LUKE 5:28

He was one of the most unlikely candidates for apostleship, yet Jesus specifically called him, changed his name, status, and title. It is not based on our past but on what He did for us and what He sees in all of us. Answering the sacred call of Jesus is still the most radical thing that can happen to any individual.

Jesus calls us not just to make minor adjustments to our lives and lifestyles, but when He calls u,s the entire trajectory of our life changes. It is a radical call to radical service and discipleship. No one can truly come to Jesus and remain the same. The very inner direction and purpose of our lives change. The apostle Paul describes it this way: “…nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

This call to Matthew seemed simple enough but closer reading of the text implies Matthew understood to a great degree the intensity of Jesus’ words when He came up to him as he sat at the receipt of custom and said unto him “Follow me” (Luke 5:27). The episode is recorded for us in all three of the synoptic gospels – Matthew 9:9-13, Mark 2: 13-17, Luke 5: 27-32. They all graphically describe for us this initial encounter between Jesus and Matthew, the tax collector turned apostle. Only Jesus can make such a remarkable transition and transformation in our lives. A radical call resulting in radical change!

The condemning religious elite found it scandalous that Jesus would even dare call a wretched sinner like Matthew to become one of his leading men and even associate with his colleagues (Luke 5: 29). It plain infuriated them. In this culture no respectable rabbi would even think about choosing a tax collector to be one of his trusted followers. Tax collectors were regarded as despicable traitors. They were viewed as scumbags. They were seen as unworthy of grace and completely excluded from the Jewish faith. They would have preferred to associate with someone afflicted with leprosy than to fellowship with a tax collector. Yet Jesus went out of His way to recruit and commission this undesirable reject.

Thank God for the refreshing, revolutionary inclinations of Messiah Jesus. He always chooses those who are unpopular and even disreputable to redeem, elevate, and rehabilitate. He will have mercy over dead, cold, harsh, dry, senseless religion and meaningless sacrifice (Matthew 9:13). He makes apostles even of the most unlikely. Thank God He came to call sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32). The Scriptures tell us that Matthew got up and immediately began following him. We cannot follow Him and still choose to hold on to our old lifestyles and ambitions. Luke is diligent in pointing out “And he left all and followed Him” (Luke 5:28). This pathway still calls for intense, radical discipline and discipleship. We must still leave all to follow Him!