The Son of Alphaeus

Pastoral Prayer (Adoration and Invocation)

Jesus sees what we can become even while we are lost in our sins. Christ saw in the disfigured life of Levi (tax collector) a Matthew (writer, evangelist, collector of souls)

R. Kent Hughes

Key Question: Who am I in light of God’s Call in My Life?

What is So Bad About Tax-Collectors?

Luke 18:10–14 “10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 “The Pharisee stood and was praying these things to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14 “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other, for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.””

These men and their families are the embodiments of outside oppression to the Jewish people.

The tax collectors would decide to obtain the licenses to charge their own countrymen taxes for the Roman Empire, and to swindle them.

The act of treason made the Tax Collectors, taking up the oppression of their fellow Jews, made them into a byword for the second lowest form of sinfulness among the people only better than a gentile, though not by much.

The publican stood afar off and beat his breast and said, ‘God be merciful to me, a sinner.’ I tell you that man had the finest theology of any man in all England.

Charles Spurgeon

The Word of God Keeps Preaching and Gathering Crowds. (v. 13)

Jesus continues the teaching ministry in Galilee; preaching being the centerpiece of his ministry.

This emphasis is critical because the region is under gentile rule, and out of a place of darkness, light comes into the world. (Isaiah 9:1-7)

The many miracles, and the demonstrations of power before the teachers of the law are garnering more attention and more people are moved to musing over this Itinerant Teacher and Prophet.

Mark 1:45 “45 But he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news around, to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but stayed out in desolate areas; and they were coming to Him from everywhere.”

The Son of God Calls the Son of Alphaeus, and He Follows. (v. 14)

Hosea 4:1 “1 Listen to the word of Yahweh, O sons of Israel, For Yahweh has a contention against the inhabitants of the land, Because there is no truth or lovingkindness Or knowledge of God in the land.”

Similar to the Leper, if not worse, Matthew (Levi) is despised by his neighbors because he is part of the oppression of his people by the violence-loving Romans.

Matthew, similarly to anyone who is despised, finds comfort in the routine of being a”tax farmer,” collecting taxes where possible to enrich Rome, the Chief Collectors, and Himself. His Sin is now part of Whom he identifies as Himself.

Just like the leper and the paralytic, Levi is given a human connection by a simple invitation— “Follow Me.” Jesus does not see Him as an enemy worthy of objection and dismissal. Jesus sees Him as a Friend.

Matthew 5:43–48 LSB

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 “And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Key Question: Who am I in light of God’s Call in My Life?

The knowledge of God is the great hope of sinners.

Charles Spurgeon

The Word Calls Me to Consider…

The booth of my sin nothing in comparison to the loving call of my Savior.

Similar to Mathew, the call to salvation, is a gift of God.

Where God Calls, the Answer is Simple: Follow.