There was a new connection which began on that day when Jesus called to Matthew and said “follow me.” It was unlike any affinity or association that Matthew had ever had before. And of course, like us, there had been all kinds of relationships throughout his life. There had been that special and unique connection which most of have had with our parents. It is connected with, but different from that which we have with our siblings – our brothers and sisters. There are school and job-connected relationships. There are differing connections, friendships and unfriendships with our neighbors. Then there are church affiliations and affinities. There may be another couple dozen of these connections that we have with business men, social groups, and even things like citizenship relationships. And I suppose that each of those relationships ebb and flow in their quality and general nature.
Without a doubt the most important of all relationships is that one which is eternal. For the wicked – for the unbeliever – that important relationship is, in one way, non-existent. The lost are eternally separated from God. They are, one day, to be cast into the Lake which burneth with fire and brimstone for ever and ever. But for the believer there is an unbreakable bond, created and maintained by the omnipotent God. The strength of that connection is not actually based in God’s great strength. Rather, it is rooted in His grace, But that is not really our subject for this evening.
Despite Matthew’s position as an apostle of the Lord, we can look at him as a representative of all of us.
Let’s consider this relationship by starting with THE PERSPECTIVE OF LORD JESUS.
First, if we stick strictly with the scriptures, this association was initiated by Christ, not Matthew. There are some commentators, who read the three accounts of Matthew’s call and conclude that Christ and this man must have met sometime before this special call. And if we were confined to human logic, we might have to reach that conclusion. It might be that Matthew had heard about Christ, and from time to time had seen Him coming and going. And then on a couple of occasions he had the opportunity to hear what Jesus had to say. But of course, he had too much to give up to become a disciple of Christ. And besides, there was probably not another disciple in the world would want a Publican to join their little group. But on this occasion, here in Matthew 9, Christ stepped up and almost ordered Matthew to follow him. He couldn’t say “no.” This is what human logic might say.
But since there isn’t any scripture to even hint of such a thing, was that really the way it went? Who is to say that Matthew was not the mirror image of the paralytic man earlier in the chapter. That man who was dropped from the roof into Jesus’ presence, couldn’t follow Christ until the miracle. Who is to say that Matthew was not just a paralyzed, but the command of Christ to rise up and walk first gave him spiritual life, and then it gave life to his unwilling limbs, and he immediately left all to become a disciple? There is no reason to say absolutely that this was NOT the first time that Matthew met Christ.
Which ever explanation is the true one, it was Christ who initiated the relationship. And if Matthew was actually regenerated – born again – at this moment, the illustration is even greater. No man, spiritually dead in trespasses and sins, really takes the initiative in his salvation. It is the Lord, through the Holy Spirit who approaches the wicked and says “I want you to repent and look to me for eternal life.” In fact, scripture tells us that those actions which modern evangelists say are necessary for salvation – repentance and faith – are gracious gifts from God, not the products of man’s depraved nature. At some point Christ called this man to salvation. And whether or not it was in Matthew 9:9, it was here that the Lord called this man into His special service. There was a doubly special relationship between Christ and this Publican.
In some ways these two calls go hand in hand. To be a Christian is also to be a disciple – a learner, a student, then a worshiper, a servant, and one who should be bringing glory to Lord. But on the other hand there are a few very special aspects to this relationship to which the Lord calls specific individuals. Just a brief study of the conversion and then the call of Saul of Tarsus should point this out. The Lord has not called all His disciples to become pastors or foreign missionaries. He may have called me to be your pastor, but He has probably not given you the same kind of call. And I have not been called to be a prophet in quite the sense that Daniel or Jeremiah or even Paul were prophets. Matthew had a somewhat unique and special call from Christ.
Another part of their Divine/human relationship was common with yours and mine – acceptance. Matthew was a Publican, that is, he was an employee of the Roman government, collecting taxes from his Jewish neighbors to pass on to their enemies. But it wasn’t just because of their employers that these Publicans were so hated by the Jews. They were hated as much for their harshness, greed and corruption. Ask yourself why any Jew would want to endure their neighbor’s wrath to become a Publican? The answer had to be the love of money – the root of all evil. In that day, this was perhaps one of the quickest ways for an ordinary man to become wealthy. Despite Matthew’s past and current position; despite people’s attitudes towards him; Christ accepted him. The man was a sinner, and in that he was no different from any of the fishermen disciples. Christ didn’t care whether or not Paul had been a murderer and a persecutor of the first church. He said to all these men, just as I hope that He said to you – follow me.
Something else on Christ’s side of this relationship was Matthew’s baggage. I use that word euphemistically as people often do today. Being a member of the most hated part of society, who were the only friends and acquaintances of this man? He was like a social leper, who was forced to live in a leper ghetto, and whose only friends were lepers. But of course, Christ was well aware of that, and when Matthew began to follow Christ those spiritual lepers were sucked along in Matthew’s wake. Not only didn’t this disturb the Saviour, He took advantage of it. “They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.”
I am sure that if we used our imaginations we could come up with other aspects of Jesus’ side to this relationship.
But let’s consider YOUR side – I mean MATTHEW’S side of the equation.
First, when he heard the command of Christ, Matthew immediately arose from his desk at the custom booth. He was at work, we are told – “at the receipt of custom.” Perhaps it was at one end of a bridge, or at the gate of the city; or at some other place where business travelers had to pass. I don’t know what the criteria was which he used for his tolls, but it was probably determined by him. And it was large enough to pay what was demanded by the government and then enough to meet his designs as well. In other words, it was a very lucrative business. And yet all three scriptures suggest that he immediately got up and left it all. I wish I knew whether or not this endangered his life before his tyranical employers. Maybe there were dozens of greedy people just waiting for someone like Matthew to retire.
Matthew’s relationship with the Lord was not like that Balaam. That man had been trying to cling to his title as “prophet of God” while doing everything in his power to obtain a little “profit from man.” Matthew was not like Achan, pretending to be a soldier for the Lord, while collecting the gold, silver and fashionable clothing of the world. In other words, a key part of Matthew’s relationship with Christ involved sacrifice.
And yet…… stop and think about that “sacrifice.” What is it which the Lord asks us to sacrifice in order to have fellowship with Him? How about those Friday and Saturday nights in the bar, and the splitting headaches on Sunday morning? He asks us to save or redirect the money that we were wasting on drugs and alcohol. We are to leave those people who made us laugh in our drunkenness, but whom we despised when we were sober, and who equally despised us. Our sacrifices for godly fellowship are all sin-related in some way. And things that are sin-related are at the same time hurtful to us and pain-related. There is nothing that we should leave in order to enjoy the Lord, which we shouldn’t leave for a hundred other reasons.
I said earlier that the Lord knew what he was getting with Matthew, and He accepted it. There was a kind of stink which had adhered to the man and it hasn’t left as yet today – we still know that he was a Publican. However, to properly come to Christ involves repentance. He had a change of heart and mind, which proved itself in a change of life and lifestyle. He had a change of heart about sin and about God the Father and Christ, His Son. Like Zaccheaus, Matthew forsook his cheating, his greed and his association with the Roman government. But was he asked never to laugh or smile again? Certainly not. Were there never any jokes between the disciples? Were the disciples of Christ constantly starving and in want? Was their work tedious or constantly dangerous? Was there no joy, no peace, no challenge, no hope of victory? We must sacrifice a few things in order to enjoy full fellowship with Christ, but not nearly as many things as the world like to suggest.
All three gospels tell us that Matthew “followed” Christ. That means exactly what you might imagine that it means. Matthew became a disciple, a student of Christ, attending and listening to the things that Jesus’ taught. He moved from place to place, following the Lord down to Jerusalem, and up north toward Phoenecia. His call appears to have taken place prior to the Sermon on the Mount, so he was there to hear that. He helped serve the thousands of people when the Lord multiplied the bread and fish. He may have helped to bring injured and infirm people to the Saviour for healing. Out of curiosity I looked up all the references to this man in the New Testament. Did you know that unlike Peter, James and John – the so-called leaders among the disciples – Matthew is never described in a negative way – other than references to his former occupation. For example, he is never specifically described as acting in unbelief, like one or two of the others. He didn’t deliberately join Zebedee’s sons in the debate about personal greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew was a good disciple and the work that he left us in this gospel is immensely valuable.
But there is one thing in this relationship with Christ which is just a bit intriguing. We know this man as “Matthew,” but it appears that the disciples call him by another name – “Levi.” Mark’s version of this episode basically agrees with Luke’s, and Luke wrote – “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. And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.” What should we make of this difference in names – if anything at all. “Levi” is an ancient Hebrew name which means “union.” Its origin is found in Leah’s, his mother’s, words in Genesis 29:34 – “This time will my husband be joined unto me.” There was trouble in the house of Jacob because of his polygamy and family quarrels. The first time that the name “Levi” was used – grew out of those problems. Is “Matthew” a better name? It isn’t for me to say. It means “Gift of Jehovah.”
But John Gill has something interesting to say about this man’s two names – “The other evangelists call him Levi, who was the son of Alphaeus: he went by two names; Mark and Luke call him by the name, which perhaps was the more honourable, or the least known, on purpose to conceal the former life of the apostle, which might expose him to the contempt of some; but he himself chooses to mention the name by which he was most known, as an apostle, and that the grace of God might appear the more illustrious in his calling and conversion.” I’m not sure that I want to completely agree with the honourable Brother Gill in this. It appears to me that Levi was the more common name, and one which tied him to his Father. Mark 2:14 – “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.” It also appears to me that meaning of “Matthew” is more noble than that of “Levi.” But who am I to quarrel with the venerable John Gill?
My point in all this is the question, “What sort of name do you have in your relationship with Christ?” I am speaking metaphorically, but should you have a new name, to go along with your new life in Christ? What sort of reputation did you have before your conversion? When your old friends – or your old enemies – hear your name or picture your face, do their thoughts automatically associate your name with “Publican – IRS agent?” Were you known for your nasty negativisim? Should there be a new name to go along with your new nature? Since there is a new relationship, perhaps there should be other new things in your life as well.
Finally, as we see here in this scripture, Matthew was anxious to introduce others to the Saviour. This was a part of his new relationship. “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. And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.” Why did Matthew invite his co-workers to sit down to eat with Christ and himself? It wasn’t in order to entice the Saviour to hire on as a tax collector. And it wasn’t in order to tarnish the reputation of the Lord. There could be no other answer but that his new believer wanted his friends and associates to believe on Christ as well. This man with new life in his soul, knew full well the nature of his old friends. “I am a sinner saved by grace, and these people whom I have known for years need that grace as well. The very least that I can do is try to introduce them to the Saviour.” As I implied last week, this should be the desire of every Christian. We should yearn to broaden our relationship with Christ enough to include others.
What sort of relationship do you have with Christ? What is the quality of that relationship?