9As 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.10Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners.11But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?”
12When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.”13Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show cmercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
Tax collectors were the scum of the earth in those days. They usually became wealthy by collecting more taxes than the people actually owed and pocketing the extra for themselves. A good Jew would rather associate with a prostitute than a tax collector. So this party at Matthew’s house was not going to be featured on “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous”. But read the last sentence again. These are exactly the people Jesus called, and is calling today.
You see, we are all sinners. We are all “scum”. What separates the followers of Christ from the rest of the world, is that the followers of Christ know and admit they are scum! If you can’t admit you are a sinner who deserves death, why would you need a savior who died for you? And if you are not going to associate with the lowly and the unpopular, how are you going to follow Jesus when he goes to the house of a modern day Matthew?
Lord, open my eyes to my sins, all my sins for all my life, and how depraved they are. Let me see how desperately I needed You and need You still so I can open more and more of my life to You. And Lord, give me the courage to leave my comfortable social circles and follow You wherever You lead me. Give me the courage to love the prostitute, the atheist, the prison inmate, drug addict, the homeless and the hopeless, for in reality, they are all just like I was before I met You. Beginner’s Online Bible Study *obbs*
