NOTES for Mat 9:9-13

It is interesting that Matthew himself tells us about his calling. He gives no special details of that calling, none of the psychological particulars that we like so much. Everything happens as in the story of Abraham: he was called—and he went. All the rest is left for us to imagine. Matthew was a publican, a collector of taxes—a taxman, in today’s language. We all understand how full of temptation this work is. In other words, he collects money from people, ostensibly not for himself but for the state, yet for himself as well. And at Jesus’ first word he leaves all this and follows Him. There is another point too: he collects money from God’s people for pagan Rome, so in Jewish eyes he is doubly a sinner—a collaborator and an outcast with whom no one associates. Perhaps he had long wanted to leave this hateful work that burdened his conscience, but could not because he had no hope that anyone would accept him. Then Jesus, the Teacher, breaks through this wall of alienation and hopelessness and calls him. How often we consider people irretrievably mired in sin and pass them by, comforting ourselves with the thought that we are believers and go to church! Jesus’ words are addressed to us: “Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”