Jesus Chooses Matthew as a Disciple
November 10, 2021
Commentary
The scene now shifts to the seaside (v. 13). Jesus chooses one man, Matthew to join Him as a disciple (v. 14). He was employed by the Roman government as a tax-gatherer which was a lucrative position. Tax collectors were renowned for dishonesty and extortion. They were detested throughout the Greco-Roman world. When Jesus said, “Follow me,” Matthew did not hesitate but immediately rose and followed. This new disciple must have been “well-to-do” for he was able to entertain a large crowd (v. 15). It seems that Matthew had planned a big meal to honor his Master and to say farewell to his old friends and to bring them into contact with Christ. The religious leaders regarded the tax collectors as sinners and untouchable. In fact he would have been as much of an outcast from orthodox Jewish society as the leper in Chapter 1 was.
A common complaint of the Pharisees was that the Lord was not particular enough in choosing His friends (v. 16). When Jesus heard this criticism He declared that it was the sick and not the well who needed a physician (v. 17). The one person who Jesus can’t help is the person who thinks himself so good that he doesn’t need anything done for him. The one person who Jesus can help is the person who knows he is a sinner and longs in his heart for a cure.
There are three callings that Levi received that could also be true for everyone else:
Everyone is called to repentance (v. 17). (Luke 5:32)After repentance comes a call to relationship. (v. 16)We are called to recovery (v. 17)The word of God is a spiritual prescription that, when applied will bring about healing to our minds.
Application
What contacts do my family and I have with non-Christians? How could this improve? How can I more effectively use these contacts to bring people to Jesus?
Mark 2:13– 17 (NET)
13 Jesus went out again by the sea. The whole crowd came to him, and he taught them. 14 As he went along, he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax booth. “Follow me,” he said to him. And he got up and followed him. 15 As Jesus was having a meal in Levi’s home, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When the experts in the law and the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 When Jesus heard this he said to them, “Those who are healthy don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Illustration: Prisoner Chooses His Last Meal Before Execution
A condemned prisoner awaiting execution was granted the usual privilege of choosing the dishes he wanted to eat for his last meal. He ordered a large mess of mushrooms. “Why all the mushrooms and nothing else?” inquired the guard. “Well,” replied the prisoner, “I always wanted to try them, but was afraid to eat them before!” (Source Unknown).