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Matthew 9:9
Jesus did many things and said many things which were shocking to His hearers. His calling of Matthew is one of those things. Matthew was a tax collector, and tax collectors were considered some of the most hated and cheating people of society at that time in history. While being questioned by the chief priests and the elders (Matthew 21:23), Jesus knew that their hearts were not sincere to God and in Matthew 21:31 replies to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you” (NKJV). Later, in this same passage, the Pharisees will question Jesus of why He would associate with tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 9:11). But Jesus came to heal the sick and to save sinners from the eternal condemnation as described in John 3:18 which states, “He who believes in Him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” The Apostle Paul acknowledges his salvation in 1 Corinthians 15:9 as he declares, “For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”
But we also see the humble sincerity of Matthew as he is called by Jesus; he stopped what he was doing and immediately began following Jesus.
This is an example of Jesus showing compassion on those who are sinful as He came to save the world from sin.
John 3:17 states, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (NIV). Matthew was most likely a despised man simply because he was a tax collector. The stigma that surrounded him would have been that of a cheat and a thief. Yet Jesus showed compassion on him and God used him to write the Holy Spirit inspired words in which are the Gospel of Matthew that we are currently studying in hopes of growing closer to God in our own lives by learning from him.
Dear LORD,
Please help us to see that You call and use some of the most unlikely of people to share the good news of salvation in Your Son Jesus and of the kingdom of heaven. We are all the most unlikely of people to be privileged to share with others the love that You have shown to us that we may all experience Your love for us and lead others to a new life in Christ Jesus. Thank You LORD for having compassion on our souls and loving us so much that You sent Your One and only Son to save us from sin. In Jesus name I pray, amen.