Part 11 - Jesus Calls Matthew Series

The Commission

Part 11 – Jesus calls Matthew the Tax Collector

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith – www.PS127.org

WELCOME

INTRODUCTION TO SERMON

† Jesus receives the Holy Spirit

† Jesus calls His Disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter, John & James, Philip & Nathanael

† Continues on to Cana in Galilee where He performs His first Miracle

† Now calls more Disciples

PRAYER FOR HOLY SPIRIT AND UNDERSTANDING

SCRIPTURE READING

Matthew 9:9-13

“9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ’sinners’?"

12 On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ’I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

INTRODUCTION

Up to this point there were 6 Disciples with Jesus who had just come from the wedding in Galilee with Him.

Andrew, Simon Peter, John & James, Philip & Nathanael (or Bartholomew)

Today we see Jesus calling Matthew.

We know from clues in the Bible when and in what order Jesus called the first six Disciples, but were not exactly clear of the order of the last six.

I believe it was within just a few days of calling the first six.

Jesus was beginning His ministry and need those close to Him He could trust, and work with Him for His Father’s Kingdom, not against Him, as we will se as He goes through His ministry.

Matthew was sometimes called Levi, or Levi son of Alphaeus.

He was from Capernaum.

He wrote the Gospel of Matthew, and his name means “gift of God”.

Matthew was both patient, and hospitable.

What we learn from Matthew in the scriptures is that Jesus Christ is for everyone, even sinners and outcasts.

I. Matthew left all to follow Christ.

a. Matthew was gainfully employed, yet left all to follow Jesus.

b. The other disciples left their careers as well to follow Jesus, because they listened to the Holy Spirits direction.

c. We see that all the disciples to this point have put Jesus before money.

d. The love of money is the root of all evil.

1 Timothy 6:10-11

“10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.”

The love of money leads to all sorts of sin and falling away from the Lord.

Those who love money, the scripture says, wander away from the faith and pierce themselves with many griefs.

Do you have many griefs in your life?

Have you wandered from the faith and are you piercing yourself because of your love for money?

e. The love of money also ushers in pride, these are footholds for the devil to come in.

f. The devil preys on idle hands and minds.

g. Jesus must come before your money and you must extinguish your pride, or you can not have a relationship with Jesus.

h. The disciples didn’t think twice, but forsook everything to follow the Lord.

i. Are you willing to do so?

j. Matthew did.

Follow me – Jesus says

a. We don’t know what else was said, but the call of Jesus and the answer of the one called by the Holy Spirit.

b. The scripture says “and he arose” which means he immediately answered the call. Not tomorrow, not later when it’s more convenient, not in 20 years when I retire from work. Immediately!

II. Matthew invited Jesus and His disciples to dinner at his house.

a. Although Jesus says follow me, we must accept His invitation and invite Him into our homes, and hearts.

b. Many came with Matthew to eat with Jesus and the Disciples.

c. Tax Collectors and sinners.

d. When the Pharisees saw this they asked the disciples, “Why does (your) teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

III. Jesus explains His ministry.

a. Jesus heard them questioning the disciples and answers them.

b. It’s not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick (sinners).

Jesus was saying, “It’s the sinners who need salvation”

“It’s those who are enslaved who need to be freed”

Jesus came for the sinners; He said “I came not to judge the lost, but to save them.”

This includes all sinners, not just the ones we feel are forgivable.