Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today we’ll look at the author of the first gospel, Tax Collector, Matthew

In today’s scripture, Matthew 9:9‭-‬13 (NLT), we read about another ‘scum alum’…
As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him. Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Consider…
In the series Chosen, the disciple Matthew is depicted as a meticulous record keeper, thorough note taker, and logical and factual story teller. His gospel focus includes…

• Jesus’ Messianic fulfillment of the old testament law and prophecies, with multiple cross-references to the original scriptures.
• Jesus’ introduction and explanation of His spiritual Kingdom
• Jesus’ Kingdom living teachings and expectations
• And God’s love for, and inclusion of, the marginalized and excluded people of religion

As a person that knew first hand the pain of disdain, it’s understandable that Matthew shared the interactions and love of Jesus in a very compassionate and impassioned way. Matthew also showed us that Jesus, like a good big brother, defended and protected the vulnerable, disrespected and disregarded people from the pious and judgdmental religious folks (Pharisees).

It just dawned on me, as an osterusized person, Matthew appreciated and showed Jesus serving the ‘unserved’ and excluded. Remember, the religious people looked down on and didn’t associate with scum, which meant the scum was probably not being served by the ‘church’. Yet, Jesus accepted the invitation and sat and fellowshiped with the ‘unserved’ and excluded.

Here’s something else we can learn from Matthew, He invited Jesus into his home and relationships. At my church we have a monthly fellowship meal, where we break bread with fellow believers, and share communion like the local church did after Jesus’ ascension. Well, when Matthew agreed to follow Jesus in today’s scripture, it says he invited Him and His disciples to a dinner party with himself and many of his fellow tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. Matthew shared Jesus with in his circle of influence.

This reminds of the Samaritan woman at the well who ran back to her town and told everyone she encountered, “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” – John 4:29 NLT

When’s the last time you invited someone to come see Jesus with you.

Notice, Matthew didn’t invite his fellow scum to church, He invited the church (Jesus and His disciples) to hang out with them. For some reason, Christians believe Jesus only attends church functions with churched people. But if we pay attention to Matthew’s account of Jesus’ life and ministry, we’ll notice he interacted with anyone and everyone wherever He encountered them. Do we?

And as for only including Jesus in religious activities, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that His first miracle was turning water to wine at a wedding, in obedience to His mother. 🤯

Matthew helps us to see that Jesus was never so heavenly minded that He was no earthly good. Nor was He so earthly minded that He was no heavenly good. Indeed he showed us how Jesus reached high and touched low, so that He lived out on earth heaven’s perspective in time (Tony Evans). He showed us how the King served the ‘unserved’ to build His Kingdom, and included the excluded. Matthew 22:8‭-‬9 (NLT) says…
And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor. Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’

In case you would like examples of who the ‘unserved’ and excluded includes, they were…

• Cussing fishermen (Peter,)
• Cheating tax collectors (Zacchaeus)
• Unclean and ostracized lepers (10 healed, one sealed)
• Lame and neglected folks laying by a pool of healing
• Blind men, from birth, presumably because of sin
• Disrespected and disregarded women. One caught in adultery; another who was a repeat divorcee and was now shacking up; and another who was demon possessed gentile that Jesus compared to a dog.

As a self-aware tax collector, Matthew shows us how Jesus lived out His stated purpose from today’s scripture, which was to call, and save, self-aware sinners.

The Apostle Paul put added additional clarity to Jesus’ purpose in Ephesians 3:6 (NLT)…
And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.

As a person despised by his fellow Jews and the church in particular, Matthew showed us that everyone is valued by God and can discover their value in Jesus.

People you know and associate with, whether present or past, don’t need to just hear about Jesus, they need to know that you know Him and be introduced.

Because of Matthew’s experience of not being valued, he was inspired to write a gospel that shows how Jesus values everyone, especially the ‘unserved’ and excluded.

How do your experiences inspire you to share Jesus with others?

Today’s song is…
Can You Reach My Friend
https://youtu.be/dLtxBFePSjg?si=SLJqJExS5XDaQXhJ

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)