The Call of Matthew

Intro

Jesus Calls Us Where We Are

Matthew 9:9–13 (ESV)

As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining 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.”

Jesus was walking along like normal when he saw Matthew who was sitting at his tax booth, like normal. And Jesus called him.

Matthew was just chilling at work. Being hated by the masses and Jesus found him and called him.

He wasn’t in his morning quiet time. He wasn’t at church. He was sitting at his desk at work. And Jesus called him.

Now look at the simplicity of Jesus’ call to Matthew. “Follow me.”

There were no further instructions. Just “follow me.” We love to overcomplicate Jesus’ call on our lives, don’t we?

We think that his call has to be something completely crazy or something really in depth.

But think about what it meant for Matthew at this point to be called to follow this teacher. By this point word had likely spread of Jesus’ teachings, so Matthew had likely heard that this Jesus guy was the real deal.

And despite Matthew’s past, despite his occupation, despite his perception from society, Jesus called him. This is a huge barrier breaker!

Now look at Matthew’s response. He said, “Where we going?” No. “How long will we be?” No. “Why?” No.

He got up and followed him! When Jesus calls us to something, we just need to be quiet and do! Stop asking those faithless questions y’all!

Get up and follow him!

Jesus Comes To Where We Are

Matthew 9:10 ESV

And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples.

How many of you have ever made the distinction between church building and non-church building in terms of “don’t lie in church” or “don’t wear that to church” but its okay elsewhere?

Or how many of you try to avoid coming to church when you’re living in sin or made a big mistake?

Look at where Jesus met these people, in their home with a bunch of tax collectors and sinners.

Now this shows us two things. 1) Jesus meets us where we are. In our sin. In our shame. Jesus doesn’t ask for us to improve ourselves in order to commune with him. Because look at what exactly he’s doing with them. Reclining at the table. He is relaxed. He is there hanging out, socializing with these people.

The second thing this gives us is an example. We as Christians need to take note of what Jesus is doing. Instead of just inviting people to church and hoping that they show up and no one finds out that they’re an IRS auditor (tax collector). We should go and be with them where they are “recline” with them.

Meet people where they are. Don’t participate in the sin. But as long as its not a temptation, be there with them and love them in spite of the sin. Again, don’t participate in the sin, but if that is where the people are, be there.

I heard of a pastor, I’m not sure where he’s from, who would go to the same bar every Friday night and order a beer. He wouldn’t drink it. But it would be sitting in front of him. And he was able to share the Gospel with so many people through that. He was able to provide hope to a lot of hopeless people by just sitting in a bar and being present.

Jesus Comforts Where We Are

Matthew 9:11–12 ESV

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.

Now that brings us to the final point in this passage. Jesus comforts where we are.

Jesus came to save sinners. He didn’t come for those who claim to be righteous. He didn’t come for those who think they are well. He came to save sinners.

He came to provide hope to the hopeless.

So If you are hurting, swallow your pride and come to Jesus. If you are lost, stop searching and come to Jesus. If you are broken, stop trying to fix yourself and come to Jesus.

Jesus came to heal the sick. Both physically and spiritually.

Closing

In closing, we are about to partake in one of the two ordinances that Jesus institued for us. As we sing this song, I want you to focus on what God is telling you and calling you to. What is he calling you to add? What is he calling you to remove? Don’t just read the words off the screen and half-heartedly sing. sing this song as a prayer to the Lord.