CALLING MATHEW

PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

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When Jesus Christ called his disciples to follow him, he was calling them to learn from him in every way. Yes, the disciples listened to his teaching, but they actually spent most of their time with Jesus, watching how he lived and interacted with others. 

They learned to trust Jesus’ teaching as truth sent from God only after they learned to trust that Jesus was who he claimed to be. As they watched how Jesus treated others, they could see the heart of God on display. 

Today

As one who seeks to be a disciple of Jesus today, I too need to learn from the Lord. I want to spend time with Jesus and see him at work. While I cannot do that in the flesh, as did his first called disciples, I can join with Jesus as I encounter him in the message of the Gospels. 

And that is what this series of devotionals is all about, learning from Jesus Christ as he spoke with, and encountered various people along his journey to the cross. Today we are going to listen to how Jesus treated one of his disciples named Mathew (or Levi in the Aramaic). 

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.”

(Matthew 9:9-13 NIV11)

Lessons

What lessons can we learn from the way Jesus interacted with Matthew, his friends, and those who sought to bring Matthew and Jesus into disrepute? 

1.  Jesus looked past what others saw in Matthew.

Those around Matthew saw him as a traitor, a Jewish agent of the Roman state. They saw Matthew as just another cruel and dishonest tax-collector feeding on his own brothers and sisters as he sought to enrich the enemies of Israel. 

Jesus looked past this man’s occupation and the reputation that came with his work. Instead of determining that Matthew was unworthy of God’s love, Jesus saw the image of God in this man and spoke to his heart. 

2.  Jesus called Matthew into service.

Those watching how Jesus interacted with Matthew would have been shocked. Jesus not only treated the man like his soul mattered, he gave Matthew an opportunity to answer the call of God. 

Jesus Mathew a chance to follow his true calling in life rather than just cursing this man under his breath and walking past him in a huff. 

3.  Jesus joined Matthew where he was. 

Jesus went to Matthew’s house and spent time learning about Matthew and his friends. The Lord chose to do the uncomfortable rather than just wish the man luck and move on with his life. Jesus entered into Matthew’s world. 

Also, Jesus was with Matthew when this newly minted disciple began to do his first act of ministry and evangelism. Jesus was there by Matthew’s side as the partygoers learned about Matthew’s faith and calling. 

4.  Jesus stood up for Matthew. 

Those who could not see the good in what Jesus was doing with this former tax-collector became so uncomfortable with this act of obvious mercy and grace that they went on the attack against both Matthew and Jesus. 

Jesus was not passive in this situation. Jesus did not allow others to attack Matthew as the Lord stood between Matthew and these opponents of grace. 

Jesus gave these opponents an opportunity to accept the fact that they too were in need of mercy and grace, in the same way that Matthew was. Jesus challenged their hypocrisy by calling them to seek out the true meaning and purpose of God’s gift of mercy. 

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, help me to follow in your footsteps as I encounter the people that you have placed into my life today. Help me see the image of God in those that I normally seek to avoid. Help me learn from you and become more like you today. 

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden

PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Works at MTN. CHURCH

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

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