227 - Jesus Invites a Tax Collector to Join Him
- Gwen Diaz
- Aug 15, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 31
AUGUST 15 - Nº 227 Matthew 9:9-13; Mark 2:13-17; Luke 5:27-32
After healing the paralyzed man who had been let down through a hole in the roof (see #226 - August 14), Jesus left the crowded house to go for a walk beside the Sea of Galilee. But it wasn’t long before the people caught up with him. As they walked along, Jesus continued teaching. When he looked up, he saw a man named Levi (who was also called Matthew) sitting in the tax collector’s booth.
Since Capernaum was on an important trade route, the Roman government had set up a toll booth to collect money. A traveler passing through town on the via Maris (see #224 - August 12) had to stop and pay before he could continue his journey. The Romans also taxed the fishermen who made a living by netting fish in the Sea of Galilee. Then they taxed the merchants who transported the dried fish to other provinces. There seemed to be taxes on everything.
The people who collected these taxes were Jewish men who worked for the Roman government. The job was given to the person who promised to raise the most money for Rome. So the other Jews considered all tax collectors to be traitors.
After collecting the contracted amount, the tax collector was permitted to keep any extra cash for himself. So, many of them became extremely wealthy by defrauding their fellow citizens. This was another reason they were so unpopular.
And if someone refused to pay their taxes, the collector had the right to throw him in prison—and there was a whole garrison of Roman soldiers in Capernaum ready to enforce that penalty!
Not only were the tax collectors unpopular socially, they were outcasts religiously. The Pharisees and teachers of the law despised them and excommunicated them from the Jewish faith the minute they accepted the position. They were considered even more unclean than lepers!
So, when Jesus called out to a tax collector named Matthew, “Follow me!” The people who had witnessed his miracles were no doubt shocked. And when Matthew left his booth to walk along with them, they probably scattered. They had no desire to be seen hanging out with a tax collector!
Matthew took a big risk when he left his booth! By walking away he knew he would lose his lucrative income and never be able to return to his job. Plus, if a past client decided to get even with him for extortion, he would no longer have the protection of the Roman soldiers.
But Matthew chose to take the risk. Then he decided to host a reception for Jesus in his home. He invited many other tax collectors and a variety of “sinners” to join them.
The Pharisees and teachers of the law were appalled! They approached Jesus’ disciples and asked, “Why is your teacher eating with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus overheard them, so he answered, “Doctors do not cure people who think they are healthy. They cure people who are sick. I am not here to minister to people who think they are righteous. I have come to call people who know they are sinners to repent.”
Jesus was often accused of being a “friend of sinners.” And he never once refuted that accusation.
That doesn’t mean that he hung around and drank with sinners at keg parties! It means that he accepted them the way they were--then he offered them a better way to live their lives. He loved them enough to explain their need for repentance and cleansing. And they were drawn to his honesty and integrity.
Shouldn't we be willing to be a “friend of sinners” like Jesus was
for Matthew?
Like someone else was for us?
Shouldn't we bring others to him so that their lives can be transformed?
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