Follow Me Matthew

Matthew 9:9-13

June 8, 2008

Albertville

Rev. Michael A. Trask

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What was it like on that Day that Jesus called Matthew to be his follower? What was it like? I imagine Matthew sitting with his tax book in hand, behind a small table along a busy street. The noise of the crowd hides his silent cries for meaning, purpose, perhaps also for human intimacy. For you see, because of what he did, he was despised. Despised by the people of his town because he was s tax collector for the Romans. And tax collectors of those days were notorious for their sanctioned thievery. They overcharged and skimmed the difference and thereby enriched themselves on the backs of hard working people.

It must have been eating at Matthew: the way he lived and what he was doing to his own countrymen. When he first got into it, and before he thought about all the repercussions and snickered to himself like men do when they find easy money. As he progressed in his career he probably had contrived some rather clever rationalizations for why and what he was doing. Like the mafioso who insist that they “provide a valuable service” he must have said something similar to himself. But he wasn’t buying his own line of baloney anymore. His life; the way he was living had lost it’s luster

Presently, Jesus, the well known preacher who was gaining all manner of renown was coming down the street. Certainly he would have nothing but scorn for the likes of Matthew. For Tax collectors were traitors, scoundrels who were not even allowed in the synagogue. And Jesus is the one who had said “You can’t serve God and Money”... Matthew had thus far dedicated his life to money. He expected nothing but from Jesus.

The noon-day sun now blocked by a man’s shadow falls across his ledger page and the voice of God bid’s him to come....to come and follow. It’s impossible to explain what it all meant to Matthew at the moment, but the encounter with the Lord Jesus was on a grand enough scale that this well-to-do businessman gave up the only security he knew...to follow him. This one who spent the first part of his life serving money, would now serve God.

His own countrymen wouldn’t look at him, but Jesus looked at him and loved him. Jesus saw this obviously sinful man who had heretofore given his life to money as someone who needed to be redeemed and saved. And so he says, much to Matthew’s surprise: “Follow Me!” And Matthew did.

Striking, isn’t it? Out of all the possible people on that street, and he picks one of the biggest losers! HE pics Matthew! Obviously, Jesus has different criteria for choosing people than we do. The Pharisees were quick to notice this and asks: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus replied, “it’s not the healthy that need a doctor, but the sick.” Jesus of course, is the great physician of our souls, and like any physician his purpose was heal those who were sick...sick with sin. And when he saw Matthew, he said, now there’s a fellow that really needs my attention! Jesus called those people who understood their need for him. Matthew understood; Mary Magdalene understood; the woman at the well understood; Nicodemus understood; the rest of his disciples understood. All who truly followed Jesus understood their need

Do you understand? The shadow of the Savior has certainly fallen on your life. And you have heard his voice, haven’t you? You’ve heard him right in the middle of your everyday life you have heard the Lord Jesus say to you “Follow me !” in many and various ways. So do you understand your need for him? Do you now follow him, as in take him seriously as your Lord and your shepherd. Or is there something that is always holding you back and preventing you from truly following. Every person is different, of course, so there are different reasons why people balk at following Jesus

For Matthew the thing that stood between him and the Lord, was his Money and his tax collecting business. But when he followed Jesus, he left it all behind. Now to think that he just did this on a whim, is to suggest that Matthew was A Two-dimensional person. This wasn’t some hippy-like whim to get up and follow. I see Matthew, over time getting more and more guilt in his soul for the way he was living. I could also see Matthew, over time, getting less and less satisfaction over the money he was living for. It was a process wherein the events of his life were used to prepare him for that day when Jesus would say in his loving voice “Follow me” “Follow me Matthew” He understood his need for Jesus and he followed.

You understand your need don’t you? Will you have to leave something behind in order to follow? Maybe. For you see Jesus desires to transform us from a life of sin, to a life lived for him. First he forgives our sins, takes them away to the cross where they are put away for ever...as far as the east is from the west he removes our transgressions from us. But then, he says “Okay, now let’s rebuild your life the way it should be.” At first the thought of this is scary. I’m sure it was kind of a scary thing for Matthew to leave his business like that. But look what he got to do instead! Instead of writing in his Tax books, he got to write a book that tells the story of Jesus the Savior which has blessed billions: Matthew’s Gospel.

What sort of things does the Lord got in store for you? You’ll never know until you respond to him. Ask yourself this: “What things in my life prevent me from taking Jesus more seriously?” Dispense with these things! Confess the sinful attitudes or actions that are connected with them. See what happens!

Now usually, when something great happens in our lives like having a new child or Grandchild or around here, shooting a ten point buck, we can’t wait to tell others. We tell our friends. We show pictures. The same should be true for the Savior who has become part of our lives. And that’s exactly what Matthew did! He threw a big party at his house for Jesus, He filled the place up with sinners! In effect, he was saying to his friends “You’ve just got to meet this guy!” And he was right! You can do the same! Every Sunday we have great banquet in here (in this church) Jesus is the honored guest who is always in attendance. Why not say to your friends “You just have to meet this guy.” And we could fill this place up with sinners like us. And Jesus would pleased to forgive and heal and call them all his own disciples. AMEN