewish population. However, given the following text we know that Matthew was quite successful financially and probably hobnobbed in those circles.
Because of his station, it is then quite surprising and impactful to the readers in the first century that Matthew responded to Jesus call so quickly. What were his motivations? Whether the tax collector's reasons were caused by faith in Jesus given to him previously by hearsay through the power of the Holy Spirit, or the acceptance of the face-to-face invitation would raise his position in the sight of those influential in society... we cannot know. What we do know... is that Matthew indeed followed!
Without further conversation then, a scene change occurs in the gospel reading. This abruptness causes many of us to ask why the call of Matthew, written in the gospel historically claimed to be written by Matthew... would suddenly insert this instance.
If the gospel was truly and personally written by Matthew, was he inserting this verse to reinforce the authenticity of his call? Or, was the early Church insertion of this known fact during the writing, a way of highlighting that Jesus calls his followers, including Matthew, independent of their financial or social position? Personally, I think the latter is true, given that the gospel was evidently written reliably in a relatively prosperous community, and the fledgling Christian church and its missions depended on support from many persons of financial and social merit within their ranks.
To reinforce the position I contend, take note that the gospel reading takes us to a feast held in what was apparently Matthew's home. We can safely assume this site because of the presence of Pharisees, who were notably persons of high society. They challenged the ministry of Jesus amongst tax collectors and sinners. The message of salvation offered to persons independent of their worldly status was thus established. Speaking then to answer the challenges of those holding Pharisiac religious outlook, somewhat akin to gnostic ideations of the Greeks, the text illustrated Jesus' ministry to persons of low degree. Was this a warning to those of high position in the early Church? Possibly.
What are we in this modern age to do with this good news? If we take our Lord at his words given during the feast... we will find ourselves counted among those who are convicted and invited to Supper with the Lamb God. He comes to meet us at the altar. He came then not to save those who stubbornly think themselves safe by virtue of earthly possessions and position, and those who brazenly celebrate thinking of themselves as already lost... but those who now know they don't measure up before the judgment of Almighty God. It is for them... that the Savior came and died.
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