Matthew chapter 9, verse 9.
Jesus passed on from there.
As Jesus passed on from there,
! He saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth,
! And he said to him,
follow me.
And he rose and followed him.
Matthew profiles Matthew.
Now, based on volume,
the longest autobiography written
is a six-volume book called My Struggle,
written by a Norwegian author, Karl Ovek Nashgar.
The word count is approximately one million words,
3,600 pages long.
I have no idea what his struggles were,
but clearly he struggled with brevity.
But by stark contrast,
volume one of Matthew's autobiography
is no more than a brief paragraph,
and we have just read it.
Matthew 9, verse 9.
Around 30 words,
you might say no more than a snippet
of his life story,
but it is significant
because here,
Matthew profiles Matthew.
Here,
Matthew writes just a little about himself.
This is where Matthew tells us
of how Matthew came to follow
the Lord Jesus Christ.
Yes,
little is written,
but I hope,
as we'll discover
over the next half hour or so,
much is said.
It's also one of the
shortest personal testimonies
you are likely to read,
but it does not lack substance.
I want us this morning to notice
that Matthew is both concise
and comprehensive.
in the details he shares.
We have here the vital statistics,
and they are indeed
a significant to note.
There's also this.
I often hear people say,
I don't have a testimony
that's worth sharing.
Well, take some encouragement
from Matthew, if you will,
because a personal testimony
need not be
a lengthy and detailed account
of how we came to faith
in Jesus Christ.
The gospel writer Matthew
writes a very short account,
but it leaves a lasting impression
on the reader,
does it not?
So where are we going with this today?
Well, we're going to assess
here in verse 9,
just this one verse,
how this significant development
unfolds.
We're also going to explore
what we might glean from it,
from a missional
and theological perspective.
So we're coming to this
under two headings.
Matthew called by Jesus.
Matthew committed
to Jesus.
So let's begin
by looking at how
Matthew
was called
by Jesus.
Now,
the first thing I want us
to notice
is that the Lord Jesus
is always,
always strategic
in his work
and ministry.
The Lord Jesus
is always
missional.
You see that
across the landscape
of the four gospels,
Matthew, Mark,
Luke, and John.
What I mean by this
is that we never see
Jesus wandering aimlessly
from place to place.
Verse 9 begins,
as Jesus passed on,
or you might
put it another way,
or as Jesus went on
from there,
as he passed on
from there.
That implies
a predetermined
divine plan,
all of which
revolves around
fulfilling
God the Father's
redemptive
purposes.
We have here
the unfolding.
It's a work in progress.
We call it
the plan
of salvation,
and it is being
fulfilled here
in a very personal way
at a tax
collector's
booth.
note, too,
in John 4,
4,
John tells us
of how Jesus
had to go
through Samaria
to engage
with a much
despised
Samaritan woman
at Jacob's
well.
So,
in a very similar
vein,
Matthew is telling
us here
that Jesus
had to walk
by the
Sea of
Galilee.
Luke tells us,
Luke gives us
more geography
in his
account
of Matthew's
incident.
So,
he had to
walk by
the Sea of
Galilee
to engage
with Matthew
at this
local
tax booth.
And it is
there
that Jesus
calls
the writer
of this
gospel,
a tax
collector
whose name
is Levi,
surnamed
Matthew,
the name
by which
he is
widely
known,
of course,
in the
early
church.
So,
what is
so significant
about this
tax booth,
this tax
point?
Well,
this is
Matthew's
workstation
that we're
being introduced
to here.
It's his
office.
The shores
of Galilee
and the
surrounding
areas are
his province,
his domain,
his catchment
area.
Now,
I want to
emphasize that
this is
not,
and it's
very apparent
to see this,
of course,
the evidence
is before us,
this is not
an Acts
9,
road to
Damascus,
explosive
conversion
account,
far from it.
There is
very little
drama
about
Matthew's
story.
And again,
perhaps we
can draw
some crumbs
of encouragement
from that
point,
because is it
not reassuring
for anyone
here today,
whoever you
are.
Maybe it
is the
case that
you are
waiting,
waiting for
the drama
to unfold,
waiting for
an earth-shattering
development to
happen to you
before you
become a
follower of
Jesus Christ.
Well,
let me say to
you,
I know in
certain terms,
that's not
how it
works.
There are
exceptions to
the rule,
but we are
exploring the
rule.
Across the
landscape of
Scripture,
you will find
that there
are multiple
conversions
that are
uneventful.
people.
Let me
take you
back to
the pages
of the
Old Testament
to 1
Kings 19
9.
It's that
very significant
moment where
the Lord
spoke to
Elijah.
How did
that happen?
Well, the
Bible tells
us that it
wasn't in
a hurricane
force wind.
No,
God's voice
is absent.
It wasn't
in an
earthquake,
and it
wasn't in
the fire.
It came
in the
sound of
a low
whisper,
a still,
small
voice.
Maybe
that's how
God is
speaking to
you today.
I pray
that you
will hear
His
still,
small,
low
whisper,
because when
you do,
it will
be loud
enough
to
rattle
you.
This is
the dynamic
of Matthew
9.
It's all
very
ordinary.
So you
might say
it's just
another day
at the
tax collector's
booth for
Matthew.
He's engaged
in his
work,
pen to
hand,
applying and
collecting
taxes
accordingly
from those
who are
under his
jurisdiction.
But verse
9 really
is a
turning
point.
So what
is the
turning
point in
this verse?
Well,
it revolves,
of course,
around the
Lord Jesus.
We see
Him walking
along,
He's
passing
by,
and it's
not by
coincidence.
Coincidence
is not a
word you'll
find in the
vocabulary of
divine
providence.
This is by
divine
appointment.
Jesus is
seeking out
disciples,
and He
calls
Matthew.
I want
us to
notice here
how Jesus
singles him
out,
just as He
called Simon
and Andrew
and James
and John
back in
chapter 4,
with the
exact same
formula,
and it's a
recurring formula
on the pages
of the gospel.
You will find
it time and
time again,
just two
words,
follow me.
But much,
much more
than just
two words,
there's
something very
personal,
something very
persuasive,
and indeed
powerful about
this formula,
as we'll see
in a moment.
So,
let's ask the
question,
what do we
know about
Matthew?
Well,
at this stage,
not a lot
other than
his father's
name.
Mark tells
us in Mark
2 that
Matthew,
Levi,
is the
son of
Alphaeus,
but Matthew,
Mark,
and Luke,
the three
gospel writers
who profile
this incident,
tell us that
Matthew is
a tax
collector,
and that's
arguably not
the best
introduction
by way of
public
perception,
at least
back in
the first
century world.
Think of
Matthew as
a New
Testament,
a New
Testament,
Naaman.
Who was
Naaman?
2 Kings
chapter 5,
verse 1,
we're introduced
to this
high-profile
figure,
a man of
status.
He's introduced
as the commander
of the army
of the king
of Syria,
a great man,
the Bible tells
us,
highly regarded,
a man
of valor,
indeed a
mighty man
of valor,
but,
he was
a leper.
You see,
Matthew has
the leprosy
factor.
Yes,
he has a
respective
pedigree,
but he
was
a tax
collector.
The King
James
version uses
the word
publican.
He was a
publican,
a man
much
despised
who farmed
public
revenue
with greed
and
unfairness.
Names
stick,
just like
Naaman the
leper,
so,
Matthew the
tax
collector
is not
without
stigma.
Indeed,
just like
the leper,
we meet
back in
chapter 8,
in the
previous
chapter,
it's how
the chapter
begins,
Jesus
cleanses
a letter,
well,
just like
the leper,
a Jewish
tax
collector
like
Matthew
was
labelled
ceremonially
unclean,
thought of
generally as
a filthy,
meddling,
middleman,
of ill
repute.
Think of
Matthew as
a traitor
who has
very few
friends.
Here is
someone who
collaborates
with Rome,
collecting
taxes on
behalf of
the empire,
that's his
day job.
He's less
than patriotic,
we see him
working here
under Roman
duress,
offering a
toll booth
for Herod
Antipas,
the tetra
of Galilee.
You see,
Matthew is
also frowned
upon by
the religious
leaders,
the scribes
and the
Pharisees,
who are
always
prowling
around.
They see
him as a
defector
and as
an apostate.
The
taxation
system back
then was
corrupt
and was
considered
fraudulent
at the best
of times.
Many tax
collectors
pocketed
commission,
inflation,
inflated
payments
from the
taxes
themselves.
Cue
Zacchaeus,
the chief
tax collector
of Jericho.
He's profiled
in Luke
chapter 19,
so you might
say,
Matthew,
Zacchaeus,
birds of a
feather.
So whether
Matthew did
or not,
whether he
was an
embezzler
or not,
he would
have been
tarred with
the same
brush as
his fellow
tax collectors,
a fraudster,
a swindler.
This negative
state of
status went
before him.
He couldn't
shake it off.
He was
guilty by
association.
the Jews
who,
this is a
Jew who
interacts
with Gentiles,
non-Jews,
and is
hated by
his fellow
Jews,
branded
unclean.
His home
is even
labeled
unclean.
We'll say
no more
about that
because tonight
we're going
to be spending
time in
Matthew's
home.
Then,
then,
along
comes
Jesus.
We're going
to pause
at this
point because
it is
significant,
is it
not,
that Jesus
does not
pass him
by.
We don't
see Jesus
tutting,
shaking his
head in
judgment at
Matthew.
Neither does
he give him
a wide
berth or a
disparaging
glance as
many others
would have.
I want us
to notice
something very,
very significant
twofold in
this verse.
Matthew
tells us
that Jesus
saw
Matthew.
In the
original language
of the New
Testament,
in the
Greek
tongue,
this word
saw
means so
much more
than just
a passing
glance.
This word
means that
Jesus
noticed
Matthew.
Jesus
observes
Matthew.
Jesus
pays
attention
to
Matthew.
This word
saw
implies
scrutiny.
This is
the language
of a
fixed
gaze.
Matthew
is the
focal point,
and he
has the
attention
of the
Lord Jesus.
But not
only that,
I want us
to notice
too that
Jesus
said.
this
implies
very,
very
clearly
that
Jesus
spoke
directly,
spoke
audibly,
and with
clarity
to
Matthew.
This
implies
direct
eye
contact.
And
isn't the
Lord Jesus
to the
point?
With
forthright,
upfront
language,
he calls
Matthew,
just as
he called
the
Galilean
fishermen
we read
of back
in chapter
4.
And all
of this
is in
the
imperative
mood.
The
verb
follow
me
is
imperative,
is it
not?
His
calling
is radical,
it's
compelling,
it's
absolute,
but it's
also
effective
and
it's
effectual.
just
two
words,
follow
me.
Here
we see
something
of the
word
of his
power.
This
much
discriminated
against
tax
collector
who is
barred
from the
synagogue,
there is
no place
reserved
for Matthew
in the
temple,
it's an
exclusion
zone as
far as
he is
concerned,
because of
who he
is and
what he
does,
he is
unclean,
he is
vile,
he is
a
despicable
Jew
who is
barred
from all
of the
above.
You are
not
welcome
here,
Matthew,
but how
encouraging,
how
uplifting,
how
reassuring
to read
of what
unfolds
next.
The
living
temple
in the
person
of
Jesus
Christ
comes
to
Matthew.
Yes,
he calls
this
much
reviled
character
and does
so
without
discrimination
and without
prejudice.
Jesus of
Nazareth
is the
definitive
good
Samaritan.
We see him
here while
others pass
by and look
the other
way.
Jesus looks
directly at
Matthew and
engages with
Matthew and
with compassion
and with
tender mercy
he speaks
directly to
him and
draws his
attention to
himself.
Isn't that
beautiful?
Matthew
highlights,
doesn't he,
that Jesus
is particularly
interested in
individuals.
His
ministry is
full of
personal
encounters.
Maybe some
of us need
to take
note of
that today.
He
pursues
Matthew
as he
pursued
you and
I as
followers
of Jesus
Christ.
He
finds
Matthew
and others
like him
and he
touches
and transforms
their lives
one after
another.
I mean,
if we just
go back
to the
previous
chapter,
chapter 8,
verse 1,
navigate your
way through
it.
It's
incredible.
First of
all, he
brings
cleansing to
a leper.
Then we
have the
encounter
with the
centurion's
servant.
Then Peter's
mother-in-law.
Then two
demon-possessed
men.
And then as
we transition
into chapter
9, the
paralytic.
there's a
personal
perspective to
the gospel.
Jesus
continues to
touch and
to transform
one life
after another
until he
gathers all
the lost
sheep of
the house
of Israel
one by
one as
one flock
in one
fold
under one
shepherd.
So I want
you today to
take encouragement
from Matthew.
Jesus
continues to
call individuals
like you
and I
with the
same
vocabulary,
the same
formula,
follow me.
And this
discipleship
formula has
lost nothing,
nothing of
its thrust
2,000 years
later.
This
same
Jesus may
well be
calling you
today
from a
very personal
perspective.
And if he
is, you
too will
sense that
it's
personal,
it's
persuasive,
and it's
powerful.
I want to
remind you
today that
Jesus sees
you.
He knows
you.
And he
is speaking
to you
now through
his word,
through the
message of
the gospel
as he
passes by.
And you
would do
well to
listen.
Take
encouragement
too.
if you
struggle
today with
negativity.
The
gospels
tackle
negative
perception
head-on.
You may
well be
afraid of
how you
are
perceived
by
others.
Maybe
your past
haunts
you.
Maybe
there's
some
dark
matter
there
that
you
have
trouble
erasing.
your life
is full
of trigger
points.
Matthew
may well
have been
an
embezzler
or
label
such.
How does
he shake
it off?
Well,
perhaps he
had tried
but has
probably
resigned
to being
branded
a
publican.
But
Jesus
intervenes
where
others
might
ignore
and
snub
Matthew,
write him
off
and he
calls
them
to
himself.
He
does
so
mercifully.
He
has
mercy
on
him
and
he
will
have
mercy
on
you
too.
Stand
next
to
Matthew
if
you
will.
This
is
life
changing.
He
may
be
calling
out
to
you
today
come
to
Jesus
because
he
says
whoever
comes
to
me
I
will
never
drive
that
individual
away.
And
then
there
may
be
some
of
us
who
are
inclined
to
shelve
to
procrastinate
and
to
say
tomorrow
will
do
or
I'll
revisit
this
next
Sunday.
Today
if
you
hear
his
voice
the
Bible
says
do
not
harden
your
hearts
do
not
harden
your
hearts
yes
it's
a matter
of the
heart
which
takes
us
to
the
heart
of
the
matter
secondly
!
briefly
Matthew
committed
to
Jesus
how does
Matthew
respond?
well in
just a few
words
it's
what you
might
call a
one-liner
Matthew
himself
tells us
Matthew
rose
Matthew
got up
and
followed
him
followed
Jesus
he does
so with
submission
he does
so with
obedience
he does
so with
self-denial
he commits
and he
does so
by
faith
and he
does so
immediately
the
radical
effectual
call
of
Jesus
is
met
here
by
unconditional
obedience
it's
so
important
for us
to
note
that
he
rose
there
and
then
he
stood
and
relinquishes
his
position
severs
his
ties
with
the
taxation
system
that's
his
main
source
of
income
and
he
follows
Jesus
what
does
this
tell
us
it's
the
core
of
discipleship
Christian
discipleship
to
follow
one
must
forsake
that
is the
essence
of
faith
forsaking
all
I
trust
him
Matthew
does
that
in
fact
Luke
tells
us
in
his
account
in
Luke
5
28
that
Matthew
left
everything
behind
and
got up
and
followed
Jesus
what
does
all of
this
convey
to
us
from
a
theological
perspective
well the
key word
must be
grace
sovereign
grace
irresistible
grace
faith
and
repentance
all of
the above
yes
we see
here some
key aspects
of the
doctrines
of salvation
Matthew
is not
explicit
but he
is
implicit
so here
in verse
9
it's
not
insignificant
that
moments
ago
Matthew
was
seen
sitting
welded
to the
tax
collectors
booth
and now
he's
on his
feet
in
response
to the
words
of
Jesus
just
two
words
follow
me
he
rose
and
followed
Jesus
sitting
speaks
of
someone
who
is
inactive
standing
pursuing
Jesus
speaks
of
someone
who
is
suddenly
proactive
so there's
more than a
change of
circumstances
being alluded
to here
there's a
radical
shift
of
emphasis
from
negative
to
positive
it's
quite
compelling
indeed
it captures
something
of the
dynamic
of the
40th
psalm
and on
a
rock
he
set
my
feet
moments
ago
languishing
in the
pit
now
he
has
found
his
feet
in
and
through
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
his
getting
up
implies
conviction
of
what
well
surely
of a
sin
of a
felt
sense
of
compulsion
to
follow
the
sinless
one
he
recognizes
this
Matthew
that
he
is
a
sinful
man
in
need
of
a
savior
indeed
he
has
a
heightened
awareness
of
this
and
he's
on
his
feet
what's
going
on
in
his
head
at
this
point
I
think
we
can
answer
that
question
his
mind
is
enlightened
in
the
knowledge
of
the
one
who
is
calling
him
his
will
is
renewed
in
this
moment
and
you're
saying
it
can't
happen
that
quickly
it
can
and
it
does
and
it's
what's
unfolding
here
because
in
these
decisive
moments
Matthew
is
fully
persuaded
and
made
able
to
follow
Jesus
Christ
never
underestimate
what
God
can do
for you
from
the
moment
you
walk
in
this
door
and
you
leave
after
the
benediction
has
been
pronounced
!
look
at
Matthew
to
use
the
vocabulary
of
Puritan
theology
we see
him
closing
in
with
Jesus
by
grace
alone
through
faith
alone
in
Christ
alone
he's
not
unlike
Lydia
is he
whom
we meet
in
Acts
chapter
16
the
Lord
opens
Matthew's
heart
here
just
as
he
opened
the
heart
of
Lydia
to
pay
attention
to
what
is
being
said
and
just
like
Lydia
Matthew's
heart
is no
longer
his
own
when
the
Bible
speaks
of
the
heart
more
often
than
not
it
alludes
to
every
fiber
of
our
being
the
entire
person
he
gave
everything
Luke
tells
us
everything
every
fiber
of
his
being
is
now
under
the
jurisdiction
of the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
and
Levi
got
up
Luke
tells
us
yes
he
got
up
he
left
everything
behind
and
followed
Jesus
isn't
it
interesting
when we
compare
Matthew
with
the
fishermen
from
Galilee
the
fishermen
brought
their
boats
to
land
Luke
tells
us
left
everything
and
followed
him
but
they
would
return
to
the
sea
of
Galilee
to
their
boats
from
time
to
time
Matthew
would
never
ever
return
to
his
tax
collector's
booth
he
turns
his
back
on
Caesar
for
Christ
the
world
behind
me
the
cross
before
me
no
turning
back
so
we're
going
to
close
but
I do
want
to
question
one
thing
did
he
really
leave
everything
behind
he
would
have
at
least
taken
one
item
with
him
his
own
personal
possession
and
that's
important
to
note
he's
not
taking
what
doesn't
belong
to
him
his
pen
yes
his
pen
because
Jesus
has a
plan
and a
purpose
for
Matthew
this
tax
collector's
financial
spreadsheet
is now
history
but he
will
continue
to be
a
record
keeper
but we
are going
to transition
from a
spreadsheet
to a
scroll
this is
how it
ends
because
ultimately
Matthew
will be
commissioned
to
pen
a
detailed
gospel
account
of the
birth
the life
the ministry
death
and
resurrection
of the
Lord
Jesus
and in
there
will be
just a
snippet
of how
he came
to know
the Lord
Jesus
Christ
himself
yes
record
keeping
and attention
to detail
will be
Matthew's
strong point
and here
we have
it
here
today
the
gospel
of
Matthew
this
is
his
legacy
it's
remarkable
one
verse
what does
it convey
to us
that this
bad news
tax collector
will become
a good news
storyteller
under the
superintendence
of God
the Holy
Spirit
this
record
keeper
will write
a full
account
of Jesus
ironically
you might
say
specifically
for Jewish
readers
the ones
who despise
him the
most
his mission
it will be
to prove
yes
that Jesus
of Nazareth
is the
Messiah
and Matthew
will stop
at nothing
to proclaim
on these
pages
the kingdom
of God
so the
very skills
that he had
sharpened
as a tax
collector
will now
be used
effectively
in the
kingdom
note
to follow
he forsook
the booth
is history
would he ever
regret
severing his
ties with it
no
neither
will you
today
should you
abandon
your symbolic
booth
and follow
Jesus Christ
whatever it is
that may be
holding you
back
take encouragement
from Matthew
you see like
like Matthew
your gifts
your talents
can also
be put
to effective
use
in the
kingdom
one last
thing
back in
2017
Dean and I
had the
privilege of
spending some
time with
Kenny John
McKenzie
in Uganda
two weeks
for one day
Kenny John
and I
flew
with a
Canadian
pilot
on a
math plane
his name
is Matt
a remarkable
man
as I sat
in this
very small
cockpit
with Matt
I asked him
what he did
before he became
a Matt
pilot
he said
well I was
a pilot
and I said
what did
you fly
he says
I flew
with Air
Canada
but I said
what did
you fly
he was
reluctant
to disclose
this information
to me
but I pushed
him further
Matt
was a
high profile
pilot
of shall
we say
a very
large
Boeing
and here
he is
at the
cockpit
of a
Cessna
208
12
seater
plane
his skills
his talents
transferred
into the
kingdom
for the
greater
good
of God's
kingdom
and its
extension
across
Uganda
and more
besides
Galenian
fishermen
were called
to become
fishers
of men
if we
are to
follow
Jesus
it must
be with
the
unconditional
submission
of
Matthew
nothing
less
will
do
so can
I appeal
to you
come
if you
will
into the
school
of
the
discipleship
of
Jesus
Christ
with the
obedience
that comes
from
faith
we see
it
in
Matthew
he leads
by
example
will you
not
follow
his
example
amen
gracious
God
grant us
to follow
you
give us
to see
our need
to do
so in
the here
and now
to do
so
unreservedly
unconditionally
for we
ask these
things in
Jesus name
amen
well let's
sing the
great
redemption
song of
scripture
psalm
130
the
Scottish
Psalter
rendering
on page
421
psalm
130
it's the
Scottish
Psalter
rendering
Lord
from the
depths
to thee
I cried
my voice
Lord
do thou
hear
unto my
supplications
voice
give
an
attentive
ear
the psalm
concludes
and
plenteous
or
full
redemption
is ever
found
with him
and from
all his
iniquities
he
Israel
shall
redeem
to the
praise
of God
Lord
from the
times
to thee
I
cry
my
voice
Lord
do
thou
voice
give
not
I'll tend to hear.
Lord, who shall stand with Thou, O Lord,
Just mark in equity, But yet with Thee
Forgiveness is, Thou fear Thou mayest be.
I win for God, My soul doth ween,
My heart is in His word.
More than the light, For morning war,
My soul doth ween, The Lord.
I sing for Thine day that to watch, The morning light to see.
Let Israel open the Lord, For with Him mercy be.
And plentious redemption,
Is ever come with Him, And from all His delinquities,
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, The love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit remain with us all. Amen.
Amen.
To the door.
And there's no idea why you find holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy