26-Matthew-A

And we Thought We Knew You:
Soul Journey With the Real Jesus

Matthew
THE TRAITOR

Around AD 27
North of Capernaum, Galilee

�� Some people say Matthew has sold his soul to Satan....

�� But Matthew is important.� He works at a crossroad of worlds.� At a hub of international business traffic. Syria and Europe are to the north.� Persia and India to the east.� Arabia and Egypt to the south.� Phoenicia and the Great Mediterranean Sea to the west.� So disgustingly important. [1]

�� Matthew is a public man, commonly labelled a publican.� He is responsible for putting a duty on all the goods coming into, out of, and through Palestine.� He pilfers through everything in your cart, on your donkeys and camels and oxen, even on your person. Everyone hates Matthew.� His toll booth is set up along the Sea of Galilee.� He forces everyone to raise their market prices to cover the duty he assesses on their goods.� He got his job by being the highest bidder to the government ~ promising to get the most tax money for them.� Any way you look at it, he's sold his soul to the devil. [2]

�� Oddly, Matthew is also a prude.�� Try to get him to turn his head when you're crossing over with a simple thing like jewelry on your arm.� Never happen.� Matthew declares you probably got it in another country, even though you try to convince him you've had it two years.� He says pay up or go back to where you came from.� Won't let you cross the border because of a lousy bracelet or ring.� He gets remarks like, "You customs guys think you're tough, don't you?"� Actually, they are.� You don't cross a publicans.� Everyone despises Matthew.

�� Furthermore, Matthew, the toll collector ~ you'll hate this one yourself ~ works strictly on commission.� Commission!� There's no set amount that he's supposed to charge.� Matthew knows how much the government wants for each thing, and turns that amount in accordingly.� But Matthew's not on the government payroll.� It's up to him to charge as much money as he can to get a salary for himself.� A few dare to argue with the customs agents when the amount is too high, but most do not because they could be detained by the government for who knows what.� Most customs agents aren't poor.� Matthew isn't, that's for sure.� He's gotten rich cheating people out of their hard-earned money.� Matthew with all his fancy clothes is scum, dregs of honest society, moral riff-raff. [3]

�� Now, this will blow your mind away.� Matthew is a turncoat.� A traitor.� He works for the enemy.� Matthew is contracted to collect these taxes by Herod Antipas, and he in turn pays part of those taxes to the foreign rulers, the Romans way up there in Europe.� Much of the money doesn't even stay in the country.� It goes into the coffers of Caesar.� You can't trust people like Matthew any farther than you can throw them.� He's aiding and abetting the enemy.� People like Matthew are legal thieves and extortioners.� He ought to be shot. [4]

�

�� No one associates - at least openly - with people like Matthew.� The Temple certainly won't let them in.� The term tax agent is synonymous with sinner as far as the Temple is concerned.� There is no redemption for people like Matthew.� God cannot abide people like this who turn against the people of God and side with pagans and atheists.� Don't even try to convert them.� The only way they'd be accepted into the Temple is if they gave up their ungodly occupation.� Even then, full acceptance would be slow, if ever.� He is a malignancy, a blight, a scourge on decent people. [5]

�� Indeed, Matthew has sold his soul.� How could he?

Jericho, Judea [6]

�� Matthew is ambitious.� He has been invited to spend a few days down south with a superior.� The man is not actually his boss, for everyone answers directly to the government.� But he is a mentor, someone to accept advice from and to imitate.�

�� Zachaeus is a man of power.� He collects taxes, not for his province, but for Rome itself.� Zachaeus is a representative of Caesar.� You cannot get any higher than that.� Or lower, as far as good Jews are concerned.� Matthew takes his finest clothes for the trip. [7]

�� It is just a social visit to Zachaeus' fine home resplendent of tapestries and ivory and exotic incense, but not exclusively social.� They joke about shady deals while touring the city with its palace and amphitheater, but are really exchanging trade secrets.� They talk shop while feasting on wondrous entrees with gold utensils, but are really building a relationship based on flattery.� Ultimately, how can Zachaeus use Matthew?� How can Matthew use Zachaeus?� They both know it.� It is part of the game.� The game that must be played. [8]

�� Matthew looks up to Zachaeus in many ways.� Even though he is shorter than most menl. After all, Zachaeus is far more successful.� Far more rich.� Far more powerful.

�� "Have you heard about John the Baptizer, by the way?"

�� "Uh, well, I have probably met him, but, well, help me out here," Matthew replies guardedly, not knowing whether to respect the man or go after him for tax evasion.

�� "He's worth watching," says Zachaeus.� "He's talking about a new king taking over."

�� "I'm surprised you're taking him seriously.� Upstarts come and go.� They usually end up executed."

�� "But this one is shrewd.� I can't figure him out.� He has no army.� Instead he talks peace.� At least, that's what I heard."

�� "Have you been to hear him?� Is he from around here?"

�� "He's from Jerusalem, but is now living like a hermit.� That is, when people let him.� He travels along the Jordan River warning people to get ready for the new kingdom by ceremonially washing themselves as proof they've repented of their sins." [9]

�� "Sins?" Matthew laughs.� "Sins?� They hate it when we go to the Temple.� They won't even talk to us.� Why should we listen to this John?"

�� For a moment Zachaeus has taken down his hardened emotional armor.� For a moment Zachaeus is showing concern about higher things.� For a moment Matthew thinks about cracking his own emotional shell.� But only for a moment.� It is too frightening.

�� A few days later Matthew heads back toward home.� As he travels, he finds he cannot get that strange peaceful John out of his mind.� If the country were freed of the half-breed tetrarchs, Herod's sons, and the foreign procurator - all appointed by Caesar - perhaps his job would be given the respectability it deserves.� After all, he is not nearly as bad as other publicans.

Somewhere along the Jordan River

�� Making his way north along the Jordan River, Matthew occasionally hears other travelers passing him on the road mention the name of John the Baptizer.�

�� Then he sees it.� A crowd of people over between the road and the river.� Could it be that John is here?� It is worth finding out.

�� Matthew walks off the beaten path of traffic and over to where the crowd is.� As he scans the crowd, he recognizes a couple of other publicans from Capernaum.� Quite a few soldiers too.� Maybe he'd better be careful and not stay too long.

�� But, why not?� Employees of the king are the ones going to be affected the most if the old government is overthrown by the new kingdom of God.� Don't walk into the future blind.� If it is true, then everyone needs to get on the good side of this new king in order to keep their jobs.� And their lives too perhaps.

�� "You are snakes!" he hears John declare. [10]

�� "That's strong language," Matthew whispers to the stranger next to him.� "Is he always like that?"

�� "He's trying to get their attention," Philip responds.� Neither knows they'll be close friends some day.� "He's trying to get them to take a long hard look at themselves.� If they're not convinced they sin, they won't repent." [11]

�� "Makes sense."

�� "Snakes in the grass!" John goes on.� "Who warned you?"

�� "Who's he talking to?" Matthew asks in the same whisper.

�� "There's some religious leaders sent here by members of the Sanhedrin here.� Said they want to be baptized - ceremonially dipped ~ but he won't let them." [12]

�� "Well, he's certainly calling a spade a spade."

�� "What should we do then?" asks a few of the people in the crowd who suddenly recognize themselves and don't like what they see.

�� "Well, this ought to be interesting," Matthew mumbles.� "Probably he'll tell them to quit their jobs."

�� "If you have two robes, give one to someone without any who is cold; you can only wear one at a time."

�� "That's it?� Be kinder?� That's it?" Matthew mutters. [13]

�� He walks over to where the other publicans are he recognizes from home.� They look up and grin sheepishly.

�� John's standing in front of the crowd in silence now, but obviously not ready to sit down.� John wants people to think.� It works.� Matthew's certainly pondering things.

�� "Well then, sir," Matthew calls out,�"if those guys over there can be considered worthy to be part of the new kingdom of God, how about tax collectors?� Do we have to quit our jobs?"

�� "No.� Keep doing what you're doing.� Just don't collect any more than you are required to."

�� "That's it?"

�� "That's it.� Well, and you need to be ceremonially cleansed, baptized, as a sign to God that you are doing this for him."

�� "So, you're saying I need to cut down on my tax assessments and be baptized to indicate my rededication to God," Matthew responds suspiciously.� "But I don't have to quit my job.� You accept tax collectors in God's new kingdom."

�� "Yes, God accepts tax collectors." [14]

�� Matthew and his colleagues look around for the holy dissenters.� Of course there are some.� Always are.� He spots them watching him with their usual evil eye.

�� "Well, then, sir," one of them responds to John, "as dedicated to the Lord as we are.� Surely you don't require any ceremonial cleansing of us, or repenting."

�� "God's already got the battering ram ball out to tear you down if you don't surrender to a better kind of life." That is John's response.� Take it or leave it. [15]

�� "Man, he calls the shots the way he sees them.� No double talk," Matthew responds to whoever happens to be standing next to him now.� "This man demands commitment.� All or nothing.� I like that."

�� Gradually as John continues to talk, Matthew thinks he would like to be on the side of this new kingdom, this kingdom run by God the way it should be.� With no prejudice toward people; just accepting them the way they are with a� attitude adjustments.� More and more he likes the idea.

�� He steps away from the crowd, takes a deep breath, walks forward and stands between John and the crowd.� "Would you baptize me, John?" he interrupts.� "I want to be part of that new kingdom of God.� Would God accept me?"

�� "You bet, I will.� And you bet, God will.� Come with me, friend, to the water."

�� "But a lot of people say I've sold my soul."

�� "There is someone coming who can buy it back for you," John replies. [16]

�� Matthew is hardly believing his ears.� He turns to his co-workers from back home.�

�� "He accepts us!� The Temple never accepted us.� He says God accepts us.� Come on!� Let's do it!� Let's take John's advice and be dipped." [17]

�� The others hang back for now.� Only Matthew makes the decision.� He does not care if he is the only one.� He's stood alone many times in his adult life.�

�� "Do you repent of what you've done wrong?" John asks Matthew.�

�� "Truly, I do.� I promise to go back home and revise all my customs charts.� I'm going to reduce my rates and be more fair.� I promise."

�� "I believe you will, sir."

�� And so John baptizes Matthew Levi to rededicate him to God.� The very guy the Temple didn't want.� The one everyone says has no soul.

Capernaum, Galilee

�� Matthew returns home and talks to his brother James.� He explains everything to him.� James decides to watch awhile to see if all which that John claims is valid. [18]

�� That night Matthew prays.� "God, I want to do this right.� I want to be able to make a decent living, but not defraud the people.� Help me in the morning as I re-evaluate my business to revise my quotas in such a way that it would be acceptable in your new kingdom.� Amen."

�� The next day, as Matthew sets the tax for each animal ladened with goods, he reduces the rate by 10%.� Maybe later he will reduce it further.

�� That night, Matthew takes his scrolls with the charts home with him.� He eats hastily.� Then pours over the figures until midnight.

�� "That should do it!" he finally says aloud to himself.� "I've been able to reduce some items as much as 25%, and still should be able to do well.� I don't need that new house anyway.� Thank you, God.� Thank you for helping me."

�� The next day at his toll booth he sets his first duty rate.� "That'll be twenty-eight drachmas." [19]

�� "I don't want this to sound like a complaint, but for the last three years you've been levying me forty-three drachmas on this."

�� "Well, this is your lucky day, sir.� I want to be part of the new kingdom of God and this is what God would do."

�� The man on the camel, a businessman himself, looks strangely at the customs officer.� He hasn't turned double agent, has he?� He pays the fee and passes on his way.

�� The whole day Matthew chuckles under his breath as he takes people's wind away with his reduced customs fees.

�� "Why the reduction, may I ask?"

�� "Well, it isn't worth any more than that.� That's why."

�� "Since when?"

�� "Since I decided to be part of the new kingdom of God."

�� "What new kingdom of God?� What are you talking about?� There's only one recognized kingdom and religion."

�� "Well, this one is going to be better.� And I've been accepted into it.� Isn't God great?"

�� Coming from a guy who works for atheists and pagans, the peddler is surprised and whips his oxen on without further debate.

�� "Next, please.� You're duty will be one hundred and eighty-two drachmas, sir."

�� "That's half of what it was last year."

�� "This is a new year, sir.� The year of the new kingdom of God, and I'm going to be part of it!"

�� So the day goes.� Surprises announced.� Surprises hesitatingly questioned.� Surprises enthusiastically explained as God's doing.�

�� And as surprised merchants pass to the other side of Matthew's toll booth, they all think to themselves, "This guy's going to be fired.� We won't be seeing him around much longer."

�� But Matthew does stay around.� He is still sending in to the government the same amount as usual.

Spring AD 27
North of Capernaum, Galilee

�� Word has spread that John announced the name of the next king of the new kingdom of God.� People around these parts are surprised.� It's Jesus over in Nazareth.� No one ever heard of him outside of this part of the country.� But, if John said it, maybe it's so.� Or was he honestly mistaken?� Nazareth, Galilee?

�� Matthew isn't so sure.� This Jesus doesn't have any background, any experience.� Never worked for the government.� Doesn't hold any positions in the state religion.� Decent education.� But it's vocational, not academic ~ philosophy, finance, and such.� Matthew, on the other hand, with his wealth, has been able to obtain a good education; some even consider him a scholar of sorts. [20]

�� However, John has backed up everything he's said so far with prophecies.� Maybe John knows something the rest don't.

�� One day Matthew receives a message from Zachaeus down in Jericho.� Is he inviting him for another visit to his house?� Has the older and politically wiser man heard Matthew has requested to be part of the new kingdom?� Is he going to talk him out of it?

�� "Matthew," the message reads."� There are rumors someone turns water into wine up in Cana.� Sounds like a good investment.� If you can learn the secret, all the better." [21]

�� Matthew is hesitant to ask about someone no one could possibly take seriously.� But, since it's Zachaeus, his mentor, he agrees.� The next day he asks around about it, but no one has heard anything.� Then,� weeks later....

�� "Matthew," his mother, Mary, says one evening.� "You were wondering about that rumor of water being turned into wine at that wedding in Cana." [22]

�� "Yes, I was."

�� "Well, I hear the man is moving here to our town."

�� Matthew perks up.� "Here in Capernaum?"

�� "Yes."

�� "Did you catch his name?"

�� "It was Jesus, of Nazareth."

�� "Jesus?� Where have I heard that name before?"

�� "They say that's who John the Baptizer said is destined to be our next king."

�� "You're right!� Wonder which part of town he'll live in.� And how long he will take.� Rome won't put up with him long.� They must have spies following him around now."

��

�� "Well, he'll be over by the lake more than likely.� He has some close associates who are in the fishing business." [23]

�� "Fishing?� Don't know what kind of help they could be in a new government.� Not like me.� At least I know the workings of government."

�� "That's just what I heard.� Son, let me know what you find out.� Your father and I are curious."

�� "Indeed, Mother.� I'll let you know if I learn anything more."

�� The next day after work, Matthew walks to the shoreline and the boats.�

�� "Has anyone here heard of a Jesus who is moving to Capernaum?"

�� "You mean the man who turned the water to wine?"

�� "That's the one."

�� "Yeah.� He's coming here.� Not here yet though."

�� Matthew returns in a week.

�� "Has anyone here heard if Jesus has arrived in Capernaum yet - the one who supposedly turned water to wine?"

�� "Yeah, got here yesterday.� Spent all day today down here around the docks talking to people about getting ready for the new kingdom - you know, straightening out our lives."

�� "Where can I find him?"

�� "Don't know.� Come back tomorrow during the day.� He might return."

�� "Is Jesus who turned water into wine down here today?"

�� "Haven't seen him yet.� Didn't see him yesterday either."

�� "Is there a Jesus down here?"

�� "Nope.� Heard he's headed for Jerusalem for the Passover feast." [24]

�� Matthew knows it will be nearly impossible to see find him when he goes to the Passover feast himself.� A month later, someone stops by his toll booth.

�� "Matthew Levi?� You came down by the lake about a month ago.� Told me to let you know if that Jesus returned.� Well, he's back.� In fact, he's moving into town."

�� "Thank you, sir.� Thank you."[25]

�� Matthew gives Jesus a� days to get settled.� But only a� days.� More and more he wants to meet this man face to face and talk to him.� And test him.� Is he really smart enough to be a king?�

�� One evening after work, Matthew walks down to the lake.� He looks around for a crowd and finds a small one.� They are surrounding a man younger than Matthew.� He walks over and joins them.

�� "The time has come!" he is saying. "The new nation of God is near.� Repent and believe this good news is really true."

�� "Sir, Jesus, we heard that while you were in Cana on your way back from Jerusalem, you supposedly healed the son of the man who is administrator of Herod's household, his palace?� Is that rumor true?"

�� Yes, it is. [26]

�� "Well, if your claim is true, the young man was here in Capernaum.� How can you heal someone long distance?"

�� With God's power.

�� "But this man works for the enemy.� He works for the foreign government."

�� God loves everyone.

�� "But God is supposed to love us Jews more.� He said so in his scriptures."

�� Re-read the scriptures.

�� "So you claim you have powers no one else has?"

�� From God.

�� "That's two miracles we've heard that you supposedly performed.� How do we know they're on the up and up?"

�� You will see more.

�� "So, if it turns out you really can perform miracles, then it will be true that the new kingdom of God is actually coming soon too, because that's what you're saying."

�� I say what God says. [27]

�� Matthew stands listening in amazement.� Could it be true?� He knows Herod's administrator, the one they're talking about.� He has been to Chuza's house on the hill.� Maybe he can stop by to see him and see for himself if his son was really healed.� They said he was almost dead.� He should be able to prove it by what the doctor said.

�� The crowd disburses.� Matthew heads toward home.� On the way he remembers he forgot to ask for the secret to turning water into wine.� But it seemed so inappropriate.� So mercenary.� Jesus didn't take any money for it.� Matthew doubt Jesus would share his secret anyway.� He'll have to try to explain it to Zachaeus back in Jericho.

�� A� weeks later Matthew's parents and brother, James, come home from synagogue talking curiously.� Matthew isn't allowed in the synagogue so must stay home.� Matthew has sold his soul.

�� They tell him a demon was cast out of a man.� Despite the fact that it cannot be done.� A demon?� No way!� You can't control demons.� They come from another world.� Another realm.� It can't be done.� But Jesus did it.� He cast a demon out of a man right there in church.�

�� ":What kind of man is this, James?" Matthew asks his brother.

�� "I don't know."

�� A�few evenings later the family hears a disturbance down toward the shore.� Instinctively, Matthew senses it must be caused by Jesus.� He and James rush down to see what is going on.� To their surprise, people are lined up to get into a house.

�� "What's going on?" they ask.

�� Maybe because the sun has already gone down and they don't notice the fine clothing.� Maybe because they don't recognize Matthew's familiar voice.� Maybe because it doesn't matter any more.� But people in line explain excitedly.� "He's healing people inside.� Jesus!� He's healing people.� See all those people coming out?� They've been healed of something.� All of them.� If you need healing, get in line, though.� We were here first."

�� Matthew watches with intense curiosity as people emerge from the house shouting, "I've been healed!� I've been healed!"� Diseases of all kinds.� Maladies of all kinds.� It is impossible.� But Jesus is apparently doing the impossible. [28]

�� The following day Matthew locates Jesus who is down by the lake as usual, and listens to his speech once again.� Gradually Matthew grows to believe this man.� Just like so many others.� Gradually Matthew feels like he should clean up his life just a little more, and be ready for the new kingdom of God.� For it seems more and more plausible that it could actually be established, that it is just around the corner.

�� Jesus leaves on a tour of Galilee.� Matthew listens for news among the travelers at the toll booth.� Over and over he hears reports of numerous healings which no one can contradict, and of his message about the new kingdom of God.�

�� Gradually he decides there is room for more improvement in other ways in his work.� He searches the scriptures for direction.� Does God really give direction to such things?� He pours over the ancient but still-accepted Law of Moses.

�� He reads "Do not steal." [29] �Matthew sits in the evenings trying to think of himself the way others do.� Is he stealing from them?� He doesn't think so.� Not any more anyway.� But then he thinks of the government he works for.�

�� "I'm stealing from them," he tells James.� "I'm claiming expenses to Herod that I don't really have.� I'm slipping out of his palace scrolls and other supplies that I'm just taking home.� I'm claiming message services that are really for personal use."

�� "Whoa there, brother," James warns.� "Don't go wild."

�� "No!� I've got to!� I've got to fix things.� I want to be in the new kingdom of God.� This Jesus is powerful.� I've got to get on his good side.� He's from God.� I've got to get on God's good side too."

�� The next day Matthew goes to work early.� He pulls out the scrolls containing all his old expense reports from the past year.� He crosses out personal expenses, puts some money in a pouch for the difference, and sends it by messenger to Herod's treasurer.

�� Matthew's on a roll.� Matthew is feeling really great.� Matthew's turning into a fanatic.�

�� He is anxious to tell Jesus when he gets back to Capernaum from his tour.� In the mean time, Matthew tells God.� "I'm trying to do better, God. �I want to be ready when your new kingdom comes.� I want to be accepted into it.� I'll work hard for you, God."

�� Little does Matthew know how hard he will work for God and his kingdom.

�� "Jesus is back!"� It's been a couple months.�

�� "Do you know where he is?"

�� "Over at the fisherman Peter's house.� The whole town is headed down there."

�� "Me too!"

�� Matthew put his fine saddle on his white mule and makes his way over.� He cannot get inside because of the crowd, but outside he hears what is going on.� Alternately Jesus is telling people to repent and do better so they'll be accepted in the kingdom of God.� Alternately with healing.� At one point this Jesus even forgives a man's sins, a paralyzed man known very well to Matthew, being an import-export agent until his accident. [30]

�� Forgives sins?� That ambitious agent's sins too?� Jesus.� Who are you?�

�� Matthew waits around until the crowd disburses.� The master teacher is tired.� But Matthew must see him.� He goes to his tax booth where he has a blank scroll, scratches out a message, gives a tip to a teenager to deliver it, and waits outside the house.�

�� "Please let me see Jesus for just a� moments," it reads.� "I do not need to be healed.� I just want to share with him what he has done to my life.� Please.� Just a minute or two."

�� Matthew waits.� Patiently, then impatiently.� He has waited all his life for this moment.� He does not know it, but somehow he senses it might be so.

�� "He says to come on in," someone calls out from the gate.

�� Matthew goes in and sits down at a table with Jesus.��

�� "You are turning my life upside down.� You really are sent by God, aren't you?� You really are going to start the new kingdom of God.� I believe you.� Jesus, I really believe you.� I wish I could have been with you on that tour you just made.� I heard a lot about it.� May I go with you next time?� I've got money in the bank.� I've got investments.� I could handle it financially.� I want to go with you, Jesus.� I want to be with you.� God is blessing you.� He is blessing me.� Please let me go with you next time, Jesus."

�� Jesus smiles and puts his hand on Matthew's shoulder and they pray together.� Jesus says he considers Matthew his new friend.� He says he knows Matthew's heart and that he's being truthful.� Jesus says he will make a good citizen in the kingdom of God.� After all, Matthew has a soul.

�� As Matthew leaves, Peter shakes his hand.

�� "Jesus has been talking about you lately.� He says you're a good man."

�� "What was the tour like with him, Peter?"

�� "Out of this world!"

�� They smile and Matthew goes back to work.

�� "That'll be eighteen denari duty, sir."

�� "Next?"

�� "You're not bringing anything with you across the border?� Go on ahead."

�� "Next?"

�� Matthew takes a break and pulls a shutter down over his booth for privacy.� But someone is calling his name.� The voice seems familiar.� Matthew looks out.� It is Jesus.� He comes outside.� At first Jesus does not say anything.� But he is smiling.� Matthew knows.� Matthew is getting excited.

�� "Matthew, come with me."

�� "Yes, sir, Jesus!� You bet!" [31]

�� Matthew walks over to the next toll booth.� He is smiling.

�� "This is my last day.� I'm not coming back.� Cover me for the rest of the day.� I'll let Herod know."

�� "What's going on, Matthew?� You crazy?� Do you know how hard it was for you to get this position?� You're making it impossible to ever come back."

��"I'm going to be in on the ground floor for establishing the new kingdom of God.� Jesus is going to be our next king.� And he's asked me to join him to help get it started.� I wouldn't miss this for the world!"

�� "You're talking crazy talk, Matthew.� That's treason talk.� You're going to get yourself arrested following a guy like that."� Matthew leaves anyway.

�� "Jesus, the first thing I want to do is throw a big dinner and invite all my friends at work.� They're curious about you, but don't know anything about you.� I'm going to invite them all over so they can meet you.� You can share with them your plans to start the new kingdom of God."

�� Jesus consents.� The dinner is held the following week.� Matthew busies himself, first of all, contacting all his friends.� That includes every publican stationed at Capernaum, several people on Herod's staff, a few of the big import-export agents that are steady customers at the customs station.� The rest of the week is spent making arrangements for the best of food.� No entertainment, however.� It will not be needed.

�� Everyone invited comes.� Even those who were not invited try to slip in, saying they are friends of the invited ones.� Matthew does not object.� The more the merrier.� Maybe he'll begin to be accepted by the decent people now.� But they are there more as spies than anything else.� It does not matter.

�� During and after the meal, Jesus tells them they can be accepted by God.� He explains that it does not matter what the religious leaders say or what all the good Jews say.� What matters is what God says.� God accepts everyone the way they are, as long as they try to follow him the best they can and love others as God loves them.

�� Amazing!� Matthew's friends are astounded.� None of the other religions ever accepted them.� Never allowed them go to synagogue with them.� Just because they work for atheists and pagans people say they're atheists and pagans too.�

�� Sold their souls, they say.

�� You mean they don't have to keep their distance from religious people anymore?� They don't have to be secretive about their occupation any more?� They don't have to hang around with just "their kind" any more?� Praise God!� Thank you, Jesus!

�� Matthew is glad he invited his friends over.� Jesus really likes them too.� Really likes them. [32]

�� Matthew is proud, also, that Jesus chose him to work so closely with him.� He knows he's made the right decision.� He will accompany Jesus everywhere and helps with crowd control or explaining things to people in the crowd.�

�� Some time later, Matthew convinces his brother, James, who Jesus is.� Jesus sees value in both brothers.� He recruits them both to be his special ambassadors, two of his twelve apostles.� Would you believe?� A sinner on as an ambassador of God? [33]

AD 57

�� Thirty years after all this, Matthew, the educated accountant and customs agent considered a traitor to them and to God by his own people, is to write a book.�

�� Matthew will write page after page after loving and laborious page explaining why Jesus was and is the promised eternal King of all kings and eternal High Priest of all priests as predicted centuries earlier.� Over and over in his book, Matthew will write a part of Jesus' life, then write that part of the prediction made centuries earlier that it fulfilled. [34]

�� Over and over, he will prove Jesus indeed was more than just the new king or the new high priest.� For Jesus turned out to be ~ after all was said and done ~ to be the SON OF GOD!� God in flesh!

�� At the end of his book, Matthew will write these last words of Jesus that he spoke to Matthew and his friends on his last day on earth over near Jerusalem:�

�� "All supremacy in heaven and on earth has been granted to me.� Go and make believers of all nations, immersing them in the name of the Father and of the Son [that's Jesus] and of the Holy Spirit.� Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.� And I will be with all of you always, to the very end of the world." [35]

�� Matthew will eventually move to Greece and teach people about Jesus there.� After all, if Jesus could accept a sinning tax collector, he'll accept anyone.� Besides, Matthew the self-made scholar, and a former man used to dealing with all nationalities, easily mixes in Greece.�

�� Next, Matthew will make his way across the Aegean Sea and down into Iran.� Finally he will go to Ethiopia in Africa.� It will be heard by some that Matthew will live with the eunuch that Philip baptized. [36] ��Further it will be heard that he healed the king of Egypt's daughter of leprosy, and raised his son from the dead. [37]

�� Conflicting reports will be circulated regarding Matthew's final days.� Some will say he was taken back to Jerusalem a prisoner, then secretly assassinated by arrangement of the Sanhedrin.� Others say some atheists had him burned at the stake. [38]

�� Regardless, Matthew never will turn back.� Jesus had purchased his soul and returned it to him.� Matthew is a traiter still.� But a traiter, now, to Satan.

���� LIFE APPLICATION

1.�� Even as we tend to look down on people who are poorer than us, we tend to look down on people who are richer than us.� Think of some better off than you financially that you have been jealous of or resented for some similar reason.� How will you change your attitude toward them?

2.�� Jesus never became the kind of king people thought he was going to be.� They wanted him to have a literal crown and rule from a literal palace and temple.� Hebrews 2:9 say Jesus is now crowned with glory and honor.� He himself said his kingdom was within (Luke 17:21).� Nor was he to be high priest in an earthly Temple in Jerusalem as they expected (Hebrews 9:11-13).� In what way do you see Christianity taking on the old Jewish view of Jesus' kingdom?�

3.�� Matthew lived in Capernaum, the same city that Jesus moved to and performed many miracles.� He had been able to see and hear Jesus several times before making his decision to walk away from his past.� In you search for Jesus, where do you think you are?� Are you just now hearing about him?� Are you seeing life change in others for yourself?� Or investigating him for yourself?� Perhaps ready to make the decision to leave your former life and fully commit yourself to following him?

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