#1249 Matthew 9 Part 2 The Tax Man

 

9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

10 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9: 9-13 ESV

Matthew 9: 9-13

A man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth - This is an important intro to this section. A tax collector wasn't just someone who worked for the IRS, as bad as that may seem to some, and definitely wasn't your accountant or the sweet little old lady at H & R Block who helps you file. These men were considered traitors to their fellow Israelites, they were typically Jews who knew the area well, the people well, and were allotted districts to be the tax collectors for Rome. The Roman government expected a certain amount of money from each area, so in order for the tax collector to make money, he had to collect more than that. They were known for extortion, and not only with use of local thugs, but if anything happened to them they had the whole weight of Rome backing them up, so it was easy for them to fleece an area just like the mob. To most Jews, these men were unforgiveable and unredeemable. Matthew, also called Levi, was one of these men.

13Once again Jesus went out beside the sea. All the people came to Him, and He taught them there. 14 As He was walking along, He saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth. “Follow Me,” He told him, and Levi got up and followed Him. 15While Jesus was dining at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Him and His disciples—for there were many who followed Him.… Mark 2: 13-15

Follow Me, and he rose and followed Him - Now, some who Jesus called didn't actually leave what we would consider much, as far as wealth, but it was their lives and livelihood, as with the fishermen. Matthew, however, would be considered wealthy, another reason for him to be despised, not only did he serve Rome, but he also got rich off the backs of his countrymen in the process. Remember the rich young ruler, he wanted to follow Jesus, but he had many great possessions, a lot of wealth, and so he couldn't do it. The scribe did not want to give up his comforts, and another prospect wanted to wait for his inheritance. Matthew, Levi, gets up and follows Christ. 

…25Indeed, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” 27But Jesus said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”…

…28“Look,” said Peter, “we have left all we had to follow You.” 29“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30will fail to receive many times more in this age—and in the age to come, eternal life.”… Luke 18: 25-30

Jesus reclined at table in the house - We know from Mark that this is Levi's house, who is Matthew, so Jesus calls him, and he is a man of wealth, so he throws a banquet, why? Well, when you meet someone like Jesus, when you have a relationship like this, when a righteous man looks in your direction, and calls you, a sinner, a tax collector, a deplorable, and he says come follow me, well this is incredible news, and you want your friends to meet your new friend, your Master. Jesus is in the house of a tax collector, reclining at the table, this is very taboo to the Pharisees, because this is like a house of ill repute. 

Many tax collectors and sinners came - It just keeps getting worse. It's like being asked to dinner by Hunter Biden and having the "Big Guy" show up. Remember, to most Jews, especially the Pharisees, these were unpardonable men, men that steal from their country, traitors, extortionist, men for whom there is no hope. I have friends that wouldn't sit at a table with Joe Biden, could care less that he is going to hell, but if they read in the Book that they say their religion is based upon, well then they should pray for his soul, and also pray for him as their president, even though we didn't vote for him, because that is who God has allowed for us to have. Wicked rulers are a punishment for wicked people, a people who refuse to do what God ask, and one of those things is to pray for those who have rule over you. Stand up for what's right, tell the truth, but don't be a Pharisee. 

9I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people. 10I was not including the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.… 1 Corinthians 5: 9-11

Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners - Wow, well part of that didn't apply to them, the Pharisees probably weren't tax collectors, but the Bible says, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God', and 'there is none righteous, no, not even one." Pharisees were strict legalist that believed there was a God, the God of the Bible, but they had added their own religious system wherein they thought they were justified, by strict adherence to rituals and bad doctrine, the inventions of men, which Jesus corrected them on in Matthew 5 through 7. They were mad when Jesus forgave the paralytic, so now they must be fuming, He has added a tax collector to His band of disciples, and is eating with more tax collectors and sinners. They see themselves as in a position of moral superiority, but pride is the worse sort of sin, it is original sin, the sin of the devil, saying, "I will ascend to the throne of the most high." It is the sin of doubting God, of refusing to believe what God has taught through the law, and through the trials of Job, that there is none righteous, no one that stands before God on their own merit, everyone needs this Jesus who they find so offensive. It had to be hard for the disciples as well, for this flew in the face of the religious establishment. Some of Jesus's disciples were zealots, a group that hated Roman occupation, and would love to send them home in body bags. They wouldn't have picked Levi, they wouldn't have looked across the table at these tax collectors and thought, wow, what a beautiful mission field, this is my calling. I have to check myself with this as well. I work in the corporate world, and have sat in many a meeting with those I consider thieves, liars, ear ticklers, and weather vanes, but would God have it that I show them compassion, see their lives as more than just annoying? Shall I pray for them? I have often wondered when they asked Jesus, who is it that will betray you? I bet they didn't think it was Judas, you can tell by the way they write about him in retrospect, but Matthew, the tax collector, that's who would have come to my mind, but it wasn't him.

Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick - A beautiful answer, and people wonder why some pastors still preach about sin, because guess what, Jesus saves sinners. The Pharisees didn't see themselves as sinners because they had a works system of tithing, fasting and adding to what God said. The Sadducees didn't see themselves as sinners, because like the liberals of our day, they went with the culture, and if something didn't make them feel bad then it was no longer bad. God's word was more like a collection of poetry and wisdom sayings to them, and they decided that anything they liked couldn't possibly be sin.  

“Jesus aims at a mission among the reprobated classes, and His first step is the call of Matthew to discipleship, and His second the gathering together through him, of a large number of these classes to a social entertainment.” (Bruce)

…7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9Therefore, since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from wrath through Him!… Romans 5: 7-9

I desire mercy and not sacrifice - He tells them, who had read this, go figure out what it means. It is one thing to read through Scripture every day, checking off a box on your religious calendar, quite another to pray through, study through, know what it means and how it applies to you. He couldn't care less about their empty rituals.

…5Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth, and My judgments go forth like lightning. 6For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. 7But they, like Adam, have transgressed the covenant; there they were unfaithful to Me.… Hosea 6: 5-7

10Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah! 11“What good to Me is your multitude of sacrifices?” says the LORD. “I am full from the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I take no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. 12When you come to appear before Me, who has required this of you—this trampling of My courts?… Isaiah 1: 10-12

…2All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart. 3To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice. 4Haughty eyes and a proud heart—the guides of the wicked—are sin.… Proverbs 21: 2-4

Jesus didn't come to call righteous people, but sinners, so which are you?

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