Why Matthew’s House?

 


The calling of Matthew, the Tax Collector, is found in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 9. Tax collectors were despised by the local Hebrew population. The Romans had conquered Israel to include Judea and Jerusalem and demanded taxes from the conquered.

The Romans used members of the indigenous population to collect the taxes. They knew the people.

So, for Jesus to call a tax collector just seemed totally beyond reason to the local religious leaders. For him to eat dinner at his home was outrageous.

For other sinners and tax collectors to join them was over the top and demanded comment by the religious leaders or so they thought.

Jesus knew what they were mumbling and grumbling about and said these people are exactly why I came to live as a person in this age.

Let’s look at what the religious leaders condemned. First to the sinners.

Sinners actually meant that these people don’t sin like me. They don’t jump through the self-righteous hoops that we do.

We all sin. Jesus called out the religious leaders for being hypocrites. They knew the letter of the Law of Moses, but did not have a clue as to the divine heart of God who gave the law for our own good.

Denouncing tax collectors was just imputing their hatred of what they did for a living into their religious dogma. Really, how does a hated occupation demand religious condemnation?

Realize that most who ate at Matthew’s house probably believed in God. Were they good at following the rules? Probably not. Were they worthy of condemnation? Yes, they like all of us stand condemned in our sins without receiving Jesus as Lord.

Was condemnation the job of the religious leaders of the time? Only by their own design.

Jesus came to save, not condemn.

Here we are 2000 years later and the church is often—too often—known for condemnation instead of leading people to salvation and discipleship.

Sometimes we look more like country club members than those commissioned to take the good news of life in Christ to the world.

The imperfection of the church should not keep you from salvation and following Jesus.

It is our own imperfection that draws us to God through Jesus. While imperfect by ourselves, God perfects (completes) us.

Know that in all of its shortcomings, the church will prevail. The gates of hell will not overcome it.

So, what do I do?

Let’s talk about that. Invite me over. Invite some friends if you like. Bring the tough questions, decisions that you wrestle with, and things that just don’t make sense.

I won’t preach to you. I will listen. I will tell you or point you to what God says.  I will examine the thinking. We can discuss whatever is on your mind.

I won’t try to convince you. The Holy Spirit and the Word of God that judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart does that part.

I will probably leave you with more questions than answers. That’s the way adults learn best: personal exploration and reasoned discussion. Then repeat.

Invite me over. You don’t need to feed me. I’ll bring my own Diet Coke.

We can all be nourished in good discussion. It’s an iron sharpening iron thing.

I plan to start in February 2026, but if you need something sooner, let’s see what we can figure out.

Tomspence0302@gmail.com

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