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As Jesus was walking along, He saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and He said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him. (Matthew 9:9)
Good day, dear Friend. Can I add your name to those who have said Yes to Jesus? I pray so! Don't worry, I won't be digging up stuff on you (or me) so that I can write a devotional on you. But, I do hope our lives are having a positive and profound impact on those around us.
We find Matthew in the first three Gospels who tell us: Matthew was also called Levi. And as far as I know, he had nothing to do with blue jeans. Matthew means gift of God, which indicates this name was given to him by Jesus. We also believe that James, son of Alphaeus, who is also Matthew's father, was his brother. The one big fact we know about Matthew is that he was a tax collector. He was a civil servant, which is what the meaning behind the King James version has for publican. I should add there were no other class of men more hated than the tax collector in the ancient world. "Stapher calls them, 'a class of despised parish.'" Cicero spoke of trades unbecoming to a gentleman and being vulgar, "the trades of tax gatherer and usurer (De Officiis, 1, 42). Lucian, in his vision of the underworld (Hell) sees a long line of men being led to the throne of Minos where the Tormentors await them, and this line was made up of "adulterers, procurers, tax-collectors, toadies, informers...millionaires, and money lenders, pale, pot-bellied, and gouty." (Menippus, II).
For the Jews, the presence of Roman influence and government, and especially Roman tax-collectors, was a vile thing. It was considered unholy to pay tax to any one other than God. Jewish law prohibited tax-collectors from being either a witness or judge. He was also barred from worship, which was why the tax-collector in the parable stood far off. Even repentance was considered especially difficult for a tax gatherer. And the position lent itself for dishonest tax collectors to become rich.
Matthew was more of a customs officer, whose office was probably near the seashore. We read where Matthew, when he met Jesus, threw a big party in his house with his only friends, other tax collectors, because he wanted everyone to meet Jesus. Jesus was criticized for His even being with, let alone eating with tax collectors; and the fact that one of those could become a disciple says a lot even now, to you and me. No one stands so far off from God, that God cannot claim them back and use them for good. Luke in his gospel says Matthew left everything to follow Jesus (Luke 5:28). Ancient tradition has Matthew writing the gospel that bears his name. And it has been long held that his gospel was written with the Hebrews in mind; that all Jews might come to know the Savior, the Messiah of God. His account of the Sermon on the Mount has more in it than the other, for it was hitting home with him, a Jew and former outcast from society.
Matthew spent his life after Jesus' ascension as a preacher to the Jews. Clement of Alexandria says that Matthew was a vegetarian in that "he partook of seeds, nuts, and vegetables without flesh." (Paedagogus, 2, 1). There are several legends about his death, but the one thing we are certain of, is that Matthew lived and died for Jesus.
PRAYER: Loving God, make me a person of deep faith, like Matthew. Let my life reflect a commitment and joy that others will be blessed by, and desire for themselves. Mold me to know that you can use even me, away from that which I may despise about myself into becoming the one You can use. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Remember God always wants to claim you back for His use!
Eradio Valverde
