[Jesus] saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. (Lk. 5:27)
Levi the tax collector, also known as Matthew, has one of the greatest conversion stories of all the disciples. Why? Because of all Twelve, Matthew not only lived a sinful life before meeting Jesus—as did most of the rest—but his sin was one of betrayal.
He was a Jew working for the Romans, garnering money from his own people, which resulted in a tidy profit for himself. After all, the tax collectors of ancient Rome were not paid the way employees of the IRS are paid today. They did not simply receive a regular salary regardless of how many taxes they managed to collect from the Jewish citizens living within the walls of the Roman Empire. No, the method of payment which the Romans employed was one that provided incentive to the tax collector to make sure he squeezed the funds owed to the government out of as many people as he could—including those who were destitute. His salary was earned by charging any amount he wished, over and above the fair tax.
Tax collecting quickly became synonymous with extortion, as the system implemented by the Roman government set the tax collector up for greed. The tax collector would have been continually pushing the envelope in an attempt to gain every last penny possible from those who were taxed.
He would have been well trained in his ability to calculate maximum payment based on each family’s individual assets. Because of this, the tax collector was despised by the Jewish community. And for someone like Matthew who had been perpetuating this shameful practice upon his own people—possibly his own relatives and friends—his treachery would have been, for the community, unforgivable.
[Jesus] said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him. (Lk. 5:27-28)
With that as our backdrop, we must now come to realize the sheer incomprehensibility of what Jesus does next: He beckons Matthew to “follow” Him. Scripture tells us that Matthew immediately leaves everything behind and follows Jesus. Of course, we understand that in Jesus’ divinity, even “the winds and sea obey” Him (Mt. 8:27). God’s Word “shall not return to [him] void, but shall do…the end for which [he] sent it” (Is. 55:11). So it is not surprising that Matthew is compelled to leave his post so decisively and abruptly at the command of the divine Master. However, Jesus does not address His words to Matthew only in His divinity. He speaks these words, at the same time, in His humanity, as the hypostatic union of Jesus’ two distinct, complete natures is inseparable. And it is this fully divine, but also fully human person that Matthew is eager and willing to follow.
Matthew has finally, finally been told that he is welcome. Someone has invited him. Someone has shown interest! For the first time in a long time, there is one person who has not rejected him. And Matthew would have longed—desperately—to be shown even a fraction of that kindness by anyone. It is possible that someone else could have said to Matthew, “Would you like to come over for dinner?”…and he may likewise have jumped at the chance without hesitation. We can only imagine. But what is apparent is that Matthew must have been thirsting for love, even before Love itself had offered it to him.
Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth. (Ps. 86:11)
Before we get to what takes place next, let’s understand what Matthew’s encounter with Jesus means for us. It is true, we are not divine, as Jesus is. Words that come out of our mouths “return to us void” all the time! But this does not mean that we cannot be like Jesus, who shared in our humanity. It was not only Jesus’ divinity that convinced Matthew to drop everything and follow Him; if it were, how could Jesus possibly expect the rest of us to imitate His example and “make disciples of all nations” (Mt. 28:19)? No, Jesus shows us today how we ourselves can fulfill the mission to which He sends us. We must simply extend mercy to the spiritually hungry, afflicted, and poor.
If you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; then…the ancient ruins shall be rebuilt for your sake, and the foundations from ages past you shall raise up; “Repairer of the breach,” they shall call you, “Restorer of ruined homesteads.” (Is. 58:10-12)
Now of course, just because we extend mercy to others does not mean that they will accept it. But even though others may reject what we are offering, Jesus asks us to try anyway. Our only job is to make the effort; the outcome of our effort is up to the Lord. So let us entrust those outcomes to Him.
So Matthew drops everything to follow Christ…and then what happens?
Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them. (Lk. 5:29)
Matthew drops everything, follows Jesus…and then throws a huge party for Him. What has happened between the time in which he has followed Jesus and the time he has decided to hold a great banquet in Jesus’ honor? All there is between these two scriptural verses is…a period. Are we to understand that Matthew’s feast takes place immediately? How would Matthew have had time to plan the food and invite all his friends?
Clearly, a certain amount of time must have passed between Matthew’s quitting his day job and his hosting a banquet. But however much time that is, Scripture is quite clear that it is brief. In other words, the moment Matthew leaves his post, he is all in. It does not take a long question and answer session to convince him, nor does he need to sit at the Master’s feet for an extended period of time before he accepts this new, revolutionary way. All it takes is just one act of love and mercy, and Matthew is hooked: Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (Jn. 14:6)! There is no going back.
What’s more, Matthew’s very first act as a disciple of Jesus is to do everything he can to make more disciples for the Lord: he is compelled to invite all his tax collector friends (“and others”) to “come and see” (Jn. 1:46). He wants nothing more than to fill the aching void in the hearts of his colleagues with the love and mercy of Christ. The teachings, the lessons, the fullness of understanding…would all come later. For now, it is love that has changed Matthew’s heart.
Author’s Note: This article was adapted from a chapter in 26 Steps with the Apostles: A Journey into Christian Mission.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
