by Jilene Scherenske
Jesus finds Matthew
Why did Matthew choose such a hated occupation? We must assume that at one time he had an eye for greed and for gain, a love for money. Somehow material things became so important to him that he was willing to become the scourge of the earth to get stuff! That is how the devil operates. He implants an idea, a simple thought. “I wish I had more.” Perhaps Matthew grew up very poor. Perhaps he began to envy those who were wealthier. One thought, one little thought and the devil took advantage and grew it so big that Matthew was willing to nearly sacrifice his soul to get more. Day after day, hour after hour the coins tinkled into Matthew’s purse.
Despite the fact that he could no longer worship and hear the Word of God in the synagogue, he knew the Old Testament well. In his gospel, the Gospel of Matthew, he quotes the Old Testament 99 times – more than that of Mark, Luke and John combined! And he quotes from all sections of the Old Testament, for he quotes from the Law, and the Psalms and the Prophets! The time came when he began hearing about John the Baptist and how that some of his cronies had gotten baptized (For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. And all the people that heard him, and the publicans [tax collectors], justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. Lk 7:28-29). Then stories of Jesus began surfacing more and more. This was a man who could work miracles! Some were saying He might be the Messiah! God began working his wooing power in the soul of Matthew.
I believe that God’s work in his soul was profound. As God worked on his heart Matthew realized how despicable he had been behaving. He knew he had forsaken God for stuff, stuff that was no longer satisfying. Matthew became miserable, restless, unsatisfied, tortured by what he had become. He hated the fact that others hated him for his actions, but now he began hating himself. And then something wonderful happened, he began wishing he could see Jesus. So when the day arrived that Jesus said simply “Follow me”, Matthew was ready! He literally dropped everything, walked away from his table of sin, and followed Jesus! Jesus found Matthew working the ungodly job of collecting unfair taxes. He caught him in his own sin! Yet Matthew somehow put the shame away and followed Jesus immediately! Amazing! I would think the shame of sin that must have been upon his soul by now would have kept him from following Jesus. But God had beforehand done a tremendous work in Matthew’s soul of convicting him of sin and then giving him a longing for the only One Who could forgive him, set him free, and give him a new life. He knew that One was Jesus. He was ready! Hidden in Jesus’ words was forgiveness. Matthew knew that also for he had heard the story of the man with palsy who was not only healed but when Jesus was healing him Jesus said, “…the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins…” Matt 9:6. Three verses later Matthew records Jesus’ words to him: “Follow me” Matt 9:9. Two simple words from Jesus but they were music to Matthew’s tortured conscience! Matthew was ready for Jesus’ precious forgiveness! Imagine his joy! At once he knew he was forgiven. Peace and joy flooded his soul! He felt pure, something that his hardened heart had not felt in a very long time. He was experiencing the matchless, marvelous, wonderful grace of Jesus! Though the chief of sinners, he was now 100 percent forgiven, but not only that, he was now lifted to the status of a disciple of Jesus!
One would think that Jesus perhaps had erred in His choice of Matthew.After all, Matthew had a horrible reputation, one that was as low as one could get.Surely his presence in the group of disciples would not help Jesus’ cause.Furthermore, one would think that, since all the disciples were from Galilee, most, if not all, had probably been forced to pay unbelievable taxes to Matthew.Just think of it: Peter, Andrew, James and John perhaps all the disciples, at one time or another, had to pay unfair taxes to Matthew!Now he was one of them!Surely this would not make for unity in the group.His association with the group would further infuriate the religious leaders and perhaps be a stumbling block to other Jews, all of whom had such a bias against tax collectors.But Jesus is the God of all grace.His grace is free to all who will accept it.He chose fishermen, who were considered the lowest of all men, Galileans at that!Now He choses one who all the people, not just the pious Pharisees, see as an absolute scoundrel, a horrible sinner!But God’s grace is without bias.His love reaches down to everyone.