Called From the Booth
“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. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 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 (NIV)
Many churches keep 21 September as the feast of Matthew. As Jesus walked on, he saw Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. At the time, tax collectors took money for the authorities and could charge more than was owed, so people saw them as cheats. Jesus said to him, "Follow me," and Matthew got up and followed him. Later Jesus had dinner at Matthew's house, and many tax collectors and sinners ate with him. The Pharisees asked the disciples why their teacher ate with such people. Jesus heard this and answered that the healthy don't need a doctor, the sick do. He told them to go and learn what "I desire mercy, not sacrifice" means. It means that God cares more about mercy toward people than about offerings at the temple. He said he had not come to call the righteous, but sinners. So the call reached Matthew while he was still at his booth, and the change came when he answered it.
It's common to put off praying until your life is in better shape. Maybe it's a job you aren't proud of, a debt, or a habit you can't break. Or you tell yourself you'll get back to faith once the kids are older and you've pulled yourself together. Meanwhile the years go by. That's like waiting to see a doctor until you're well. Jesus called a man while he was still sitting at his booth.
Take the Step You've Been Putting Off
- 1Pick the one step toward Jesus you have been putting off until you are better, such as praying again or going back to church. Today, put a specific time in your calendar, and if it is prayer, set a reminder and start tonight.
- 2If you already pray and go to church, message a pastor or a Christian you trust today and ask for a time to talk about the thing you have been trying to fix on your own.
Lord Jesus, I have been putting you off until I'm a better person. There are things in my life I haven't fixed, and I'm ashamed of them. You called Matthew while he was still sitting at his booth. Help me come to you today, before any of it is sorted out. Give me the courage to take the step I've been putting off. Amen.
Today I'll take the step toward Jesus I've been putting off until I'm better.
Why were tax collectors seen as cheats?
They collected money for the authorities and could charge more than was owed, so people saw them as getting rich at others' expense.
Did Matthew have to change his life before Jesus called him?
The passage mentions no condition. Jesus called him while he was still sitting at his booth, and the change came when Matthew got up and followed him.
What does "I desire mercy, not sacrifice" mean?
Jesus is quoting the prophet Hosea. God cares more about mercy toward people than about offerings at the temple, which is why Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners.