++ JESU JUVA ++

In the Name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today we learn what these words of Jesus mean: Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.

(The life of a tax collector)

Even more than the IRS is despised today, back in the first century, nobody liked tax collectors. Then, it was worse. Rome assigned them a quota. Anything extra went into the tax collector’s pocket. These thieves betrayed and cheated their own people and got rich in the process. Only the worst men, the shadiest, the most devious would pursue this life. Their only friends were those who shared in their sin.

What kind of man was Matthew? Muscular and intimidating? Or just sleazy? Intelligent and persuasive? Or just a cheat? Whatever motivated him, he had gone down a very dark path.

He was a thief, a breaker of the seventh commandment. He stole in a way that was legal (ninth commandment). The Roman government authorized him to steal inheritance and house from his neighbors, his own blood relatives, subverting and betraying his own nation (fourth commandment). It would be entirely unsurprising to learn that he stole by threatening violence and force (fifth commandment). And, oh yeah, he stole by claiming his fellow citizens owed more than they actually did. There's the eighth commandment: bearing false witness.

Matthew’s god was money (first commandment). He trusted in it. He feared losing it. He loved it above all else. Blatantly and consistently breaking so many of the Lord's commandments, he despised God’s Word (third commandment). He didn’t call upon the Lord’s name in faith or pray to Him (second commandment). Nor did he care what his neighbor's wife workers or animals did, so long as he got paid. He didn't care to urge them to stay and do their duty (tenth commandment).

So far we’ve only left out the command against adultery, but a rich man without morals will use his money in immoral ways. We see this from the text, too. Specifically in the question the Pharisees ask. They refer to “the tax collectors and sinners.” In Greek, each noun usually has a definite article attached to it — the word ‘the.’ But when the Pharisees speak of the tax collectors and sinners, they don’t say ‘the tax collectors and the sinners,’ but ‘the tax collectors and sinners,’ showing they belong together. If you see a tax collector, a woman of the city is likely not far away.

A tax collector’s sin was public knowledge. It put people in a very awkward position. If you wanted to keep the law by paying your taxes, you had to finance the tax collector's deviant behavior. Some percentage of the dollars you handed over for roads and schools and police would go to the neighborhood’s prostitutes. You'd probably be financing abortions, too. Sure, it paid their rent, but there are things worse than poverty. In this way, he forced the whole community to participate in his sin.

This is an aside, but this is also what happens when we permit publicly unrepentant sinners to commune. Then we are participating in their sin. Or when we pretend as though people who have cut themselves off from the church are still members in good standing. Sin has a way of spreading its infection to everyone.

No wonder Pharisees had such contempt for tax collectors. Even though they were hypocrites, the Pharisees were at least concerned about their outward behavior. But the tax collectors didn’t care that their sin was public.

Whether or how much Matthew was like a typical tax collector, we don’t know. But only a man without virtue would be found doing this kind of job. He probably took more money than he needed to. Having stolen his money, he probably used it in foolish and wicked ways. And even if Matthew never sinned in the ways I’ve described — he kept company with those who did. He knew them. He was friends with them. He spent time with them and ate with them. When he throws a party who shows up? Tax collectors and sinners.

(Call for Matthew to follow)

It’s shocking that Jesus would call Matthew. Jesus is recruiting men to be Christians and pastors; even to be apostles and authors of the holy Scriptures. You would think a Pharisee would be a better candidate. The Pharisees at least looked like Christians. It seems like Jesus would have less work to do on them than a tax collector. Yet Jesus chooses Matthew.

Even more, He chooses a tax collector who is currently neck deep in sin. He doesn’t wait for Matthew to stop collecting taxes and get his life cleaned up. He doesn’t wait for Matthew to become an honest man first. He doesn’t wait for Matthew to stop hanging out with the tax collectors and sinners.

Jesus intrudes on Matthew’s life. He walks up to the tax booth, looks at the man actively engaged in deliberate and high-handed sin, and calls him to be His disciple — His student. Matthew hears Jesus say, “Follow Me,” and he does it. Jesus speaks two words and Matthew’s life is forever changed.

Without hesitation, Matthew rises from his chair. He walks after Jesus. Not only does he leave the tax booth, he never returns to it. He forsakes all earthly treasures in order to gain treasures in heaven. The account is surprisingly simple.

And perhaps we neglect to realize how much courage this took to leave behind his old life. Staying in his sin was the easy way. Taking up his cross to follow Jesus was the hard way. But Matthew doesn’t abandon sin by his own reason and strength. Jesus has transformed by the power of His Word alone. Matthew has been converted. He is now righteous by faith.

(Matthew’s new life)