A Paradigm Shift

Matthew 9:9–13 NKJV

As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him. Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

We see in chapters 8-12, Jesus demonstrating His power in various ways.

Leading up to this point, which His power is seen through the forgiveness of sin and over social customs.

A few examples include sickness, nature, and demons.

Today, I’d like to spend time digging into the Call of Matthew and the Paradigm Shift that Jesus presents to the Pharisees, hopefully transferring the principles toward today so we can make an applicable application in our lives and ministry as disciples of His.

The Call (9)

The Person of Matthew

Matthew (also known as Levi Mark 2:14) was a Jewish tax-collector in Capernaum.

As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office.

Matthew was most likely “very religious.” Not to the point of betraying his kinsmen, but to the point that he understood when The Rabbi called him (9:9), he left all to follow.

Matthew was well-educated and knew the region’s culture as well as it’s languages-Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic.

We know that Matthew loved money more than his own people; which brings us to...

The Job of Matthew

Matthew was a publican, or tax collector.

Why were these people hated?

They were tax collectors. Here’s a run-down of how the Roman tax collecting system worked.

At the top were the “Tax-buyers or Farmers.”

This person paid the Roman government for the right to collect taxes in a particular region.

With this privilege came not only the right to collect taxes, but levy tolls on imports and exports on the merchandise that came through the region.

The second level of the tax collecting pyramid were the “chief publicans.”

Luke 19:2 NKJV

Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.

The chief tax collector would then manage the third level of the pyramid.

(change to 3.) The Publican or tax collector as Matthew was known.

This person wouldn’t collect what was due, but what the market could bear...

It usually bore quite a bit since the tax collector had the Roman army at his disposal to help in the collecting of taxes.

This money would then funnel back up the pyramid, each person taking his cut until the government got theirs.

It’s true that corruption breeds corruption.

“I know my boss and his boss expect a higher cut, why not get some myself?”

This was one reason the people hated tax collectors. They knew exactly what was happening and couldn’t do anything about it.

The second reason that they hated tax collectors is that it was typically one of their own people who did the collecting.

What are a couple of reasons you’d want “someone on the inside” to do the tax collecting?

The Call of Matthew

Listen to the similarities in Matthew’s call to others...

Matthew 4:19 NKJV

Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Matthew 4:21 NKJV

Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them,

Matthew 8:22 NKJV

But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

How did Matthew respond to Jesus’ call? (Immediately followed!)

Not only did Matthew respond to the call and followed Jesus as a disciple and later as an apostle, he wore the description of a tax collector in his writings!

it was an odious name amongst the Jews, but Matthew, to magnify the grace of Christ in calling him, is not ashamed thus to describe himself, both here and chap. 10:3. He saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him. His word carried a secret power with it, which Matthew obeyed by leaving his employment and going after Christ.

Matthew Poole, Annotations upon the Holy Bible, vol. 3 (New York: Robert Carter and Brothers, 1853), 38.

Listen to what John Calvin said of Matthew and sinners such as tax collectors:

Matthew says that sinners, that is, men of scandalous lives and infamous reputation, came with the publicans. The reason for this is that the publicans, hated and abhorred by the people at large, did not shrink from such company. As a moderate punishment shames and humbles the sinners, harshness drives them to despair, so that putting aside all shame, they abandon themselves to a corrupt life. There was nothing wicked about collecting tribute or taxes; but when the publicans saw that they were rejected as godless and detestable men, they looked for comfort in the company of people who did not despise them; because, being disreputable, they shared their shame. Meanwhile they mixed with adulterers, drunkards, and their kind, even though they were not like them and detested their crimes, because they were driven to it by public hatred and rejection.

Joseph Haroutunian and Louise Pettibone Smith, Calvin: Commentaries (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1958), 337–338.

While thinking of Jesus’ call to Matthew let me offer a few things to consider before moving on:

Jesus went to Matthew.

Jesus extended grace and mercy.

Matthew responded immediately.

The Question (10-11)

The Backstory and Meaning of the Question

Matthew 9:10 NKJV

Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.

I love how the NKJV reads, “now it happened...” Reminds me of the person who starts a story with, “ok, here’s what happened...”, or “Ok, listen...”

First, Jesus goes to Matthew’s house and Matthew has invited tax collectors and sinners.

In the first century, when you said, “tax collectors and sinners” it was code for “the worst.”

Those in the 1st century typically used two words for “sinners.”

People like you and me. Literally the word meant, “people of the land.” Those who said they were Christian, but didn’t really act or look like it.

This instance means “professional sinners.” “The worst.” “The most disrespectful and criminal of people.” “Those who belong to groups that you wouldn’t feel comfortable witnessing to or being in their company during the day in your own neighborhood never mind at night in their own.”

Second, “the Pharisees saw it.”

Did they hear about it later and confront Jesus? Some commentators think so.

Were they hanging around with interest and possibly trying to entrap Him? I think this is more likely.

“Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Notice the second time this phrase was used? “Tax collectors and sinners”

It’s common usage. The Pharisees use it, and Matthew uses it.

Here are a few things to note:

The Pharisees did not respect Jesus.

“they said to His disciples.”

They didn’t ask Jesus, even though He was obviously close enough to answer.

They were insinuating that Jesus was one of them since He was eating with and spending time with them.

The Response (12-13)

Jesus’s Purpose Stated

“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.”

Listen to how this commentary from 1871 rewords Jesus:

“Ye deem yourselves whole; My mission, therefore, is not to you: The physician’s business is with the sick; therefore eat I with publicans and sinners.”

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 2 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 34.

Jesus is saying:

“You think you are fine, don’t worry about it. I’m here for those who know they aren’t.”

Mark’s gospel shares this same thing in 2:17

Luke does so in 5:32,

and Paul reminds Timothy in 1 Tim 1:15,

1 Timothy 1:15 NKJV

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

Jesus’ response clearly states His purpose as Savior.

Friend, have you been born again?

Have you realized that you too are in need of a physician, the Great Physician, and you can not stand before God without receiving the sacrifice that God Himself provided for you?

Listen to what Jesus does next...

“But go and learn what this means...”

Friends, He is talking to respected religious individuals and He says,

“You misunderstand scripture. Go learn what it says and you’ll understand what I’m saying.”

The Prophets are used as Validation

Hosea 6:6 NKJV

For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

Those who were supposed to know and understand the law, didn’t.

It wasn’t that Hosea was saying to substitute sacrifice with mercy, but to emphasize it more.

Friends, when we are sharing the gospel with another, or even correcting false doctrine, are we validating what we are saying by the correct usage of scripture?

The Purpose is Re-Stated

Finally, the third usage of “sinners” is used.

Here, Jesus is referring to the respectable of society as “righteous” and the outcasts as “sinners.”

Not only the marginalized, left out, but those who know they’ve sinned against God and don’t have any righteousness on their own.

As we close today, I want to encourage you in three ways:

Would you have the courage this week to love, care for, and share the Good News with those whom society has labeled as “outcast” or a “sinner?”

Have you spent enough time reading and studying the Old Testament to give a reasoned defense for the need for a Savior?

Have you recognized that you too are a sinner in need of a Savior?