Who wants to Deal with a Taxman?
Well, it is tax time again. Who wants to deal with tax collectors? If you think that is bad now, you should reflect on how it once was.
In first century Palestine, tax officials were detested and classed with the vilest of men. When Jews served as taxmen, they were regarded as outcasts from society. They were disqualified as judges, as witnesses in court, and they were excommunicated from the synagogue. By being a tax collector, these Jews were working for the despised Romans. The other side of the tax coin was the taxes themselves. People never knew how much they had to pay. Tax collectors extracted as much as they possibly could from each individual. They gave the Romans what was required by law. Then, they lined their own pockets with the surplus. Lucian, a Greek writer, ranked tax-gatherers with “adulterers, panderers, flatterers, and sycophants.” Who would want to deal such people?
Jesus. As we all know, Jesus is in the business of saving sinners. So, I guess tax collectors are candidates for the Jesus business. Jesus saved tax collectors alright, but He went way beyond that. He invited one such converted sinner to be an Apostle!
Matthew was a taxman. Jesus invited this social outcast to, “Follow Me” (Mt. 9:9), that is, be a disciple. Later, Matthew was appointed to be an Apostle. Barclay says, “Jesus wanted the man no one else wanted. He offered his friendship to the man whom all others would have scorned to call friend.”
Matthew illustrates there is hope for sinners. If fact, being a sinner is part of what it takes to be saved. Jesus saves sinners, not those who think they are righteous. He says, “I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Mt. 9:13). Then, lo and behold, Jesus invites those who have trusted Him for the gift of eternal life to follow Him. Jesus wants to save sinners and use them in His service.
Matthew immediately followed Jesus. He gave up his profession to follow Jesus, which was remarkable. Once he gave up his profession he could not resume it, like a fisherman could, because his position would have been filled.
Matthew left everything but one thing—his pen. His Gospel is one of the most important documents of all history, the first written account of the teaching of Jesus. Barclay observes, “Had Matthew refused the call, he would have had local ill-fame as the follower of a disreputable trade which all men hated; because he answered the call, he gained world-wide fame as the man who gave to men the record of the words of Jesus.”
There is good news from this tax collector. Matthew’s message to you is that he knows from personal experience that, if you trust Jesus Christ for the gift of eternal life, you will be given that gift because Jesus died in your place to pay for your sin. This tax collector also has more good news for you. If you follow Christ, He will use you.
© G. Michael Cocoris, 4/14/2007
In first century Palestine, tax officials were detested and classed with the vilest of men. When Jews served as taxmen, they were regarded as outcasts from society. They were disqualified as judges, as witnesses in court, and they were excommunicated from the synagogue. By being a tax collector, these Jews were working for the despised Romans. The other side of the tax coin was the taxes themselves. People never knew how much they had to pay. Tax collectors extracted as much as they possibly could from each individual. They gave the Romans what was required by law. Then, they lined their own pockets with the surplus. Lucian, a Greek writer, ranked tax-gatherers with “adulterers, panderers, flatterers, and sycophants.” Who would want to deal such people?
Jesus. As we all know, Jesus is in the business of saving sinners. So, I guess tax collectors are candidates for the Jesus business. Jesus saved tax collectors alright, but He went way beyond that. He invited one such converted sinner to be an Apostle!
Matthew was a taxman. Jesus invited this social outcast to, “Follow Me” (Mt. 9:9), that is, be a disciple. Later, Matthew was appointed to be an Apostle. Barclay says, “Jesus wanted the man no one else wanted. He offered his friendship to the man whom all others would have scorned to call friend.”
Matthew illustrates there is hope for sinners. If fact, being a sinner is part of what it takes to be saved. Jesus saves sinners, not those who think they are righteous. He says, “I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Mt. 9:13). Then, lo and behold, Jesus invites those who have trusted Him for the gift of eternal life to follow Him. Jesus wants to save sinners and use them in His service.
Matthew immediately followed Jesus. He gave up his profession to follow Jesus, which was remarkable. Once he gave up his profession he could not resume it, like a fisherman could, because his position would have been filled.
Matthew left everything but one thing—his pen. His Gospel is one of the most important documents of all history, the first written account of the teaching of Jesus. Barclay observes, “Had Matthew refused the call, he would have had local ill-fame as the follower of a disreputable trade which all men hated; because he answered the call, he gained world-wide fame as the man who gave to men the record of the words of Jesus.”
There is good news from this tax collector. Matthew’s message to you is that he knows from personal experience that, if you trust Jesus Christ for the gift of eternal life, you will be given that gift because Jesus died in your place to pay for your sin. This tax collector also has more good news for you. If you follow Christ, He will use you.
© G. Michael Cocoris, 4/14/2007
