Jesus Eats with Sinners at Matthew's House ~
Matthew calls himself Matthew, but Mark & Luke call him Levi. What's the deal?
"The answer is very simple. Both are true because Matthew and Levi are the same person. Matthew is the Greek name and Levi was the Hebrew name. As a tax-collector, Matthew worked for Greek-speaking Romans. He gathered taxes from Hebrew-speaking Jews." http://carm.org/bible-difficulties/matthew-mark/was-taxman-named-matthew-or-levi
Have you ever read a passage of Scripture & thought, "What's the deal?" Well, fortunately for you, you live in the twenty-first century where the Internet is just a click away. CARM.org (Christian Apologetics and research ministries) is one of my favorite sites for answering difficult questions. It provides simple, easy-to-understand answers to many questions you might have. So, don't read the Word & be left wondering. Get on-line & find some answers! I would offer one piece of advice though - Get your answers from a reputable site. If the site has to do with New Age, Christian Science, or Agnostic/Atheism - don't get your facts from them! They are simply twisting God's Word. If you read something that doesn't seem to line up with the rest of Scripture - don't listen to it.
Now, on to the rest of this passage. Matthew was a tax collector. These men were pretty much despised by the Jews because, while they were Jewish, they worked for the Roman government collecting taxes. For their work, they earned a commission, which they set themselves. So, many tax collectors collected very high taxes, making high commissions. If you didn't pay, well they had all sorts of power to force your hand. So, basically, they were seen as traitors & cheats.
But Jesus didn't see Matthew that way. Jesus looked into his heart & saw a man that would do great things for the Gospel. In fact, Matthew is the author of the Gospel of Matthew (go figure.) Now, when Jesus called, Matthew followed. He left behind a very high paying job to be a missionary. That takes faith - a good bit of faith. Matthew was honored by the call & he had a party for Jesus.
Who came to the party? Matthew's friends. See, Matthew didn't have upstanding Jewish friends, no they wouldn't spend time with a traitor like him. Matthew had "sinners" for friends. People that didn't line up with the Pharisees idea of right. Did Jesus turn up his nose at these people? No! He accepted the invite & hung out with them. Now, Jesus never sinned, so He was able to hang out with out sinning. Hmmmmm . . . I think we need to take this lesson to heart when we spend time with non-Christians. We don't need to make them feel bad for what they do, but we don't need to enter into sinful behavior with them.
Of course Jesus was questioned about His behavior & I find His answer very interesting: He quotes a verse (another prophecy) from Hosea. Hosea 6:6 in fact. Jesus didn't come to save the already saved. Jesus came to offer hope, mercy, and eternal life to those who had no clue what those things were. Jesus told people - I am the way, the truth, and the light. Follow me. Leave behind that life of sin that's just dragging you down & find out what life is really all about. Find joy, peace, grace, mercy, & salvation in me. He's calling you to that life, are you living it?
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