Matthew 9:9-13

Matthew 9:9-13
The Bible uses many different circumstances and even various words to describe the salvation experience of individuals. Yesterday, we saw that Jesus forgave the paralyzed man's sins. We might say He pardoned him--released him from the penalty of his offenses. Today we see that Jesus told Matthew, "Follow Me!" And Matthew obeyed and indeed followed Jesus. In each instance, as well as many other instances in the Bible, the person believed on Jesus and trusted Him for salvation.

The opening of this story strikes me as a little odd! Jesus "saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. 'Follow me,' he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him." v. 9  Now think about this for a minute. Who wrote the Gospel of Matthew? This is not a trick question! Matthew is telling his own story here! I'm not sure whether or not this telling of the story in the third person has any significance or not, but perhaps it shows that Matthew wants the focus on Jesus rather than on himself.

Matthew was a tax collector, among the much despised because they were corrupt, overcharging the citizens and pocketing the excess. Realizing his sin and repenting of it, he followed Jesus trusting Him for his salvation. As far as we know, Matthew left this dishonest profession and never returned to it. However, he did have compassion on other tax collectors and other sinners. He invited them to his home along with Jesus! The desire for others to trust Jesus is evidence that his conversion was real. The Pharisees were "religious" people who did not know or would not admit that they were sinners as well. They criticized Jesus for eating with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus gave this classic answer, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick." v. 12 Only when we know we are helpless sinners in need of a Savior can we be saved. Jesus' offer of salvation to us as sinners is His greatest act of mercy! He cannot help those who believe they are righteous through their own good works, but He is ready and willing and able to save the sinner who repents. Praise the Lord!