Following the Lord Jesus Christ: #27 The Calling of Matthew

After the healing miracle of the paralytic, Jesus travels out of the city to the sea side. Of course, the multitude follows him and he continues to teach them. In word and in deed, Jesus always shows the will of the Father. (The color of the words in the scripture indicates the information that is unique to that gospel: Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The words in boldface are recorded in all three gospels. You can read the complete section in each of the gospels at the bottom of this blog.)

Matthew 9:9; Mark 2:13,14; Luke 5:27,28
And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.
And after these things as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man named Matthew, a publican named Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. And he left all, arose and followed him.

The city of Capernaum provided port for many ships from towns across the Sea of Galilee, with several major roads for caravans traveling to centers of commerce in Europe, Asia, and northern Africa. As a province of Rome since 6 A.D., Judaea had been subject to Roman taxation. And Jewish publicans who collected the taxes were regarded as little less than traitors to their nation.

Of the two classes of publicans, the Gabbai collected taxes on land, property, and income, as well as the poll-tax (a set sum each year for every provincial man and woman, bond or free).

The other class of publicans, the Mokhes took in tax and duty from all imports and exports, anything bought or sold, as well as structural taxes for the use of bridges, roads, harbor-dues, and town-dues. The “great” Mokhes had the contract with Rome for collecting taxes in the provinces. Matthew was one of the “little” Mokhes who did the dirty work of collecting them.

From the tax collector’s office in Capernaum, Matthew had a great vantage point to see the crowds following Jesus, to hear his teachings, and to witness the power of God to heal and deliver. On this day, as Jesus travels back through town from teaching at the seaside, he sees Matthew sitting at the receipt of custom, and he most unexpectedly invites him to, “Follow me.”

And it seems that Matthew was ready for the invitation! He must have heard the Word of love, of repentance and acceptance; he would have seen the sick and tormented be healed and delivered. And he must have yearned to become a disciple of Jesus. For he immediately leaves all—his livelihood, his possessions, his power—to follow Jesus. What a glorious day that turned out to be. Not only for Matthew, but even more so for us today who can read the gospel he wrote, revealing Christ, the King of Heaven!

Complete Gospel Account

Matthew 9:9
And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

Mark 2:13,14
And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.
And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.

Luke 5:27,28
And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.
And he left all, rose up, and followed him.

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