THE CALL OF MATTHEW

Matthew 9:9

In this verse, Jesus calls a tax collector. Shepard gives us insight into this tax collection system pointing out there were two types of tax collectors—the ordinary tax collector and the custom house official. He tells us:

“Levi was a custom-house official. The Talmud distinguished between the tax collector and the custom house official. The Gabbai collected the regular real estate and income taxes and the poll tax; the Mockhes, the duty on imports, exports, toll on roads, bridges, the harbor, the town tax, and a great multiplicity of other variable taxes on an unlimited variety of things, admitting of much abuse and graft. The very word Mockhes was associated with the idea of oppression and injustice.” [J.W. Shepard, THE CHRIST OF THE GOSPELS, 142]

Being a Mockhes, Matthew was disliked by the general public and official Judaism. He was a hired hand of Rome. His social rank was that of the lowest of the low—being classed with such people as gamblers, thieves, harlots, and men of no good. Men in this position were detested; they were seen as licensed robbers. Such was Matthew.

Jesus sees Matthew at work and calls him to follow him. Luke and Mark call him Levi by name. Many who question and doubt the text, suggest that they are not the same person, but the reasons given are based on a bias against the trustworthiness of the text and are weak to say the least. It is likely, since Jews could have two Semitic names; Matthew used his preferred name here. Or, another reasonable but weaker possibility, is that like Peter, Jesus changed Levi to Matthew, although we do not have any statement as such in Scripture. There is no good reason to believe they are not the same person. It is clear that Jesus took the initiative to call Matthew. The call and salvation of God is always at the initiative of God. Matthew immediately responded and followed Jesus. He risks all to follow His Lord. In salvation God acts, man reacts. It is how we react that determines the outcome. Matthew reacted in faith and followed Jesus. He is a testimony to the transforming power of God.

Matthew would serve well. He had a heart for the mission of Jesus. He had skills that become evident, for as a tax collector, he would have been experienced in record keeping. It is believed that Matthew is an author of a record of Jesus sayings (a view of tradition), as well as the author of the Gospel of Matthew. He may well have been the record keeper of the Twelve. He left the life of a tax-collector, but he took his pen. Barclay says “Here is a shining example of how Jesus can use whatever gift a man may bring to him. It is not likely that the others of the Twelve were handy with a pen…this man, whose trade had taught him to use a pen, used that pen to compose the first handbook of the teachings of Jesus, which must rank as one of the most important books the world has ever read.” [Wm. Barclay, DBS: MATTHEW, 1:339]. Interestingly, there is no record of his speaking in the Gospels. Matthew let his pen speak, and it has spoken for over 2000 years.

Lessons

• It is God who called and saved us. He works in our lives.
• This call is by grace, not merit (cf. 1 Cor. 1:26-31).
• The only acceptable way to react to God is by faith and obedience to His call.
• God uses what is in our hand. A pen was in Matthew’s hand. What is in your hand? He will use it if you will let him.